In a surprising development, ARL Commission chair Peter V'landys is considering a review of the NRL's expanded set restart rules amid rising concerns from players about game integrity.
Clint Newton, the chief executive of the RLPA, challenged V'landys after the latter questioned players who spoke out against the controversial rule changes.
The issues surrounding the rule amendments gained prominence during the finals launch event, where V'landys's comments stirred significant discussion.
Players, including prominent club captains like James Tedesco and Harry Grant, voiced their discontent, highlighting that referees are not consistently explaining the reasons behind set-restarts.
They argued that the faster pace of the game has exacerbated the confusion, leaving players and fans seeking clearer communication from match officials.
Addressing these concerns, V'landys responded to critics saying, "I think [players] are not telling the truth if they believe (that) when they're given a six again, they didn't know what it was for."
This dialogue between V'landys and Newton appears to have opened a pathway for further discussion on the integrity and understanding of rule changes within the league.
As these discussions progress, the balance between maintaining game speed and ensuring clarity for players and spectators is at the forefront of the NRL's agenda.