Ban on kick-offs? NRL experts battle it out over controversial issue

“It will kill the game,” said Paul Kent on NRL 360 this Tuesday. Other panellists and players disagreed. 

There are few issues more controversial in the NRL right now than whether to ban the kick-off. This nature of this fierce debate was on full display on Tuesday’s NRL 360 show on Fox Sports. Panellists, including former Canterbury Bulldogs and Sydney Roosters star Braith Anasta, were split on the topic and engaged in a fierce debate.  

“The great debate” about the kick-off ban 

“The great debate, the ban of the kick-off,” Braith Anasta said to kick-off NRL 360 on Tuesday before turning over to his panellists. A great debate is exactly what ensued.  
 
Dean “Bulldog'” Ritchie, a veteran NRL journalist with over 30-years experience, revealed that he has been speaking to players about the ban, including to Penrith Panthers legend Greg Alexander.  
 
“I spoke to Greg Alexander and Brandy gave me a couple of quotes, and he is another advocate for it to be considered to be banned,” Ritchie said, before clarifying, “I’m not calling for it to be banned. All I’m saying is, is it a discussion that we will have to have in the next two to three years.” 
 
This comment sparked a spirited response from Paul Kent, another experienced NRL journo, and Braith Anasta.  
 
“The answer is no. [We don't have to consider a ban,]  because it’s rugby league. Ok, let me just start going through it. They play the game willingly, ok. They are well-paid to play the game,” Kent asserted, before going into a fiery defence of how the game is currently played and arguing that the players need to change, not the rule.  
 
“It is their decision to catch the ball and to accelerate. There’s nothing in the rules that says you have to accelerate into the line the way they do,” Kent said.  
 
“There’s nothing in the rules that say you have to defend that tackle like they do, with two players either side of the bloke in the middle, all standing upright. They can change the way they tackle. They don’t have to run the ball back into the line as they do.” 
 
“Change the way they play. Why does the rule have to be changed because the players or the coaches are coaching them to do a certain thing that’s not beneficial to them?” 

Kick-off alternatives 

The debate spiralled into a fierce back and forth before Ritchie suggested the league shorten the length of kick-offs to 20 metres.  
“I’m not saying ban it. You misunderstand me. I am saying in due course I think they will get rid of that heavy collision and they will start with a 20-metre tap,” Ritchie said.  
 
“That’s embarrassing,” Kent immediately responded, with Anasta agreeing.  
 
“I’m hammering the NRL because no one in there is listening, And the fact that they’re even allowing this conversation to gain momentum, is once again another embarrassment for the game,” Kent went on also to say.  

Despite Kent’s protests, there will likely be some review of the kick-off rule in the coming years. There have been three knockouts on kick-offs just this season, and a growing awareness of concussion issues in rugby. Whether there are changes is too early to say, but there no doubt will be discussions.