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<\/p>\nRugby league legend Peter Sterling has expressed concerns over the latest batch of rule changes in the NRL, saying that the game is in danger of becoming too imbalanced.<\/p>\n
"I get very weary with rule changes, or interpretation changes," he told Wide World of Sports.<\/p>\n
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"We've had more changes to our game in that regard in the past ten years than in the previous 90, and I don't think it's been particularly advantageous."<\/p>\n
One of the most notable alterations has been the removal of most scrum plays, with teams starting with a play-the-ball instead after a kick goes over the sideline<\/a>.<\/p>\n Sterling said that although fast, attacking rugby league should be encouraged, we can't get to a point where it becomes unfair on defenders.<\/p>\n "Our game is about attack and defence – we don't want it to be a 50\/50 split, we want it to be about 60\/40 to the attacking team. But when it starts to be more than that, then I have grave concerns for our game – and I think we're really pushing that boundary," Sterling said.<\/p>\n "It's all attack-oriented. And the problem for the defensive team is there are so few opportunities to halt momentum."<\/p>\n The former Eels halfback said that attacking sets near the try-line were in danger of becoming foregone conclusions.<\/p>\n "If I'm a coach, I'm making sure my kicker is practicing short dropouts. It's now one opportunity to create a contest and turn the tide, and there aren't many of them," Sterling said.<\/p>\n "It's so hard to stop attacking teams now, and I'm concerned it's getting too slanted. We love fatigue and we love open football."<\/p>\n He also compared the new field-goal rule, which would see a successful attempt from outside the 40 metre line be worth two points, to the 20\/40 rule, in that attempts will be few and far between.<\/p>\n "We won't see one. We might see one 30 seconds before half-time but again, why are we looking to change? I don't see the sense in trying to encourage more field goals," Sterling said.<\/p>\n "My mentality, and I'm not saying we should introduce this, is why wouldn't we look at making a try scored from a play-the-ball in your own half worth five instead of four? I'd much rather see than than an extra point for a drop goal."<\/p>\n He did however make special mention of the 40\/20 and the removal of corner posts as standout rule changes that should be benchmarks for administrators moving forward.<\/p>\n "If every rule we could introduce was as astute and successful as those, we'd be in a great position," Sterling said.<\/p>\n "We're introducing things that just put pressure and confusion into the game, and it's not needed.<\/p>\n "Everything you change has a ripple effect. And I don't think we have enough knowledge of those effects, because often we're cleaning up from those effects a season or two later."<\/p>\n For a daily dose of the best of the breaking news and exclusive content from Wide World of Sports, subscribe to our newsletter by clicking<\/em><\/strong> here<\/em><\/strong><\/a>!<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"![\"Cameron](\"https:\/\/vms-network-images-prod.s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com\/2021\/03\/347416\/pickerImage.jpg\")
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