Warriors coach Kearny has called out teams exploiting the rule by tactically lying on early in the tackle count. Normally you would get a 30m boost up field. and a fresh set vs 1 extra tackle, where you'll get maybe a 10m gain if you're lucky against a fully set defence.

At the risk of it becoming ever more complex, 1st tackle infringments should maybe be a penalty.

Overall though, the rule has made NRL fantastic to watch. I find it less frustrating than a penalty when your team gets done for it, and yet very satisfying when you get one your way.

The warriors tend to have received penalties on tackle 1 and have given them away on tackle 4/5.

Has the constant changing of rules resulted in making the game more attractive to the extent that it has resulted in large increases of crowd support, especially younger supporters?

The answer is NO!

i said this last week, the warriors (panthers?) game last week was the first one i'd sat down and watched properly, second half in consecutive sets they got 6 more early in the count in their own half, they were begging for a penalty to get them up the field

Is there any sport in the world that has? The trend for many years now has been for people to watch on TV (as they are so well catered for) rather than attend live sport.

Premiership Football with the building of larger stadiums or increasing the capacities of the present one.

...is the exception that proves the rule. Elite level football remains both rich and popular.

I hope the tweak the rule if they introduce it. If they restart the set on the first then they should either give the attacking team another 10m or let them kick for touch.

Why not just give the penalty and let the attacking team either kick for touch or kick for goal OR let them take a quick tap to keep it going. At present refs will not allow a quick tap. They always stop play while the defensive line re sets.

As you say yourself, you don't get the continuity of play with a so-called quick tap, because so often the refs don't allow it. Six more gives that continuity.

Also, how many times do you see a ref blow up for a pen when actually allowing play to continue would probably result in a try? Winger intercepts a pass and sprints from his own line. Is hauled down just short by the opposing full-back, who hangs on for dear life, but he eventually plays it. Under the old system, the ref blows a pen (and maybe yellow card), defence has time to reset. Six again and they probably score anyway. Ref can go back and issue a yellow later if need be.