The NRL’s experimental kick-off rule change has already come under fire, with current players and multiple NRL greats questioning its place in the game.
The rule was put to the test for the first time in the clash between the Broncos and Storm on Friday night, with the team conceding a try given the choice of whether to receive the kick-off or kick it themselves.
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The Storm eventually became the first team in history to choose to receive after conceding during the second half, trying to halt the Broncos’ momentum with Moses Leo in the sin bin at the time.
Storm skipper Harry Grant was adamant the kick-off rule does not to be changed when questioned after the Storm’s 46-20 victory at Suncorp Stadium.
“Personally I love the game. I’ve loved the game for so many years since I was four years old,” Grant said.
“I think it’s part of the fabric of the game and we don’t need to change it. We’re bringing in a rule to counteract the rules we’ve brought it.
“Maybe we can have a deep hard look at going back on a few rules if that’s where we sit with it.
“If it’s a draw and a team choose to kick-off or receive and then they go and kick the two points, your decision might be void.
“There’s no real reward for it and I’m pretty strong on that.
“I think they are a lot of people in the game strong on it and maybe it’s time to stay with what it is.”
Broncos veteran Ben Hunt, meanwhile, was equally definitive in his opinion, a stance shared by his coach Michael Maguire.
“No mate, not a fan. I don’t kniow why we leep trying to change the rules of our game,” Hunt said after the match.
“I do like the game the way it is. It’s a great game so you don’t need to tinker to far especially the way the game’s going at the moment,” Magure said in his post match press conference.
That sentiment was shared by greats of the game.
