{"id":439708,"date":"2025-02-04T18:51:22","date_gmt":"2025-02-04T19:51:22","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sportinfo.pro\/?p=439708"},"modified":"2025-02-05T02:13:09","modified_gmt":"2025-02-05T02:13:09","slug":"league-greats-back-move-to-stamp-out-blight-on-the-game","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sportinfo.pro\/?p=439708","title":{"rendered":"League greats back move to stamp out 'blight on the game'"},"content":{"rendered":"

League greats have applauded the NRL's move to stop rewarding players for milking penalties by laying down after minimal contact<\/a> in the defensive line.<\/p>\n

Diving has gone to ridiculous proportions in recent seasons, with referees often denying tries when defenders take blatant dives, infuriating coaches, fans and players.<\/p>\n

But all that is set to stop in 2025 – or at least become less prevalent – with the NRL instructing referees to show more discretion in this contentious area<\/a>.<\/p>\n

READ MORE:<\/strong> Konstas sent home, Marnus training mystery lingers<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n

\ufeffTHE MOLE:<\/strong> Bennett toying with round one selection stunner<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n<\/p>\n

READ MORE:<\/strong> Former AFL player Troy Selwood dead aged 40<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n

"It's a great move by the NRL and I particularly like the way the NRL has worded it," the legendary Brad Fittler<\/a> told Wide World of Sports.<\/p>\n

"They have given the refs the discretion to call it as they see it and the refs should appreciate being given that latitude.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

"We need to do something to stop players lying down – it's become such a huge part of the game and it is a blight on the game.<\/p>\n

"Using decoy runners has become the best way to break down a defence, and defenders have learned that lying down is the best way to counter it."<\/p>\n

Raiders coach Ricky Stuart<\/a> was typically blunt in his assessment of the interpretation change heading into the side's Las Vegas season opener.<\/p>\n

"You've got to make players defend," Stuart said.<\/p>\n

"It's an easy decision for them to lay down and they are being rewarded for it.<\/p>\n

"Hopefully this will be the end of it."<\/p>\n

Redcliffe boss Bob Jones was dubious about how the referees will handle the changes.<\/p>\n

"I wish them [referees] the best of luck – it's hard to tell whether players are diving or are legitimately impeded and some are very good at diving," he said.<\/p>\n

"This trend has been happening for a long time but it is getting worse so it's good the NRL is trying to do something about it.<\/p>\n

"But it is hard to adjudicate who's fair dinkum and who is not. It costs teams games so it's crucial that they get it right."<\/p>\n

Fittler is also delighted with the NRL's move to clean up the play-the-ball, where if a player doesn't make a realistic attempt to put his foot on the ball, a turnover results.<\/p>\n

"I'm sick and tired of kids and even older players at coaching clinics asking me if they have to touch the ball with their foot in the play-the-ball," the former NSW coach said.<\/p>\n

"It's become a joke. There needs to be an effort by the players and this should ensure that happens."<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

League greats have applauded the NRL's move to stop rewarding players for milking penalties by laying down after minimal contact in the defensive line. Diving […]<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":439710,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[1],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/sportinfo.pro\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/439708"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/sportinfo.pro\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/sportinfo.pro\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sportinfo.pro\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sportinfo.pro\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=439708"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/sportinfo.pro\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/439708\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":439711,"href":"https:\/\/sportinfo.pro\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/439708\/revisions\/439711"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sportinfo.pro\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/439710"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/sportinfo.pro\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=439708"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sportinfo.pro\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=439708"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sportinfo.pro\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=439708"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}