LeagueNews.co | Cooper McEnroe
Cameron Smith, known for his skill in sweet-talking the referees on the rugby league field, is now stepping up to the plate and urging the NRL to give the set restart rule the boot.
The former NRL superstar, who is destined for Immortal status, believes it's time for a major shake-up in the game.
The six-again rule, which was introduced back in 2020, initially caused chaos on the field as teams with strong attacking prowess took advantage of the extra sets of six tackles.
This led to some one-sided matches and a lack of real competition, but the league officials eventually got a handle on it.
Fast forward to 2024, and there's been a significant surge in six-again calls, with Smith feeling the heat after the Maroons fell short in a crucial game 2 in Melbourne.
"I'm not a fan, to be honest," Smith told SENQ.
"Set restarts are purely at the referees' discretion."
Smith's plea comes hot on the heels of Raiders coach Ricky Stuart's criticism of the referees' handling of the rule, with accusations of guesswork muddying the waters.
As one of the game's all-time greats, Smith's call to action could be a game-changer for the sport in the months to come.