A defensive winger, realising he can’t get his hands on a ball descending into the in-goal and aware he can’t make contact with his opponent once that player has the pigskin in his hands, will punch the ball away, as AFL players do to spoil a mark. Loading Replay Replay video Play video Play video The rule change, introduced in secrecy by the ARLC at the end of last year, brings the NRL in line with an international law which prohibits players being tackled in mid-air once they have the ball in their hands. Obviously, it’s illegal to tackle defensive wingers but the rule change now applies to attacking wingers as well. The Australian amendment to the rule was forced by club medicos, concerned at the vulnerability of players to injury when tackled mid-air. The Sydney Morning Herald recently put to NRL head of football, Graham Annesley, the following scenario in the context of the rule change: if an attacking player in the in-goal reaches for the ball in the air, taking it with both hands, flips his body, so he is now falling arms first, rather than feet first, who can stop him scoring a try?

Callum Sinclair of the Swans spoils a mark by Jack Silvagni of the Blues. Credit:Getty Images Annesley’s response? "That’s exactly why we had the old rule in. But it got to the point where player safety overcame the concerns about the way a try could be scored in the scenario you just outlined." Yet, how many attacking wingers over the past five years have been injured from being tackled in mid-air? A few phone calls revealed that NRL clubs have been furiously practising in-goal kicks to tall wingers in the pre-season. Obviously, if the ball lands short of the in-goal, despite the attacking winger falling to ground untouched, it is not a try and probably a handover.

If the attacking player does take the kick in goal but lands feet first, he can still be held up by the defence because he is no longer mid-air. Rugby league in Australia has long resisted changing the rule, aware it is the only occasion where a player can no longer defend his own goal line. The old rule makers reasoned that attacking wingers already had a significant advantage over the defensive winger. The attacking player is running onto the ball, following its path, ready to leap high onto it, while the defensive player has his feet fixed on the ground. To even out the contest, the old NRL decreed the defensive winger couldn’t be taken out mid-air and the attacking player could be tackled in order to allow players to defend their goal line.

Loading Now, however, the ARLC has put a red cross insignia on attacking wingers, meaning they are immune from contact once they have the ball in their hands while off the ground. Coaches who instruct their defensive players to make contact with the ball, rather than the attack, by punching it away, over the sideline or dead ball line, recognise it is a negative tactic. After all, the attack will get the ball back via a goal line dropout, but at least it stops a certain try. Furthermore, it’s not in the spirit of the game. But try telling that to a coach playing the Roosters, or the Cowboys with tall wingers, such as Kyle Feldt and Nene MacDonald.