NRL captain Cameron Munster says the league’s revamped six-again rule has made him stop watching games when he isn’t playing, a sentiment echoed by Jahrome Hughes and others as scoring surges, referees gain influence, and concerns rise that the sport is turnin
Scoring has taken off in the NRL this year after the revamped six-again rule. but the reaction from the game’s own stars has been anything but celebratory.. Cameron Munster says he has gone as far as switching off when he’s not on the field. frustrated by how fast matches are moving and what he believes the league is trying to produce.
The changes have helped drive a run of high totals, with at least 40 points scored in each round so far.. Referees have also been given expanded scope to hand out a fresh set of six tackles for ruck or offside infringements from the defending team’s 20-metre line all the way to the try line.. In turn. the game is being stopped less for penalties. and defenders are left chasing and covering more ground without a break in play.
Munster’s frustration is blunt.. The Maroons captain told his 167 podcast: “I think the rules were perfect two years ago. or a year ago. if it’s not broke. don’t fix it.” He then added: “It’s obviously a product the NRL want…. I used to watch it all the time but now it’s just in the background, I don’t even watch it.”
He said he doesn’t want finals to end up as blowouts, even while conceding the league appears committed to a different style. “I don’t want to see finals this year go to blowout games. But it’s the product they want, they want to play touch footy, so all the best to them.”
Hughes agreed, linking his own viewing experience to technical frustration.. Jahrome Hughes said: “I’m seeing stuff and I go, why is that a six again?. And then I see something and why’s that not?. So I get too technical in my head.” He added: “For me as a player. personally I can’t really watch rugby. I’ve never been a massive watcher anyway but now its just. I make it too technical in my head and I start picking things out I shouldn’t be and i can’t really enjoy it.”
Both players also pointed to a wider impact on who thrives under the new pace.. Hughes said he feels “like certain types of players are being phased out of the game. ” adding: “It’s sad. like the big. I guess like our old teammate like Nelson [Asofa-Solomona]. those types of players are getting washed out of the game because it’s too quick now.” Asofa-Solomona walked away from rugby at the end of last season to pursue a boxing career.
Other voices sharpened the criticism further by focusing on the referee’s role.. Josh Morris said the six-again rule has been ruining the viewing experience because it is fueling too many one-sided games.. “I don’t want to be negative but I’ve got to say it. the blowouts because of the six to go rule. it’s killing my weekend buzz watching football.” Morris also argued the officiating has become too prominent: “It has made the referee the central figure on the field and that should not be the case.”
Andrew Webster echoed that feeling, saying the game’s balance is being altered by the constant attention around decisions.. “When you have the likes of Cameron Munster and Jahrome Hughes saying they can’t stand watching the game and they just keep it in the background.” Webster continued: “It’s bordering on touch football. I know you are trying to eradicate the wrestle. but you need wrestle.”
Former referee turned politician Tim Mander also took aim at the league’s direction. saying it has left the sport “difficult to accept.” The broader concern ties back to how referees influence the flow of matches under the new setup—particularly because the set-restart decision has a limited scope for video review. giving officials a major say over what happens next.
A pattern runs through the complaints: scoring is up. matches are being halted less. and the expanded “six-again” territory—from the 20-metre line through to the try line—means defenders cover more with fewer pauses. while multiple players and commentators say that same rapid rhythm makes the referee’s calls feel central and the viewing experience worse.
For now, the league’s stated push toward faster, higher-scoring contests is colliding with visible resistance from high-profile figures who say they are struggling to enjoy the game even when they’re not playing.
NRL Cameron Munster Jahrome Hughes Josh Morris Tim Mander six-again rule blowouts referees points Asofa-Solomona 167 podcast