Cameron Smith calls for NRL to abolish set restarts

SEN’s Cameron Smith has called out the ‘six again’ rule and believes it is having a negative impact on the game.

The ‘six again’ rule was introduced during the 2020 season in a bid to reduce stoppages and deter players from deliberately slowing the play. After some initial blowouts as a result of the rule, the ‘six again’ rule has largely been perfect and is now a staple in the NRL.

However, set restarts are up 25% from 2023 and it’s the dramatic increase of six again calls in 2024 that Smith wants addressed by the NRL.

“I don’t particularly like them if I’m being honest,” Smith told SENQ.

“Set restarts are all up to the interpretation of the referees.

“The consecutive set restarts that referee Ashley Klein gave in State of Origin Game II, if they didn’t have a direct defensive impact in that moment (to Queensland) then they will impact down the track.

“Queensland were forced to make an interchange because of the sheer amount of work they were made to do.

“They had 15 consecutive tackles on their own try line and no one knows (what the penalty is for) so there’s no accountability for the referee.

“You can’t tell me that in Game II where there’s a ruck infringement or slow play the ball ruled by the ref in the first 15 minutes that there’s something similar that they let go after 60 minutes.

“It’s so crucial with the timings of when the refs give the set restart.

“We need to scrap them because then there’s an emphasis placed on refs giving a whistle on things that are blatant penalties.

“That way, everyone knows what is going on.”