Fittler warns of ‘panic’ for NRL restart

Stuart Honeysett
Brydens Lawyers NSW Blues coach Brad Fittler believes teams could ‘panic’ under the new rules the NRL has introduced when the NRL competition resumes tonight.
The NRL will get underway again when Brisbane Broncos host Parramatta Eels at Suncorp Stadium and there will be additional interest after the rules were tweaked while the game was shut down over the coronavirus pandemic.
The changes will see the game revert to one referee again after having two referees on the ground since 2009 while the whistle-blower will also have the power to award six more tackles for ruck infringements.
There has been plenty of speculation about how the changes will impact on the game with True Blues including Brad Fittler and Andrew Johns supporting the changes in the belief that it will help eliminate the wrestle and speed up the game.
“It’s going to be interesting, especially the new rules and how much that is going to make teams panic and change the way they play,” Fittler told Five with Freddy for nswrl.com.au
“There’s only one game they can look back on which is that All Stars Game where that rule of six to go was implemented.
“I’m sure a lot of coaches were looking over that and just seeing ways they can work it out.”
It has also been suggested the new six-to-go rule could assist hookers like NSW Blues and South Sydney No.9 Damien Cook, who will be in action against the Sydney Roosters at Bankwest Stadium tomorrow night.
Fittler said he hoped that referees would use all the powers available to them to ensure the game flowed freely and was fast.
“I also like the part where you can sin bin players that are looking to trick the referees or making it hard for the referees,” Fittler said.
“That’s a nice little threat against the players.
“We’ll see how that works and we’ll see if the referees are willing to utilise that rule but I think it will be exciting.
“It’s a little bit of difference, it should open up more and I think even the fact that everyone talks about it being more open will make the players play more openly. I think it’s a good move.”