The Rugby League Players' Association (RLPA) has hit out at the NRL over the release of statistics which the governing body claims "corrects the misconceptions" about recent rule changes.
The NRL released a raft of data this morning, in response to claims the competition was one of the least competitive in years, marked by one-sided scorelines and predictable results.
One of the key rule changes designed to speed up the game is the restart of the tackle count for 10-metre infringements, rather than having the referee blow a penalty.
"While there's a perception the players have never been more fatigued, the data simply does not support that assertion," the NRL said.
It pointed out the number of errors per game had remained almost unchanged from 2019, while an increase of one try per game gave players more time to rest.
The NRL also noted that players are running less distance per game than they were two seasons ago.
Unhappy that the players' views on the game had been dismissed out of hand, the RLPA hit back.
"Players have provided the RLPA with direct feedback throughout the season regarding changes to the level of fatigue and match demands, which has been shared with the NRL," it said in a statement.
"While it may not have been the intention, dismissing the feelings and experiences of players as 'perception' in this statement lacks awareness and respect for those playing the game.
"The need for transparency has never been more important and the RLPA will request further data from the NRL and clubs before confirming our position and making an recommendations for change."
Last weekend's Magic Round was highlighted by a crackdown by officials, which resulted in a record 24 charges being handed out by the match review committee.
But the NRL's head of football, Graham Annesley, said on Monday it was too early to say if fatigue, caused by recent rule changes, was behind the huge rise in charges.
"I'm hoping it's just one of those unusual spikes that we have in any season … but this is a big number, obviously," he said.
"I'm hoping it's a spike that can't be explained, and then next week it comes back down again.
"It's unfortunate that it happened on Magic Round, it's unfortunate that it happened on the weekend where the Commission said we're going to take a much tougher view of this stuff on the field, but off the field nothing changed.
"Off the field they were reviewed as they would be any other week."
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