'In my opinion, the rule was written day one of 1908, it should've been changed on day two.' 9WWOS
Rugby league legends Peter Sterling and Billy Slater have weighed in on the NRL's decision to update the "mutual infringement" rule following the controversy in last year's grand final between the Roosters and Raiders.
Fans were left frustrated last year when a Luke Keary kick on fifth tackle deflected off Sia Soliola's charge down, eventually making contact with the Roosters trainer and handing a scrum to the tricolours in attacking territory. It was a gift set of six for the Roosters in freakish circumstances. The bizarre sequence of events forced the NRL to announce late last year a change to the "mutual infringement" which involves the ball striking either a referee of trainer.Under the previous rule, if a mutual infringement occurred, the ball would go in favour of the side with territorial advantage which is the attacking team.
The new rule means the referee can now replay the possession from the previous play-the-ball spot instead.Slater applauded the NRL for making the necessary change but admitted it's been "swept under the carpet" by the league due to its rare occurrence over the years. "I'm thumbs up on this one, I think it's just been swept under the carpet because we very rarely see it," Slater said."Unfortunately, we saw it on our biggest stage last year.
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