Mailbox: Re-introduce an old rule

James Gordon

Mailbox gives you the chance to get your voice heard and start the debate with the rugby league audience. Want to be featured? Email the editor: james@loverugbyleague.com

Dear James,

I’ve just finished reading the mailbox on ideas regarding the scrum.

It got me thinking of other ways to improve our great game. I never understood the rule where the scoring team has the ball kicked back to them.

When I went to my first matches, the scoring team kicked to their opposition at the restart. I think if this was reintroduced the game would offer so much more.

Strong teams time and again benefit from the present system, they score and get the ball back and then score again (and again…) without the opposition seeing the ball.

Soon they are way out in front and it seems unfair to the other team who are defending constantly and getting little on the way of possession.

If the old rule was brought back, we would see teams having a fair crack at each other and drop goals with a couple of mins to go would be a thing to be considered as the opponents would be getting the ball from the lick off.
Both teams would have their chances to attack and of course, defend.
I loved the old system and would love to see it again to reignite rugby league.
Dave Stanley
Editor’s comment: An interesting suggestion, one of those that if things were the other way round maybe it would be suggested to be reversed. The risk of kicking a late penalty or drop goal, and then losing possession via a short kick-off would be taken away.

Mailbox gives you the chance to get your voice heard and start the debate with the rugby league audience. Want to be featured? Email the editor: james@loverugbyleague.com