Ruck changes no worry for Melbourne, Penrith
Penrith and Melbourne insist they are unperturbed by the potential of big matches growing slower in the ruck, with set restarts well down in the finals.
Just 15 set restarts have been given over the opening six games of the finals, including just one in each of last week’s two semi-finals.
That is well below the regular-season average of 5.5 per game, with penalties also down from 10.8 to 8.1 in finals.
In theory, the changes have resulted in less stoppages in play and a greater free-flowing style of football for all teams with more of a fatigue factor.
But there is also the potential of teams using the knowledge of less penalties to slow down the ruck, with a greater chance of referee interference.
Traditionally that has been seen as an advantage to underdogs, who can drag better-performing sides into a slugfest with slower ruck speeds.
The Sydney Roosters have conceded more set restarts this year than the Storm, while Cronulla have also been called out more than the Panthers.
But Storm coach Craig Bellamy said he was not concerned by the prospect of that against the Roosters on Friday night in their preliminary final.
“You’d like a bit of consistency, but they want the games to flow,” Bellamy said.
“At the end of the day, we’re just worried about what we can control, not what we can’t control.
“The ball is probably more in play, so it’s the team that doesn’t hang on to the ball or the team that’s got the least fitness levels (that it will hurt).
“There’s a whole heap of things you could read into it, but if you start taking your mind away from things that you should be concerned about (that’s a problem).”
Penrith coach Ivan Cleary also backed the move ahead of his preliminary final against the Sharks, after being a vocal critic of stop-start football late in the season.
“It’s definitely better (than if it were a stop-start game),” Cleary said.
“Everyone likes it. Players like to play that way, fans like to watch it. The teams sort out the result, I think that’s what everyone wants.
“I’ve heard the refs say before it gets like this in finals because the teams are a little bit more disciplined.
“That can only be a good thing but obviously if there needs to be penalties or six agains, then they’ll call it.”
Roosters coach Trent Robinson also echoed the pair’s sentiments, confident the prospect of more live football would help his side against Melbourne.
“It doesn’t matter how it looks, we’ll adapt to that,” he said.
“I feel like we have really cleaned up our act in (the ruck).
“We like to play live when (it’s not stop start), and then we like to (play off a) set start when we get an opportunity.”
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