THE NRL will introduce a new shot-clock — stopping times after conversions this year in a move designed to give fans more “ball in play” time and reduce delay in restarts.

Clubs were informed of the move via email on Wednesday morning. Referees will call time off for 30 seconds after all conversion attempts. The shot clock had been used with success in relation to speeding up scrums and drop outs.

NRL general manager of elite competition Jason King said the move would result in three more minutes of time in play.

media_camera The innovation could save up to three minutes per match.

“At the moment, the time taken for players to return to the half way line to restart play is wasted time as far as the fans are concerned,” King said.

“The clock continues to run down (except in the last five minutes of play) but the fans see no football.

“We have decided to extend the shot clock concept to take time off for a set period of 30 seconds after each conversion attempt.

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“An extra three minutes of actual play can have a big bearing on the outcome of a game.

“Over the course of the season, this move will give fans the equivalent of more than 720 minutes — or seven more games — of rugby league.”

This follows three other major directives for 2018 which include;

— Extra scrutiny on play the balls

— Referees to use the sin bin for foul play, particularly where a player is forced to leave the field through injury after an illegal act.

— Players will be allowed to strip the ball in a one on one situation — as long as there is only one player in the tackle at the point of the ball being stolen.