It may be worth pointing out that during the days of the four tackle rule, prior to the change to six, and to some degree early days of six tackles rule you could kick for touch anywhere provided it - the ball bounced first and went
Into touch. This gave the attacking side " loose head " ie, open side prop & hooker had the best sight of the ball placed in the scrum when scrums were contested + a very good attacking side could retain possession this build pressure, the value of having the best ball kicker out of hand ensured a side dictated play. Wakey had one of the best ever - Don Fox, Don murdered Hudersfield in the headingly re-play 1968.
Hence when Don kicked, sides panicked, at Wembley Leeds gave away the first try with Atkinson pulling the ball back away from touch to prevent a scrum on the 25, however hurst was so quick following up he kicked ahead & scored.
On the + side a side could constantly work up the field of play, more scrums, but a scrum was always in line where
The ball went in, even if it was 1ft of the try line, hence push overs were possible.
On the negative, a side would - could kick 1m ahead to ensure loose head & put in at any point in play.
So if the new rule of 20/40 was the 1st kick, played tap was taken with a side laying deep with a further kick taken 20m back for a 40/20 then an attack taking a tap on the 20 could pay dividends if successful kicks were achieved ?
Interesting times I suppose ?????

I'd be ok with that rule.

It'll slow the game down.

If a team is struggling to break away from their line, under the current rules they hoof it down field and the side who defended well can carry on with their momentum and run it back in.

The new rule means that a side will go for touch and a scrum or tap will result for the kicking side, if they get it beyond the forty (assuming it makes it). Don't forget, however, that there is a lot of room between the forty metre line and the try line so the same level of accuracy isn't required.

It rewards poor attack and penalises good defence, and if successful will slow the game down rather than the current situation (although teams can still go for touch now, I suppose, and use a scrum to regroup).

Could work both ways, knowing that a 20/40 could be on will put just enough doubt in the defending team who may push their wings back to guard against it opening up gaps for the attacking team to exploit. I agree it is a get out for a poor attacking set but adds an extra dimension to the game. I'd rather it be trialled in the NRL to see if it's a positive change before SL adopted it.

Agree with this and RL may well start to look more like Union, with long clearance kicks from the back becoming ever more common.
It's almost too much reward for kicking from inside your own 20.

It will create more scoring chances and could help prevent poor sides from getting hammered but, it's some very easy yards and with possession as a result, it seems to penalise the side that was in an attacking position.

Cas will love it, as a 20/40 there will put the kicking side near the try line, as there isn't twenty metres between the 40 and the 20.

It'll turn the game to rugby yawnion kicking back and forth for touch.

Ahh, you mean the 20/35 kick

Same as a 40/20 apparently, a tap 10 metres in from where the ball crosses the touchline.

Not sure if its for me, although just thinking about it it may open up more expansive play when close to your own line. The defensive wingers will need to drop back which could open up overlap opportunities.

Of course its more likely that teams will just hoof it.

See how the Aussies get on with it first, they can be Superleagues UAT environment

Surely,the same can be achieved by an early kick in the tackle count, before the wingers fall back.

Why does every new season have to start with another rule change; not always for the better? You just get used to a rule then it doesn't apply anymore. It seems as though we are in awe of the yawnion boys and are edeavouring to make our game as boring as theirs . Leave the rules alone if only for a couple of seasons.

Interesting point about Cas pitch, it's nearly square, if cas get a penalty free kick, Gayle used to kick for touch & always set cas up on opponents 20m or 5m from the try line, not their fault - just a minimum size pitch, so on full size pitches they could not do that tactic & had to play through the tackles which is harder !!!

Same for both sides though init?


Edit: After I clicked post I think I got what you were saying, its different for them playing away?

yeap they also say we're not afraid to make changes to the game but they look clueless to looking for the ultimate rules with all the chopping and changing

Have people read the other nutty part of the 20/40 rule change, I'll just paste it off the NRL site.

Yes we need all the help to beat you lot as recent history tells us....

Posted at 03.58, of the 3 most likily reasons it could be, I don't think you got up to go to work

Most break-ins occur between 2am and 4am so that could be very loosely classed as "Work".

Didn't beat us when it mattered did you, relegation and relegation

So good they went down twice

And you have been lighting up Super League ever since haven't you....

Been there since we got in

pity though because sometimes it was at your expense

…that did make me laugh

The ITV roulette show had just finished.