The NRL will trial a rule change around kick-offs over the final weeks of the regular season, with the Brisbane Broncos and Melbourne Storm to be the inaugural guinea pigs on Thursday evening in Round 26.
The rule change was originally floated in the pre-season, but didn't get off the ground.
Now, it's back, with last year's grand finalists playing in a dead rubber when it comes to the make-up of the top eight on Thursday evening being the NRL's preferred time to trial the rule.
What is the rule?
Traditionally, rugby league has seen the team conceding a try kick-off and needing to defend once again.
Under the modified rule, it will be up to the team conceding points whether they would like to kick-off or receive the football after the try is scored.
The kick-off is something that has been in the headlines for the wrong reasons in recent times with concussions resulting from runs back also seeing some call for it to be done away with for good, or limited to no more than 20 minutes.
The game has not moved to make any such rule change, but the idea of a scoring team being able to kick-off is one of the biggest foundational changes to the sport since the invention of the six-again rule in 2020.
Are there plans for any other games to use it?
It was originally floated that this rule would be used in Round 27 between the St George Illawarra Dragons and Parramatta Eels.
Both of those teams have been out of finals contention for some weeks and it seemed that was the likely option.
But the Storm and Broncos playing on a Thursday night in prime time provides the NRL a bigger contest to use it in, with a bigger crowd and likely bigger TV audience.
The game is also available on free-to-air TV.
Zero Tackle contacted the NRL for comment on Thursday morning, and they told us there are no plans to trial the rule in any further games after the Storm and Broncos clash on Thursday.
Why is the rule change being trialled?
The rule change was first floated at the start of the year, with the NRL worried about the competitiveness of the game and also believing a rule like this could add more tactical dimensions.
The team conceding being able to decide to receive the football means they could snuff out the chance of a big run for their opposition, but then they would also need to bring it out of their own end.
The set after points is often a time when errors are at their most prevalent, so it'll be an equally big risk for the team conceding to say they want the football back.
What happens next?
The NRL and Australian Rugby League Commission do a thorough review of the rule book every off-season, and this one will be no different.
The rule trial around kick-offs is likely to be the hot topic of discussion before they present to the clubs on what the game will look like moving forward.
The issue around competitiveness of games isn't going anywhere given the NRL's desire to keep speeding play up, and with even more teams about to enter, the talent pool will be stretched thinner than ever before.
If it is deemed to be a step in the right direction for the sport, it's almost certain the rule change will be brought in for the start of the 2027 season.
