Rugby league legend Peter Sterling has expressed concerns over the latest batch of rule changes in the NRL, saying that the game is in danger of becoming too imbalanced.
"I get very weary with rule changes, or interpretation changes," he told Wide World of Sports.
"We've had more changes to our game in that regard in the past ten years than in the previous 90, and I don't think it's been particularly advantageous."
One of the most notable alterations has been the removal of most scrum plays, with teams starting with a play-the-ball instead after a kick goes over the sideline.
Sterling said that although fast, attacking rugby league should be encouraged, we can't get to a point where it becomes unfair on defenders.
"Our game is about attack and defence - we don't want it to be a 50/50 split, we want it to be about 60/40 to the attacking team. But when it starts to be more than that, then I have grave concerns for our game - and I think we're really pushing that boundary," Sterling said.
"It's all attack-oriented. And the problem for the defensive team is there are so few opportunities to halt momentum."
The former Eels halfback said that attacking sets near the try-line were in danger of becoming foregone conclusions.
"If I'm a coach, I'm making sure my kicker is practicing short dropouts. It's now one opportunity to create a contest and turn the tide, and there aren't many of them," Sterling said.
"It's so hard to stop attacking teams now, and I'm concerned it's getting too slanted. We love fatigue and we love open football."
He also compared the new field-goal rule, which would see a successful attempt from outside the 40 metre line be worth two points, to the 20/40 rule, in that attempts will be few and far between.
"We won't see one. We might see one 30 seconds before half-time but again, why are we looking to change? I don't see the sense in trying to encourage more field goals," Sterling said.
"My mentality, and I'm not saying we should introduce this, is why wouldn't we look at making a try scored from a play-the-ball in your own half worth five instead of four? I'd much rather see than than an extra point for a drop goal."
He did however make special mention of the 40/20 and the removal of corner posts as standout rule changes that should be benchmarks for administrators moving forward.
"If every rule we could introduce was as astute and successful as those, we'd be in a great position," Sterling said.
"We're introducing things that just put pressure and confusion into the game, and it's not needed.
"Everything you change has a ripple effect. And I don't think we have enough knowledge of those effects, because often we're cleaning up from those effects a season or two later."
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