Richard Agar and Paul Rowley lead calls to scrap six-again rule

Leeds coach Richard Agar and Salford boss Paul Rowley said they would happily scrap the six-again rule, saying the game would be better off without it.

The six-again rule was initially brought in to speed the game up and make it a more entertaining product for fans to enjoy.

However, Rowley believes the ruling adds a grey area to the game and makes it for confusing for everyone involved.

Rowley said: “I hate the six-again rule. At the minute I do anyway because it is hurting us.

“I think it is a grey area, it is one where you can argue for an against it. If you went through a game with a referee, you can argue for the ones that were given and the ones that weren’t. To me, it is just an ugly part of the game and it makes it too difficult.

“I’d get rid, absolutely. It is too complicated for the referees and you are always going to get an opinion. It’s a grey area. Less grey areas in the game, the better. An unnecessary addition to the game I think.”

Paul Rowley: Six-again rule a grey area

He added: “I think sometimes a referee can prejudge. Everybody slows the game down when they are defending their own line so we’ve had people pinged to the sin-bin and in my opinion it is because they have been prejudged. They think we are playing that slowing mentality but they are not clean decisions.

“I think the crowd are missing half of them and are not sure what’s going on. They can’t see what it’s for so for a spectator sport, the spectators are confused.

“We are turning into rugby union where nobody actually knows the rules. We are rugby league where it is quite clear how you play the game. You get six tackles and if there’s a penalty, it is a penalty, the game stops and you can resume play from a restart.

“It is a scruffy area that has confused the supporters and a grey area in terms of coaches and players on whether it is given or not.”

Richard Agar: I would never have brought six-again rule in

Rhinos boss Richard Agar, whose Leeds side travel to Salford on Friday night, agrees with Rowley about the six-again rule. He says if it was up to him he would never have introduced the rule in the first place.

Agar told Love Rugby League: “These are my thoughts: I would have never have brought it in, in the first place.

“It is very subjective. You guys will all have your own opinions but I fail to see what it has brought to the game apart from a load of groans from the crowd generally.

“I think it has made it difficult for the refs and sometimes it has an effect on the game. The games can start to look the same a little bit. It is tough for middles that are tackling to get back behind the ball and play. I honestly don’t mind a penalty or scrum. I think it gives you different starts and it puts a bit more energy back into the game.”

Richard Agar: I’d happily scrap it

Agar continued: “The ball might be in play a bit less, but you might get a bit more energy back in the game where middles can get behind the ball and start to play a little bit. We might see a bit more creativity, offloading and people behind the ball rather than your back five having to march around in yardage all the time. We changed the rule on the back of the NRL doing it. It’s subjective, but I’d argue our game didn’t look aesthetically like the NRL. I think it has been good in the NRL. But I don’t think it has needed to have the same impact in this country.

“There’s a lot more to be debated but that is just my opinion. I feel it has brought nothing to the game but groans and I feel there is nothing wrong with having a penalty and allowing more players to be behind the ball and ask more questions in attack. I’d happily scrap it.”

PLAY: Our free Fantasy Rugby League competition is back for 2022