I know that sounds dramatic,but please bear with me.
I believe the rule changes of the last 2 years have signalled the end of upsets,in most,if not all games.
By continually giving an extra advantage to teams who are on top with the ball,the NRL has consigned upset results to the scrap bin.
Is this what we want to see every week?
Favourites winning on the back of lopsided set restart and penalty counts.
As a Bulldogs fan,I'm used to rough calls.
I expect it.
But the first 2 rounds of this year have me ready to give up on this game.
Yes,we weren't great in either game,but in both games we were in with a chance at half-time in both.
The refeering in both was so biased towards the "favoured" team that we were officiated out of them.
There were so many one-sided decisions in both games,it seems very clear to me that the less fancied team has really no chance to get a fair crack.
There seems to be a bias towards penalising the defending team,while turning a blind eye to the attacking team pushing the rules when in possesion.
The fact we have only received 1 penalty in 160 min of football should ring alarm bells.
Set restarts are another rule I hated when they were introduced,and the fact they have now more reasons to give a set restart had me petrified for the Dog's chances.
The way this season is shaping up,we are going to be no chance of making the 8.
Maybe we weren't to begin with,but at least having a fair chance would have been nice.I believe these new rule changes will mean we have none.
On a larger note,as in not being specifically related to the Dogs,these rules,as they are now,will mean less competitive games,less chance of "weaker" teams causing an upset,and more boring,predictable results.
The end of the "Fairytale".
What do you guys think?
