Ex-Hull FC forward slams Six Again rule and claims Super League has “lost it’s physical touch”

Rugby League is one of the most physical sports in the world however former Hull FC prop Chris Green has now claimed that rule changes have hindered the competitiveness of Super League, Green claiming that “it’s lost its physical touch”.

Green debuted for Hull FC over a decade ago in 2011 and was on the books with the club until 2019, rounding out his career with Wakefield Trinity and a short spell with Leigh Centurions.

Even since the prop called time in 2022 there have been rule changes and plenty over the course of his career, all with the intention of improving the game, but the question has to be asked of ‘has it changed for the better?’

The six-again rule is a controversial development, the rule brought in to keep the ball in play longer and try and improve the speed of the game without hindering the quality.

However many fans and ex-Rugby League players have split opinions on the rule, acknowledging the positive of the rule that the ball is in play for longer, but many argue that defensive teams try to capitalise on the rule knowing they will not be penalised.

Early in the 2023 season St Helens were questioned by pundit Phil Clarke who called out the team’s fearlessness over conceding six again within their own twenty. He argued that they abused it given that they’d rather defend another set in formation, than defend a tackle with men out of position.

Serious About Rugby League spoke with ex-FC man Chris Green to discuss what he thinks of the modern game and his views on the six-again rule.

Green told Serious About Rugby League: “I prefer the product when I played, but I’m obviously going to say that. But I experienced a bit of the rule change towards the back end of my career. The six-again rule changed the game, not for the better, to be honest.”

Green added: “I think it’s lost its physical touch to the game; it’s a fine balance between changing rules for the better of the game and changing rules for the sake of the game.

“You want competitive games, and the rules make it very hard to keep those games competitive sometimes, especially if a team just keeps the ball and the six again rule makes it very hard to swing momentum around.

“I don’t think there was much wrong with the previous game, but again, it’s easy to say in hindsight.”

It was confirmed early last week by the RFL that certain rules will be changed in the 2024 season, with the six again getting an amendment. If the defending team is within their opponents 40 metres then a penalty will be given instead of a six again, rewarding the attacking team with territory as opposed to just another set.