'You know it makes sense': This moment of Nathan Cleary genius should trigger an immediate rule change

Well done to champion Penrith halfback Nathan Cleary for the elite skill he showed to get the ball back for his side with his sensational goal line drop out against Canberra on Sunday afternoon.

But it was also the latest example of why the rule for the short drop outs (and kick offs) needs to change.

The ball should be "live" for the receiving team as soon as it is kicked, while the kicking team must wait for the ball to go 10 metres, to create a fairer contest.

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The kicking team currently has too many advantages, and next to no jeopardy, while the receiving team which just forced the line drop out has anything but a "repeat set"!

Remember this rule was originally changed at the start of the 2024 season. Penalties were taken away for drop outs that didn't go the 10 or went out on the full.

The idea was for high drop outs to go towards the 10 metre line encouraging "contests" for possession.

Clever kickers have instead found ways to take the "contest" out of it and still get the ball back for their teams.

From that Cleary kick, Seb Kris had only a slight chance to keep the ball alive for the Raiders, but he ran backwards instead of forwards at a key moment, as the drop out broke the 10 metre plane and powered into touch off his outstretched hand in the end.

If he'd been right on the 10 metre line - it would have been very difficult to keep the ball in play for Canberra. If he caught the ball Penrith were ready to bundle him into touch. His best hope was to be in position to bat or kick the ball back infield hoping to find a teammate.

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If you look at the Panthers chasers for Cleary's grubber like drop out - led by Tom Jenkins - they have no intent to "contest" for the footy. Their main plan from such a kick is to be there to tackle if necessary. Because they know if that bouncing ball goes into touch past the 10 metre line, then they get the ball back. Watch it again!

It is superb coaching and execution from Penrith. And watch out for all the copy-cat attempts in the coming weeks.

Coincidentally the Panthers try scoring sensation Tom Jenkins showcased what could happen a whole lot more if the rule was tweaked. In the round five romp over the Storm he jumped into the air to diffuse a short drop out on the full and after a spectacular take he returned the ball under the black dot to round off a 40 point win.

But not before the bunker checked whether the ball had indeed crossed the imaginary plane of the 10 metre line before Milky swooped. Under the proposed rule change that wouldn't need to be checked! You would also get a lot more aerial specialists attacking such kicks without the need to worry about that imaginary plane!

More spectacular footy. Less ball watching.

In the supporting video you see two examples of Latrell Mitchell getting the ball back for South Sydney from short drop outs in the same game against the Roosters. The first was even more unplayable than Cleary's. His kick lands eight metres out from the goal line and then bounces two metres over the head of Daniel Tupou into touch.

Unequivocally unplayable for the Roosters. After earning what used to be called a "repeat set", the Roosters did not even have a play at the ball from the line drop out.

Later in the same game Latrell tried another one, which looked like a shocker as it almost landed on the goalline. But both teams had to watch it bounce, and sure enough it bounced all the way to the 10 metre line, where Jai Arrow won the scrap with Billy Smith for the footy. Eventually "contestable" after three bounces, but this is not how the current rule was drawn up.

Under my proposed rule change, the Roosters could try to get to those kicks on the full. Latrell would have to be more precise with his kicks.

The current interpretation is also incredibly difficult for referees at times, as we saw in the Manly v Dragons game last year. In this instance Haumole Olakau'atu sees the ball has gone 10 metres (because it landed right under his nose) so chases the ball as it bounces back towards the goal-line and knows he's entitled to retrieve it.

Once he grabs the ball the referee incorrectly penalises the Manly superstar claiming the kick had not gone 10.

Fortunately Manly had a captain's challenge up their sleeve to correct that wrong. As the challenge was unfolding the Dragons Damien Cook correctly argued "you've got to remember we also didn't touch it because you said it hadn't gone 10. So it'll have to be a redo or something."

Cook was right but no joy - and after a 90 -second delay for the review - play re-started with a Manly play-the-ball, because of a "mutual infringement". Under the proposed rule tweak this dog's breakfast of a situation would be avoided. You know it makes sense!

As we saw in NRLW Magic Round last year, Bulldogs backrower Shannon Muru thought the current rule made no sense.

A Cleary like drop out from the Titans ' Lauren Brown was heading to the sideline. So after starting on the 10 metre line Muru attacked the bouncing footy and was perplexed when a penalty was blown against her when she collected the ball eight metres out.

Muru's approach would be legal under the proposed change. But Brown would be unlikely to try such a kick either. Win, win!

I have mentioned this proposed rule change on multiple occasions in the Channel 9 commentary box and legends have jumped on board.

Cam Smith: "I don't mind that little variation, it puts more onus on the kicker to make sure that it goes 10."

Jonathan Thurston: "(The proposed change) keeps the kicker accountable."

Phil Gould: "The catching side, the non-kicking side should be allowed to grab it anywhere and anytime they like."

Ruan Sims: "I actually like that change! Write it up as a memo!"

So here is that memo.

Simple change: The ball is "live" for the receiving team as soon as it is kicked.

It would make life easier for referees.

It would be easier to understand for all players and fans.

The kicks will become more "contestable", making for a better spectacle.

Dare I say it - you could even implement the rule change mid-season. The game will be the beneficiary.