The NRL Commission have handed a stern directive to officials refereeing first-grade games going forward.
Starting from the first game of Magic Round on Friday, the way the game is being officiated will change in relation to foul play.
SEN host Andrew Voss was provided the directive from the NRL as a commentator for Fox League, and he detailed the new harsher rules that referees will be working with.
“I can reveal this morning, that starting tonight, Round 10 in Magic Round – the game is changing in relation to dealing with foul play,” Voss said on SEN 1170 Breakfast.
“It is a stern directive, from the commission right from the top, you can put Peter V’Landys’ name to it.
“It has been passed down to the game’s officials, that the commission is unhappy with the way things unfolded last week, in particular involving the Parramatta v Roosters game.
“To the coaches and players - this message - and indeed to the media and commentators, including myself, to in turn inform you the fans to be prepared for what’s coming next.
“There will be a tougher approach to foul play, beginning game one tonight.
“It is the commission’s view that the game is at a turning point in regards to contact with the head or neck in tackles.
“The onus will be on the defender for duty of care, in effect – aim lower – be warned that the sin-bin will be used far more.
“We could have more send-offs beginning tonight.
“I can give you the guidelines as to what the referees and officials and in turn the players and coaches have been told in relation to tackles.
“Direct or forceful contact to the head or neck in a tackle will result in a penalty and at least sin-bin, while for the worst offences a send off will occur.
“Indirect forceful contact, that means if a swinging arm bounces off the chest and ends up hitting the head and the player falls in the tackle, then that will be at least a penalty and sin-bin.
“If the contact is minimal, then that will be a penalty, but the player will still be put on report.
“They’ve also stressed that the referee and the bunker officials have been informed to not play the part of the Match Review Committee.
“All they have to determine is was there contact at the finish with the head or neck.
“They won’t look at mitigating circumstances, if an attacker falls into the tackle and he drops and was hit in the head, then the defender is the one who’ll be in trouble.”
Voss revealed that the rule changes wouldn’t end with high contact, but that harsher guidelines have also been applied to set-restarts.
“The crackdown will not end there, a harsher approach will be applied to general play as well,” Voss said.
“Talking about set-restarts, this is how it’s going to work.
“If a team gives away set-restarts, maybe a couple in the first 30 minutes, but if they give away another 30 minutes later they could be sin-binned.
“There will be a count done, time elapsed does not matter, if it is multiple infringements through the course of the match.
“That is the directive of the rules going into the night.
“Be warned folks, you may think it’s too harsh, but the ball is in the court of the players with what happens next.”
Listen to Vossy’s verdict below.