Neither of last year's grand finalists will reach the finals in 2026, prompting the NRL to use Thursday night's Round 26 match between Brisbane and Melbourne as a prominent trial for its debated restart rule change.
Proposed earlier this year, the new rule permits the team that allows points to choose whether to kick off or receive the ball after a score.
This change breaks over 130 years of league tradition and could significantly influence match dynamics.
Although the change isn't universally welcomed, Storm CEO Justin Rodski expressed that his team is okay with participating in this trial.
"The NRL flagged earlier in the year that this might be something they would trial in games that won't have an impact on the finals series," Rodski shared with The Courier Mail.
"We understand this is an opportunity. In the circumstances we're comfortable that the NRL has decided to trial it in the game."
Earlier this year, South Sydney coach Wayne Bennett mentioned to the Sydney Morning Herald that he supports the rule, emphasizing it's an option for teams rather than a requirement.
"You've got an option so if it offends you, do what you've always done and kick off, it doesn't change," Bennett stated, noting he was consulted on the rule's impact during the off-season.
"If you listen to some of these guys (complaining) we'd still be playing with unlimited tackles and players would still be wearing black boots with white laces," Bennett humorously remarked.
The NRL has a history of using regular season matches without finals implications to test various changes, such as the Captain's Challenge.