Sam Tomkins suggests radical way to fix Six Again rule

As the likes of Leeds Rhinos, Wigan Warriors, Warrington Wolves, league leader Catalans Dragons and Super League and World Champions St Helens are all dreaming of Old Trafford and Grand Final glory, there is constant talk about how we can improve the sport.

The video referee and changes to this system are repeatedly brought up and there is constant discussion around the six again rule.

Brought into effect mid way through 2020 to speed up the game, the rule has some lovers but also plenty of opposition believing that it encourages some forms of cheating and makes the ruck messier.

However, Catalans Dragons star and former England skipper has suggested a genius way to solve the problem around the six again rule.

“I think there should be a players call on the six again. So if it’s called six again the captain should be able to put his hand up and say no we’ll take a penalty,” he said on The Bench.

“Because at times you might get it on tackle one, well we know you might as well push the limits. If you’ve got him in a corner near a sideline, you might as well push the limits you know holding them down and really pin them in.

“Worst case, they’ve got six again. They can have another tackle there. And sometimes you might be just over halfway and they’ve got a six again. It might be six all so you’d say, no, we’d have a crack at two points.

“So I think there should be able to be a captain’s call on that, no, we’d rather have a penalty than a six again.

Tomkins also explained how the rule has changed the focus of defence: “It changes the mentality of a defender as well because early on in the tackle count and you’ve got them pinned, you’re alright, but then play three, play four, play five you think don’t give a six again.

“There’s nothing worse than if you give six again on play five, the evils you’ll get from 12 other blokes is pretty full on. So I think it changes the dynamic of defence.”