The NRL have confirmed yet more changes to the judiciary procedure, with more offences set to be able to receive fines during both State of Origin and finals matches.
After changes were made at the start of the season to remove the complicated loading system the competition used to operate under, it has already seen a reduction in suspensions and more consistency across the board.
Under the new system, every offence - from Grade 1 to 3 - has a set penalty for early guilty pleas and weeks to be suspended, although does increase with each offence committed throughout the season, maxing out at a third offence level.
Concerns have still been expressed by those at NRL HQ however regarding the issue that a player could potentially be hit with a Grade 1 either second or third offence during the Origin series or in the finals which would then cause them to miss club games or following finals respectively.
The NRL and Australian Rugby League Commission have moved to fix that issue from being a potential problem however, announcing that more offences in second and third offences will be eligible for fines if committed during Origin or finals games.
Some Grade 2 offences will also now be eligible for fines instead of suspensions, although the NRL have not clarified which they are.
In representative matches, fines will be based on a "percentage of the match fee" according to an NRL statement.
"Under the reforms, players competing in representative matches will receive fines for a greater range of Grade 1 and 2 offences than in the NRL Premiership. Fines for offences will be calculated as a percentage portion of the playerโs representative match payment, with each player holding a separate โRepresentative Judiciary Recordโ which resets each year," the statement read.
"The retention of match suspensions for more serious and repeat offences, together with fines linked to match payments will ensure a continuing strong deterrent against on-field misconduct. Suspensions will continue to apply across representative and NRL premiership matches as usual."
In finals matches, most "third offences" will be eligible for fines.
"The penalties applying to the NRL Telstra Premiership have been revised to reduce instances where a player misses a finals series match for a minor offence due to their record over the season," the statement read.
"Players who commit a โThird Offenceโ under the Judiciary Code in a finals series match will be entitled to pay a fine in place of suspension for most offences. Reckless High Tackles of any grade will not be eligible for a fine, and any subsequent offence in finals series will attract the prescribed suspension."
The new policies take place from Origin 1.
