Super League is set to scrap the ‘free play’ ahead of the 2019 season but will introduce golden point, according to League Weekly.
It’s said that both changes were agreed during last week’s Super League board meeting. Whilst CEO Robert Elstone has been unable to increase the number of referees per game to two like in the NRL, several alterations will come into play.

The introduction of the Golden Point is a major move and something the NRL have used since their 2003 campaign.
Super League’s aim is to make games more interesting and therefore if contests are level after 80 minutes, there will be two five-minute periods of golden point extra-time with the first team to score winning. If there is no score after the full ten minutes, the match will end as a draw.
As well as the introduction of Golden Point, a shot clock for scrums, drop-outs and conversions will arrive.
Teams will have 35 seconds to feed a scrum and 30 seconds to take a drop-out, while conversions will need to be taken within 100 seconds. Failure to abide by the scrum and drop-out shot-clock rules will result in a penalty, with the conversion related issue leading to an off-field punishment by way of a fine.

But perhaps one of the most significant moves will be the number of interchanges dropping from ten to eight, something which has already been heavily reported previously.

So are these for all divisions? Not just SL?

Reducing interchanges more has been needed for a while.

Removing free play will take out some controversy where sometimes it happens, sometimes a ref blows early and doesn't.

But.....

The shot clock thing introduces worse controversy. Drop out is fine (unless the receiving team is offside and messing about) but scrums can be so subjective as to who is messing about. Conversions - what about a ball falling off the tee etc on a gusty day? Are we still stopping the clock on all this. As I stated - it introduces more controversy with it all being so subjective.

Golden point - OK but we don't need it. We should be proud to be different in the UK. A draw for equally matched teams is a fair result. We will start to see more kick and clap drop goal attempts, and golden points are more often won by the team that receives the ball first.

Any fan consultation on this? After all, we're the mugs who pay to suffer of some of the more game-spoiling issues they haven't addressed.

Fewer interchanges may see the end of a few of the larger individuals or are the game opening up in the last quarter. I do not like the golden point as it adds little other than ten minutes of drop goal practice. I would have preferred extra points for tries scored as has been trailed in the lower leagues or anything that rewards attacking rugby.

Nowt about not cleaning the ruck up?!

Back to steedan balls as well I heard .

Lets hope so.

Players were not happy with the Rhino ball .

Don't like golden point one bit. Nothing wrong with a hard earnt point to two teams that have given their all.

not big on golden point.

Think sometimes a draw is a fair result.

Glad interchanges getting reduced to 8.

Should help to reduce the size of some of the players and reduce the incidence of guys who can only play for 10 minutes at a stretch in favour of real rugby players who can put in 60 to 80 minute stints

Shot clocks are good as should help get rid of the time wasting we see.

Annoys the hell out of me seeing both teams ambling to scrums without a care in the world. By limiting their rest time again it means players have to have more stamina rather than size.

Free play got a bit silly at times with players just doing stupid stuff.

Golden point I think is an awful decision. Nothing wrong with a draw and the extra 10 mins is just going to be 2 tired teams trying to whack drop goals from 40/50m out. The Cas/Saints SF from the other year was obviously exciting but that’s because what was at stake, a regular league game can’t match that and I thought we were trying to make an effort to make sure games don’t end too late? The introduction of ‘shot’ clocks helps this but then you add the potential for 10 more mins (with breaks between FT and restarting making it a potentially 15 mins later finish) and completely flip flopping on that, granted it’s not like draws are very common but still totally unnecessary imo.

The interchange rule is good, would’ve like to seen something about the ruck and feigning injuries which is hurting games more and more:

Don’t mind seeing FreePlay go, the idea was well meant but instead of teams keeping hold of the ball and getting a quick PTB and taking advantage of a team who is scrambling to organise its defence after just being on attack it just seemingly ended up with a prop or 2nd row hoofing the ball down field in the faint hope that his winger could somehow chase it down.

Looks like you are following all current NRL rules. Shot clocks already in with interchange at 8 and plans to reduce it further but still 8 in 2019.

Main problem here with GP. is that normal rules(mainly 10 metres and offside) go out the window as refs are reluctant to blow a penalty. Ideas to restrict the number of field goals/team to encourage more try attempts have not gained any currency.

Maybe golden point should be try only. Take the pressure off the ref, and stop all games being won by whichever team Gareth O'Brien is playing in.

Stop clock is good, but how do they deal with feigned injuries, as that is frequently the problem with dropouts?

Poor decision - Doesn't encourage teams to attack! Will not affect Leeds, as last season we were never in a position for a procession of desperate drop-goal attempts!!!