Mind the gap: NRL rules under fire after most lopsided results in years
The NRL’s new rules are back under the spotlight after the most lopsided round in almost 17 years.
A combined total of 209 points have decided the eight games of round four, with an average of 26.1 points between teams at fulltime.
Parramattaās 14-point win over the Wests Tigers on Monday capped off the biggest margin in a round since round 16 in 2004 when 29.6 was the average difference between sides.
Before Mondayās game the mark was previously at 205 points for the weekend since the NRL went to 16 teams, set in round 21 of 2013.
The NRL was adamant at the start of the year that early-season blowouts couldnāt be put solely on the new rules, which promote fatigue.
And while poor roster management and self-confessed āsoftā efforts from teams have contributed, there is now the potential for a problem.
Just six of 31 games played so far this season have been decided by a converted try or less, denying fans regular grandstand finishes.
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āI donāt think any of us like seeing a game of footy when itās 30-0 at halftime,ā Warriors coach Nathan Brown said.
āWhen you see games where itās tight, they are the games we want to see from a footy fanās point of view.
āI donāt think itās great for the game, but I donāt know what the answer is there.
āBecause I do think the new rules make for a good spectacle. I like seeing the game where smaller people can get an advantage.ā
Brownās side is one of the few teams to have had two close games, and are yet to have been blown off the park.
But the gulf in class is best demonstrated on the ladder, where a clear bottom pack has emerged.
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While Manly, Canterbury and North Queensland would likely still have struggled under any rules, they all have for-and-against scores of minus-100 after the opening month.
Previously, the last team to have a minus-100 for-and-against after four rounds was the 2002 Cowboys.
āSome sides on the weekend had some scores put on them when they competed for a while and started to fatigue a bit,ā Brown said.
Then the classy players on the other side take advantage.
āUnder the old rules you could slow the game up. Where now the game has quickened up for good reason.
āSometimes it takes time for the other players to adjust.ā
Meanwhile three-time premiership-winning Roosters coach Trent Robinson also agreed the blowouts were a result of the rules, but didnāt have an opinion on if it was a good or bad thing.
āOf course, itās down to the rules and unstructured nature, and people are enjoying that,ā Robinson said.
āBut the flipside is youāre going to get some blowout scores.
āThatās natural. Some people are going to be better at unstructured than other teams.ā
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