The stunningly successful return of the NRL and its new six-again rule won't be seen at local level.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
or signup to continue reading
The sport is buzzing after one of the quickest and most entertaining rounds in years.
Pundits were gushing in their praise of the rule, which allows referees to re-start the tackle count, rather than continually blow penalties and slow the speed of the game.
And for the first time in 12 years, only one referee officiated the game at the elite level.
ARL Commission chairman Peter V'landys had said prior to last weekend's round that broadcasters indicated the game had become boring, with too much wrestling adding to the stop-start nature.
The game bounced back in fine style, with a number of cracking matches, including Canberra's win over powerhouse Melbourne Storm.
"It really sped the game up, it really brings the smaller, quicker players into the game," Albury Thunder's Robbie Byatt said.
However, the rule won't be automatically adopted in Thunder's Riverina-based Group Nine competition.
The NSWRL is run under Rugby League International Federation rules, while the NRL boasts its own constitution.
"It would be a collaborative effort (if the rule was to change)," NSWRL operations manager Robert Lowrie said when quizzed.
"There's a committee that's represented by the NRL, as well as at the state leagues in New South Wales, Queensland and the other states, and if that sort of rule was to change, it would have to wash through there first."
Naturally, the fitness levels of players at community level are nowhere near NRL professionals, but Albury Thunder president Rick O'Connell says that's not insurmountable.
"You could look at having more interchanges available to teams, there's certainly ways around it, that's no problems at all," he said.
Byatt said he would enjoy the challenge of playing under the rule.
"It wouldn't be bad, but it would make it very quick, which would be alright for the young players running around, being able to keep up," he laughed.
And while the sport couldn't have asked for a stronger return after the 10-week coronavirus delay, seasoned officials know coaches will be striving desperately to work the new rule to their advantage.
IN OTHER NEWS:
"I quite liked it, but I'm going to reserve judgement, I think it's too early to form an opinion just yet," Lowrie said.
"We will give it a few more weeks and see how it goes and see what different tactics coaches come up with to go with it."
