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Find your frequency hereWalters: 'Outrageous and stupid' rule NRL must review
Charles Goodsir • August 13th, 2025 12:25 pm
Incoming Kangaroos coach Kevin Walters has called for the NRL to review the rule around competing for kicks in try scoring situations after a number of contentious calls in recent weeks.
Round 23 saw two penalty tries awarded to Melbourne’s Xavier Coates and Cronulla’s Teig Wilton after the NRL bunker deemed both players were illegally tackled mid-air in a kicking contest.
In the 2025 State of Origin series opener, NSW Blues winger Brian To’o was controversially sent to the sin bin on half time for tackling Queensland winger Coates in a marking contest.
“How do you get sin binned for that?,” SEN's Greg Alexander said on SEN 1170 Breakfast.
“To’o gets monstered by a taller player. What else can he do?
“It’s outrageous and it’s so stupid.”
Walters labelled the recent adjudication as “ridiculous” and believes more needs to be done by the NRL to ensure a fair contest between attacker and defender in the air.
Josh Papalii says his side's form has been building since November | Video: Kat Wong/AAP
“When the ball is on the line, you need to be able to switch in mid-air from competing to tackling,” Walters told SENQ Breakfast.
“You need to be able to defend a (potential) try. It’s a ridiculous rule.
“You’ve got to get it right because if you get it wrong, it can lead to penalties.
“We always talk about how desperate we are to save tries. At the moment, if you kick the ball up in the air and if you’re not competing for it, you just have to take yourself out of the situation.
“We’ve seen games decided on it in the last month.”
Walters said the NRL must have a review of a number of rules in which teams have exploited loopholes.
“The recent play the ball stuff (has also been ridiculous). One of the things coaches tell you when you first start playing is how to play the ball properly.
“Get to your feet, put the ball on the ground, roll it and touch it with your foot.
“It’s not that hard.
“What about players that roll around in the ruck in defense. You can’t lie there. You are taught that you have to get out of there or you’ll be penalised.
“Instead, they are just staying there.”
