‘Pretty much rats’: Munster leads criticism of kick-off change trial
The NRL has plenty of work to do convincing people the kick-off change is a good idea with multiple current and ex-players expressing their displeasure at the initiative.
Broncos legend and club director Darren Lockyer was the only supporter post the Melbourne and Brisbane clash after it was ruled as a trial.
Nick Meaney kicks off. NRL Imagery
Under the proposed rule, the team that conceded a try will have the chance to receive or kick-off.
Melbourne were the first to opt to receive in the match, which didn’t happen until the second half.
On Nine’s coverage, Jahrome Hughes was first to be asked for his opinion. He gave a cautious response.
“No one took that first half and then everyone made an error so it was a bit weird ... I don’t have much to say about it, I don’t want to get in trouble and say the wrong thing,” he said.
“I like our game the way it is at the moment.”
However, Cameron Munster wasn’t as careful, urging decision-makers to consult the players.
“I’m not a fan,” he said.
“I just think when you work hard and defend two or three times on your line and then for example, (Siulagi Tuimalatu-Brown) scored a try off an intercept and you’re back to kicking off, there’s no reward for someone making a great play.
“They’re trying to stop those momentum swings, I understand it, but you’ve got to talk to the players as well. We’re not robots ... it’d be nice to talk to the players’ association and have a bit of a say. In trials next year you could probably experiment it.
“We’re not making finals so I understand we’re pretty much rats tonight and experimenting, but it’s still disappointing.”
Lockyer, on the other hand, said “it’s worth experimenting” and if the game was closer the kick-off could’ve become an interesting tactic.
“I think it’s got potential,” he said.
Standing next to Lockyer, Johnathan Thurston backed Munster’s sentiments that a team should be rewarded for defending and then scoring.
Melbourne captain Harry Grant was candid in his analysis during the post-match press conference, continuing calls for the game to switch back to how it was officiated last season.
Cameron Munster speaks on Nine. Nine
“I think the (kick-off) is part of the fabric of the game and we don’t need to change it,” Grant said.
“We’re bringing in a rule to counteract other rules that have been brought in. Maybe we can have a deep, hard look at going back on a few rules if that’s where we sit on it.
Grant also referenced Munster’s point on the Tuimalatu-Brown try, saying “there’s no reward” with the rule.
“I’m pretty strong on that. I think there’s a lot of people in the game that are strong on it. Maybe it’s time to stay with what it is,” Grant said.
Storm coach Craig Bellamy was asked a broader question about fatigue in the NRL and how big men like Nelson Asofa-Solomona have been lost to the game because of it.
Grant nodded along to the question before Bellamy made the point that with more teams coming into the competition, there would need to be more players.
“At the end of the day, we don’t want to be burning our big guys out because there’ll be even less players playing,” he said.
