Set restart rule returns among other changes for 2022 NRL season

The NRL will revert back to giving penalties for ruck infringements and offsides when teams are coming out of their own end, in the biggest rule tweak for 2022. League officials confirmed another three changes on Wednesday – to injury stoppages, free interchanges from foul play and team list protocols.

But it will be the amendment to the set-restart rule that will have the biggest impact on games. In a bid to stop teams deliberately slowing the ruck early in the set, any infringements given away in a team’s 40-metre zone will now result in a penalty.

“This will provide an additional deterrence to defending teams who are willing to concede set restarts to gain a tactical advantage,” the NRL said in a statement. “It will also provide more opportunities for teams receiving the penalty to attack from a better field position.”

Meanwhile the NRL has stripped away the right for trainers to stop play in the event of a player being injured, with the exception of head knocks. It means only the referee, touch judge or bunker will be able to order for play to be stopped in the event of a serious injury of any kind with the exception of concussions.

It comes after Penrith had a physio banned from last year’s preliminary final and decider after play was stopped for injured hooker Mitch Kenny in the semi-final win over Parramatta. At the time, the Eels had possession of the ball and were firmly on the attack while down 8-6 in the dying minutes.

Penrith were fined $25,000 over the incident, with the NRL claiming physio Pete Green had not assessed the extent of Kenny’s ankle issue first. The Panthers denied the accusation, but regardless the incident was a flashpoint after several similar matters across a raft of clubs during the season