Senior players in the NRL are remaining receptive to a contentious modification of the kick-off rule before it's trialed in Melbourne's round-26 match against Brisbane.
The proposed rule would allow a team that has just given up a try to choose whether to receive the following kick-off instead of automatically kicking off.
Following feedback from clubs during the pre-season, the NRL postponed its plans for a 2026 implementation.
However, the league is keen on trialing it in 2027, with the Storm and Broncos' upcoming dead-rubber grand final rematch as the initial testing event.
"I'll be watching that game with a bit of interest, for sure," remarked South Sydney five-eighth Cody Walker.
Souths coach Wayne Bennett was a strong proponent for rolling out this rule in 2026.
Bennett led Brisbane to the 1997 premiership when the Super League mandated that teams kick off following a try.
This potential change follows the introduction of the set-restart rule, 20/40 kicks, two-point field goals, and the captain's challenge-new regulations embraced this decade.
Reece Robson, a NSW State of Origin representative, questioned whether such a change is necessary: "I'm kind of of the opinion, don't fix what isn't broken."
Nevertheless, he remains open to observing the trial on Thursday evening.
In a time of dramatic momentum shifts, this rule might hinder remarkable comebacks, as teams wouldn't consistently have the chance to keep attacking after scoring.
St George Illawarra co-captain Damien Cook expressed skepticism about teams willingly giving the ball back to an opponent that just scored.
"I want the ball back in my hands. We want to stop their momentum," he stated.
"We had (a game) last year where we almost ran in four tries in the last eight minutes and that would be able to stop it easily."