The Rugby League Players Association will push for the NRL’s contentious 2026 rule changes to be wound back after 84 per cent of leading players said they believe referees are having a greater impact on results and two-thirds fear they are more susceptible to injury in the high-octane modern game.
Amid the ongoing fallout from Kalyn Ponga’s controversial Origin I send-off, and in a season in which almost 50 points are scored on average each game and matches are decided by an average of 17.2 points, the players union released eyebrow-raising feedback from players based on the first 10 rounds of 2026.
The survey results showed 96.5 per cent of the 57 players (drawn from RLPA advisor roles at all 17 clubs) felt overall match speed had increased or significantly increased compared to 2025, thanks largely to the expanded remit of set restarts.
The most notable flow-on effect of the perceived faster contests is 61.5 per cent of players surveyed believe they are more susceptible to injury as a result, with 39 per cent also getting less enjoyment from the game than last season.
With set restarts or “six agains” now called from the 20-metre line for ruck breaches and defenders being offside, the NRL’s average of 8.8 set restarts a game is a 49 per cent increase on the 5.9 set restarts a match awarded in 2025.
Numerous players and coaches – with Queensland captain Cameron Munster and Raiders coach Ricky Stuart most vocal – have spoken of their growing frustration with the consistency of set restarts and the lack of explanation offered when they are awarded.
Extended runs of possession and points have grown increasingly common as well. RLPA chief executive Clint Newton declared player feedback pointed to the NRL risking an eventual “disengagement” from fans if they feel games are over-officiated or manipulated by referees.
“It’s clear that the rule changes are having an impact, and what I will say is [ARL Commission chairman] Peter V’landys and [outgoing NRL chief executive] Andrew Abdo have always been willing to meet with the players,” Newton said.
“We’ll keep trying to move the game forward and keep coming up with solutions, and potentially it’s just a matter of making some slight adjustments back to give everyone what I think they know and love.
“I don’t think it can ever be forgotten that our fans are incredibly educated about the game.
“I think our game is easy to understand by comparison to rugby, AFL and different American codes, which is why we’re able to attract new markets.
“But, we’ve got to be very careful about not creating a situation where fans start to disengage because referees either get too involved in the game or they actually don’t feel like they understand the game any more because there’s a lack of clarity on why decisions are being made.
“I think that’s certainly a serious risk and one the broadcasters especially are mindful of.”
The NRL can in turn point to strong crowd attendances and TV ratings this season and a 6 per cent year-on-year increase in Origin I’s total TV audience of 3.995 million viewers.
Winning margins have dropped significantly in the past two weeks since Magic Round as well, with five of the seven games in round 13 decided by six points or less.
The governing body presented its own statistics to a meeting of club CEOs and the RLPA last month covering game speed, which pointed to injuries and ball-in-play time falling from 2025 in the first seven rounds this year.
As the NRL pursues a record $4 billion in its next broadcast deal and ramps up negotiations with broadcasters, including free-to-air rights holder Nine Entertainment, the publisher of this masthead, a reduction in ball-in-play time has at least some genesis in significantly more tries being scored in the first 13 rounds this season.
A seven per cent increase in tries scored (857 this season against 790 at the same stage last season) translates to more advertising breaks on free-to-air TV. Some club figures privately believe this to be a motivation behind the new rule introductions.
Fears Origin I would be marred by a spate of six-again calls proved unfounded with just three set restarts in the first half as Queensland dominated.
Forty-eight hours later though, referee Todd Smith awarded 12 set-restarts in the first half of Cronulla’s win over Manly alone, just the second time that high-water mark has been hit in one 40-minute stanza. The Sharks and Sea Eagles conceded one set-restart each after halftime.
Along with angst around how ruck rules are applied, the RLPA and NRL clubs have previously voiced concern over the belated announcement of this year’s rule changes, which were only locked in a month out from the start of the 2026 season.
The NRL’s long-standing policy on rule changes and interpretations is to conduct an extensive review at the end of each season.
The last time the NRL expanded its six-again remit – which resulted in a 2021 season of blowout scores and record points being scoring – was wound back that summer with the concession game-play had grown too fast and haphazard.
Newton said the RLPA’s survey response pointed to a similar feeling among players, particularly given the added physical and mental strains that typically only increase as a season wears on.
“What we don’t want is to have players red-lining throughout the season as much as I think they are feeling right now,” Newton said.
“We want the best players available for as many games as possible and as many seasons as possible. And again, I’m confident we can get the balance right for the game.
“The NRL has already said they didn’t get the process right with engaging stakeholders and how quickly the rules were introduced. We’ve got a commitment from the NRL that won’t happen again this year.”
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