2011 Rule Changes

But by far the biggest change for the game itself this season is the appointment of Bill Harrigan and Stuart Raper as NRL referees' coaches, replacing Robert Finch in rugby league's most difficult job. The pair spent the off-season meeting with players, ex-players and coaches to work through the entire rulebook and have devised a 'back to basics' approach to their reign as a direct result. It's the first time the NRL has appointed two referees coaches, with Raper in charge of liaising with clubs and coaches and running training sessions, while Harrigan will look after performance, rules and appointments. "We've decided that's the best way to go because Bill has a better feel if a ref is doing something right or wrong," Raper.

The key rule changes introduced for 2011 are:

- Defenders will be rewarded for making a good 'legs' tackle, with referees allowing them more time. They will also be allowed, within reason, to spin on top if they are the lone defender in order to get to marker;
- Dominant tackles will only be called if dominance is gained upon impact. Gang tackles will not be called dominant;
- A penalty will only be awarded against a leg pull if it directly affects the speed of the play-the-ball;
- The attacking player must play the ball on the mark and will be penalised if he takes steps either forward or to the side;
- Defenders will only be penalised for making contact with the kicker if contact is deemed unnecessary;
- Any player that takes a kick-off or drop-out in front of the line by any margin will be penalised;
- Tries will be awarded if decoy runners have no effect on the try being scored;
- Scrums must bind correctly and players must not break until the referee calls 'out'. Players will be penalised if they break early; and
- The 10-metre advantage rule has been scrapped, with referees to determine when a side has taken their advantage.
- A player catching the ball on the full in goal can run up to 20m mark and effect a quick tap

There have also been changes in the video referee's room, with Bernard Sutton moving upstairs as a result of ongoing knee problems and Paul Mellor and Rod Lawrence both video ref trainees. Raper and Harrigan have promised to communicate the reasons behind contentious decisions more effectively to fans and the media each Monday following their weekly round reviews and will split the eight games between them in order to better analyse every play.