In the NRL's February All Stars game the following rule changes will be trialledPower play
- Each team will receive one (1) optional power play in each half of the match.
- Once a team captain nominates to the match referee that they wish to use their power play for the half at a stoppage in play (changeover, scrum etc.), the opposition team must immediately drop two (2) players from the field of play for a 5 minute period (11 players on the field of play).
- If the team who called the power play scores a try during this period, the power play will end immediately and the two players who left the field may return.
- Players returning to the field of play must do so under the supervision of the interchange official.
- The team defending the power play will make the decision which two players leave the field from their team during the power play.
- Once a power play has been called, the opposition team may not call their power play at the same time. If both teams call a power play at the same time, the team about to receive possession will be granted the power play.
- A second clock will appear on the scoreboard showing the time period for the power play.

Changes to penalties in the ruck area
- For infringements in the ruck area by the defending team (holding down, leg pull, hand on ball etc.) which does not result in the breakdown of play (i.e. drop ball), the referee will indicate the infringement followed by immediately restarting the tackle count at the point of the infringement with a zero tackle.
- There will be no kick for touch for these infringements. Play will continue immediately from the point of the infringement.
- Any foul play in the ruck area by the defending team will result in a traditional penalty.
- Any infringement by the attacking team in the ruck area will result in a traditional penalty.

20/40 kicks in play
- A team which kicks the ball from within their own 20m area and can successfully find touch within the 40m area of the defending team will receive the feed to the ensuing scrum.'"

Agreed.

I like the rule 2 idea, but what does it extend to, hands on the ball etc?

Also how would it be communicated to fans effectively?

Presumably the same gesture as for wiping the tackle count clean.

3 seems reasonable enough.

I'm not that keen on 2. At the moment the punishment for holding down at the ruck makes it really important to tow the line (not that everybody does). Under these proposed rules, if a team had their opposition camped in their own 20, they may be more inclined to try it on a bit if all that's at stake is defending a couple of extra tackles. Their opposition won't be able to do anything with the extra tackles anyway, if they're being held down at the play the ball. Similarly, after your opponents have made a half break it would make sense to just hold them down and face a full set with an organised defensive line.

1 is the most stupid idea I've ever heard.

1. stupid idea

2. Not a bad idea really but still think the system we currently have in place is better

3. Dont agree with this seems to punish the defensive efforts of a team, if you are able to restrict your opponents to 20 meters they shouldnt be able to put in a 50m kick and gain an advantage IMO.

2. Ruck infringements which do not halt the play (eg holding down) will not be a penalty, but instead, an immediate wiping of the tackle count

I would count holding down as being something that halts play so may still be a penalty rather than the tackle count restarting

I agree
1. absolute no go. Will delay play and is taking something from the integrity of the game
2. Ok, but hard to police.
3. As you say it rewards the big hail Mary kick when under pressure. And hard to police. Ref only needs to watch at 40, now needs to watch at 20....and why not a 30 30 if we are changing.

Just leave as is.

I think a 10/50 is the future!

I see a future rule of 0/0, which is an automatic try.

Number 2 was suggested by a fella on here a few years ago and was a brilliant idea in the way that he put it accross.

I don't like rule 3 at all.

Reward a team for their defensive efforts in pinning down an opposition instead of offering the attackers an escape route.

the wipe the tackle count is silly. for example you make a break the defensive team is trotting back as a tackler all you have to do is lay on the man for a min till all your players are back in position and all you have done is forfeited 5 tackles or even worse you are 18 points all and your in the last 2 mins of the game and the attacking team doesn't get a shot at two points to win the game?

I'd assume the messing around/holding down rule is in general play, and would guess if this is attempted after a break, there would still be the option for a penalty and sin-bin?

As said, 1 is an awful idea, one player would be bad enough but two just makes it far too easy to score.

I quite like 2, it's always seemed a bit odd to me that a high shot that leads to a player being out for the entire game, or an elbow to the face, or the attempted breaking of a leg can all end up with the same result as a player hanging on that split second too long, or setting off from the defensive line half a second too early. I look forward to see how this rule works in practice.

Split on the third, though I think it would come into play even less than 40/20s, and would be much easier to prevent you'd think. Not sure the rule is worth bothering with, I don't expect a successful one in this trial match.

I don't especially like any of them. The powerplay one is just horrible.