V’landys says NRL players are “not telling the truth” about set-restart confusion

Peter V’landys has dismissed growing complaints about NRL set restarts, accusing players of “not telling the truth” when they say they do not know why referees award a six-again call.

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I don’t buy that

The issue is expected to dominate the finals after Melbourne captain Harry Grant said players were frustrated by uncertainty over what counts as a fast or slow play-the-ball. An AAP survey of finals captains and representatives found six teams were still not entirely clear about the ruck speed referees wanted.

Players also said the game moves too quickly to ask referees for an explanation after a restart. V’landys rejected that argument, saying there were only two reasons for set restarts and that players had become more compliant with offside decisions. “The wrestling’s got to go,” he said, arguing that fans disliked players slowing the ruck.

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The wrestling’s got to go

Set restarts rose sharply during the first half of the season, fell during the State of Origin period and increased again in recent weeks. The initial rise followed the NRL’s decision to expand the area where restarts could be awarded from 60 metres of the field to 80.

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When you look at the facts, the ruck speed is still the same as it was last year

V’landys said the rules would not be repealed next season and rejected Grant’s assessment that the system had created confusion. “When you look at the facts, the ruck speed is still the same as it was last year,” he said, putting it at about 3.5 seconds. McInnes offered a different view, saying some six-again calls were difficult for players and spectators to understand.

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With some of the six agains, who knows what they are for