NRL to throw the book at loitering trainers after controversial 2019 grand final
The NRL is threatening to deregister trainers who spend excessive amounts of time on the field in a crackdown ahead of the new season.
Trainers will be cautioned, fined or even deregistered if they're deemed to be loitering.
Trainers wearing blue shirts will need to provide a card to interchange officials every time they enter the field for tactical purposes. They can only enter the game three times per half.
Trainers can enter the field of play during stoppages when a try is scored, to facilitate an interchange or during video referee decisions and injury timeouts.
Treating injured players comes with no limitations for trainers with orange shirts, however the long held practice of monitoring play behind players has been banned. Trainers will have to watch from the sideline.
Roosters trainer Travis Touma sparked the news rules. Nine
The problem surrounding loitering trainers was brought to a head last year during the grand final when trainer Roosters Travis Touma was hit by the ball, which returned possession to the tri-colours.
The sequence of events led to the Roosters scoring off the next set in a grand final which was decided by 6 points.
It comes after the NRL sent out a directive to coaches about flouting the new scrum rules by advising players to break early from the scrum to stifle attacking football.
Head of football Graham Annesley warned teams that the ruling body would administer a change to rules, which could unlock a team's ability to kick penalty goals from scrum penalties.
