LeagueNews.co | Jason Patrick
Following a peculiar incident involving a Cowboys trainer during a match against the Eels at CommBank Stadium, calls have intensified among NRL fans for rule changes regarding trainers on the field. The match was tied at 18-18 with just 13 minutes remaining when Cowboys player Braidon Burns threw a wild pass that bounced into the in-goal area, striking a Cowboys trainer who had just entered the field for the first tackle.
This unexpected moment left players confused, leading the referee to declare a mutual infringement and award the Cowboys a play-the-ball. The decision favored the Cowboys significantly; had the ball not hit the trainer, the Eels might have forced a dropout. Current NRL rules state that if the ball strikes a trainer in the defensive half, the team in possession gets the ball. Conversely, if it occurs in the attacking half, the opposing team is awarded possession.
This incident followed another controversy involving a Panthers trainer who received a five-game ban for interfering with Jayden Campbell's line of sight during a conversion attempt. The Panthers have faced scrutiny for trainer-related controversies in recent years, and fans are demanding stricter rules.
Notably, this is not the first occurrence of a ball hitting a trainer during an NRL match. In the 2019 grand final, a kick from Roosters player Luke Keary bounced off an opponent and struck a trainer, halting play and benefiting the Roosters, as a Raiders player was poised to capitalize on the loose ball.
NRL regulations specify that trainers in blue shirts must vacate the field after the fourth tackle and are allowed on the field only during stoppages or to deliver messages a maximum of three times per half. Given these repeated incidents, fans are advocating for amendments to these rules to prevent further occurrences in the future.