Canberra Raiders hooker Tom Starling has backed the NRL’s controversial six-again rule changes, saying the onus to adapt is on players, not referees.
The code introduced new restart rules this season in a bid to speed up matches, but they have had a mixed reception, with Cowboys captain Tom Dearden calling them frustrating, and his coach Todd Payten saying they have brought fatigue into the game.
The changes mean 10-metre infringement penalties have been replaced with a six-again ruling. The call is also being used beyond the 20m line, replacing the previous 40m rule.
There has been a rise in the number of set restarts. Last year there was an average of 5.9 six-agains per game, but that has ballooned to 9.8 a match in the opening rounds of 2026.
Starling believes the changes are improving the game, despite his side coughing up six of the calls in their 40-6 loss against the Warriors last Friday.
“It suits me. It’s good. It’s improving the game,” he told reporters on Tuesday.
“The referees communicate to you what you’re not doing, whether it’s too slow in the ruck or you’re offside. So it comes back to us to make sure we’re not doing these infringements and cleaning up our discipline.
“We’ve just got to do our best to adapt to them and be the best team at it. At the end of the day, it’s the best team that overcomes it quickly enough and gets used to playing at that high speed.
“It’s definitely faster, and that’s what the NRL wants. They want a nice, physical, fast game, and it’s definitely added to that.”
Speedster Kaeo Weekes was also unfazed by the rule changes, more focused on earning a place in the NSW Blues State of Origin squad.
Eligibility changes mean that anyone who plays for New Zealand or England can represent their State of Origin team if they were born in NSW or Queensland, lived in one of the states before they were 13, or if their father had played in the rivalry.
Born in Sydney, Weekes is one of the beneficiaries of the change, having reportedly been approached by New Zealand to play for the Kiwis last season.
“It’s always been a goal of mine to represent my state and play for the Blues, so hopefully (I make it),” he said.
Weekes is also concentrating on helping the Raiders bounce back from their thrashing when Canberra play Canterbury on Thursday in their first home game of the season.
“In that game last week, we switched off,” he said.
“This Thursday is going to be a different game, different squads. I’m looking forward to it, especially after last week.”
