2020 - The Cyber View from the Hill

27th May 2020

We're Back Baby

Its been a tough 8 weeks. Never in the history of the game has the game been should down for such a long extended period. And it hasn't just been the game, workplaces have been shutdown, the city, the state, the country and the whole planet. It's been a very strange period where everyone has stayed at home and switched to video conferencing just to stay in touch. We have seen the U16s and U18s junior seasons abandoned threequarters of the way through. Then we saw U20s and Reseve Grade and Womens State competitions abandoned after just one round. Its only been the NRL who has battled against all odd to get back on the field. And now we are within 10 days of the season relaunching, I can't wait for the games to return even if still only on TV.

Dargan opportunity

With Cody Walker on a two extension to his covid break, Troy Dargan gets his chance in First Grade. He has bided his time in the Queensland Cup after bursting onto the U20s scene a few years ago. A left foot kicker, I am looking forward to seeing how he steps up.

Game Day Protocols

A number of adjustments in the new 40 page game day protocol are filtering through

  • 20 rather than 19 players will active up to 1 hr before the game
  • Players will be health tested 1 hour before the game
  • Only 20 players and 12 officials will be allowed in the "clean zone"
  • Players can be brought in to replace players who fail health tests
  • Players will act as ball boys

    New - 6 Again rule

    There are a lot of concerns over the new 6 again rule and how coaches will exploit it. There have been some concerns what will constitute a 6 again call While working your way out of the 20m zone rather than getting a releaving penalty, it could be a 6 again call and will put further pressure on defending team. Then when in attack and a minute to go 1 point down there is the issue of 6 again call rather than a penalty that could win the game. The players and the fans are concerned over the communication of a 6 again call. It was only trialled in 2012 All Stars game and players reported being confused over when it was being called. Interestingly it was never used again until now. We will monitor over the next few weeks to see the unintentional changes that occur to the game.

    Signing off for another week - the midweek Cyber View from the Hill


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