Roosters coach John Strange has called on the NRL Women’s Premiership to get the same ‘six-again’ rule the men’s league currently has, admitting he “struggled” to watch his team’s season opener on Saturday.
Under current NRLW rules set, the six-again (a set restart awarded for a ruck infringement) is not applied in the women’s game.
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Strange is very eager to see that change, pointing a finger at how slow the contest became around the ruck – which is an issue he thinks could be very easily solved by bringing in ruck infringement pings.
“I was really disappointed watching that game,” Strange told the media after his team’s lopsided 34–10 victory over the Titans.
“Not with the way we played, it was just a really slow ruck.
“You work really hard to get one-on-ones and get quick play the balls, but then you get second efforts coming in, and what should be a quick play the ball [then turns into one that takes] five seconds.
“It was a struggle to watch, so hopefully that’s not going to continue. It would be great if they’re going to keep letting it go with slow rucks, we bring in six-again. Then they might be more inclined to award them.”
“I was just disappointed with how the game was officiated,” he then repeated.
“There were a heap of positives from our point of view, and I am happy with the grit our girls showed when defending sets. We have things to work on – it’s only round one – but it was a difficult game to watch.
“There’s been a bit of debate about whether we bring in the six-again for the girls, and I think it would help the officials to allow the game to not just turn into a lay-on with five second play the balls.
“It’s not good enough, and it’s not a good enough spectacle if that’s going to continue. Maybe that is something that the NRL can look at.”
Right now, the ARL Commission has been quite staunchly against making too many changes to the NRLW while it introduces more teams in rolled-out expansion, but the Sporting Base understands both set restarts and overall game time being increased to 80 minutes will be discussed at the end of the season. Interchange count will also be on the agenda.
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The NRL has also since investigated Strange for his comments against the refereeing from Saturday, and cleared him. He could have been fined if they found he had specifically insulted the refs.
Strange and his Roosters next play on against the Knights on July 11.
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