Littler welcomes new laws for 2023

Stuart Littler has welcomed the RFL’s law changes for the upcoming season

Roughyeds' head coach Stuart Littler has welcomed the RFL’s law changes for the upcoming season, which include kicking for goal for scrum infringements, naming 18 players in the matchday squad and green card protocols.

The green card, which was introduced last year in an effort to speed up the game as well as stopping play acting, is being ‘reinforced’.

If the referee calls the time off for a player to receive treatment then the player will have to go off for two minutes before coming back on the field.

On the green card protocols, Littler said: “There are people who probably play the system at times.

"I’m all for making rugby league more exciting and if that speeds up the game process and challenges those fitness levels, then I’m all for it.

“I think it will minimise people staying down because you don’t want to be going off and having 12 men for two minutes if it’s not needed.

“We’ll take a good look at the rules that have been put in place and make sure the boys understand the meaning of those and what the consequences are.”

Also new for 2023, clubs will now be permitted to name a fifth interchange player (an 18th player), to be used only in the event of three players failing a HIA (head injury assessment) in the same match.

The system has been used in the NRL as well as the recent Rugby League World Cup.

The length of time out a player faces after failing a HIA has been increased from 11 days to 12 days after a decision by the RFL’s Clinical Advisory Group.

Differential penalties have been scrapped, meaning the non-offending team will be able to kick for goal from a penalty awarded at a scrum.

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