The six-again rules introduced by the NRL have created devastating blocks of momentum within games from which even decent sides can't recover. ARLC chairman Peter V'landys was behind the rule changes and is facing increasing criticism.<\/p>\n
"Teams are getting exposed," Thurston told TODAY<\/em> on Sunday.<\/p>\n 'That's what the rule changes were designed to do, score more points, but with that we're seeing a lot of blowout scores. It's a worrying trend for the NRL.<\/p>\n "We're seeing photos of the Canberra fans walking out with 25 minutes to go. It's not good for the fans, going out there, paying their hard-earned cash and seeing their teams get absolutely hammered each and every week.<\/p>\n "I don't know how we stop this trend. That's what happens when the NRL makes changes to the rules and this is a consequence of it."<\/p>\n Fellow rugby league great Peter Sterling said that the momentum handed to teams with six-agains was proving an unstoppable force.<\/p>\n "It's like trying to put your finger into the dyke wall; once it starts coming at you, the deluge, it's just so hard to stop the momentum and the good sides are running up big scores," Sterling said on Sports Sunday<\/em>, pointing out that even teams like the Roosters and Raiders were being crushed. Canberra inexplicably conceded three tries while the Titans had a player in the sin-bin.<\/p>\n Manly recorded their biggest-ever win in putting 66 points on the hapless Bulldogs. Thurston said that the hot form of fullback Tom Trbojevic, who scored another hat-trick, had made the Sea Eagles a dark horse for the premiership; against the perception that it's a two-horse race between Melbourne and Penrith.<\/p>\n "With Tommy Turbo in your side, 100 per cent they're contenders," Thurston said.<\/p>\n "Their last four games, I think they scored over 50. This man is in a purple patch of form, Tommy Turbo, and it doesn't matter what jersey he's got on his back, he seems to make that side so much better.<\/p>\n "We've seen it with Manly and we've seen it with the Blues. He's the form player of the competition and I don't know how you stop him."<\/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<\/strong><\/em>\u00a0clicking here!<\/strong><\/em><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<\/p>\n
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