The latest controversy to come from Penrith and Parramatta‘s bitter rivalry may force the NRL to add a new law to the rulebook.
The governing body is investigating why an Eels trainer ran across the front of the goalposts just as Panthers halfback Nathan Cleary was moving in to kick a conversion attempt, which missed.
The Eels won the game by two points – a margin that would have been eradicated had Cleary’s kick been successful.
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NRL rule 8.2 refers to trainers distracting play, and reads, “trainers must not at any time enter the line of sight of a player when he is attempting to kick a goal, or do anything which in any way may unnecessarily interfere with or distract an opposition player while he is participating in the match”.
The NRL, currently, only has power to issue a warning, a breach notice, a fine, and potentially a trainer suspension – but all those would be handed down after the game, and so don’t help the disadvantaged team at the time.
If an opposition player is penalised for distracting a kicker, though, the conversion can be taken again.
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NRL head of football Graham Annesley revealed the governing body will consider amending the rules so a conversion can be retaken in the event of a trainer distracting the kicker.
“It’s one of those things that we will review. This happens very rarely,” Annesley told media on Monday.
“But could something be written into our operational procedures to cater for that? Yes, it could be.
“At the moment it’s a matter that is dealt with by off-field action rather than on-field action.”
The NRL is yet to complete its investigation into this specific incident and so no penalty has been proposed for the Eels or the club trainer.
Annesley did reveal the kicker, Cleary, will not be consulted as part of the investigation.
During last year’s finals series, the NRL fined and suspended a Penrith trainer for illegally stopping play during a clash against Parramatta.
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