England coach Shaun Wane is backing ‘six again’ says Wakefield Trinity’s Chris Chester

The Wakefield Trinity coach sits on the RFL Laws Committee which has proposed a number of changes when the sport starts again after Covid-19 shutdown.

One of those is bringing in the ‘six again’ rule which sees most ruck infringements penalised by a restart of the tackle count rather than a stoppage in play with a penalty.

That was introduced by the NRL last month when it returned to action but three other rules that it incorporated at the start of the season have also now been suggested for use here.

Chester hopes clubs will agree to them and they are then passed by the RFL Board.

He said: “I’d like to think so. A lot of coaches are for or against for a number of the rules and a number of reasons.

“But, first and foremost, (if they get passed) it aligns almost all our rules with the NRL.

“Secondly, I do think it’s really going to help our international game. I spoke to Shaun Wane about the potential changes.

“He’s very happy as it gives the international side a better chance of beating the Aussies.

“The plan is we’re all aligned with the NRL and this will help do that if it is passed.”

The most radical suggestion – which does not follow any Australian precedent – is scrapping scrums for the rest of 2020 to help reduce the risk of spreading Covid.

Chester is in favour of that but does not feel it will lead to the long-term disappearance of scrums from the sport.

There has been some calls in recent years for games to restart with a tap rather than a scrum given the set-piece has long since been competitive.

But Chester argued: “I think we need scrums. They’ve been in our game since day dot. If we don’t, we might as well not have front-rows. You might as well play with big, athletic back-rowers in the middle of the field as everything will be really, really quick around there.

“If you kick the ball out and just start with a tap, it’s going to be a quick mans’ game. I think you need scrums in our game.”
He said there is still plenty mull over with regards the ‘six again’ rule and other issues.

“Certainly with the coaches meeting we held before, we felt we needed a little bit more time on gauging what effect it’s had and is having on the NRL,” said Chester.

“As you saw in the first week, there were some massive blow-out scores. Now, whether that’s just down to teams’ fitness and coming back underdone (after Covid) or whether it’s down to the six again rule, who knows.

“I think there was an appetite from all the club coaches to wait and see what happens in the next two to three weeks.

“When you look at the scores in the first round of Super League, there were quite a few blow-out scores in that first round, which (head of referees) Steve Ganson highlighted in the (Laws) meeting.

“There is still much to discuss. Interchanges. Will we change anything there for the rest of the year?

“I think everyone agrees they’d like to see some relaxation there or bring it back to 10 interchanges until the end of the year but there’s still some more discussions to be had.

“There’s a strong argument for getting rid of Golden Point as we’re going to be playing three games per week and that extra four or five minutes will make a difference in terms of loads on players.

“But you’ve also got to think about the integrity side of the competition. We (Wakefield) are a side this year that has lost by Golden Point.

“If we get rid of that and play to some new rules when we get back, does that mean Hull FC will give us a point back?

“There’s plenty to talk about.”

Separate recommendations around try celebrations and players standing together behind the goalline after tries are also due to be made.

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