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V'landys 'doesn't buy' player concerns on set restarts
Scott Bailey, AAP •  September 7th, 2026 3:06 pm
NRL boss Peter V'landys says the players aren't being truthful about a key aspect of the game | Photo: Robbie Stephenson/AAP
Peter V'landys has accused players of "not telling the truth" about set-restart confusion, as a survey of finals captains revealed ongoing uncertainty around the ruck.
The topic of set restarts is set to dominate the NRL's finals series, after Melbourne star Harry Grant on Saturday night claimed widespread frustration from players across the league.
The Melbourne captain declared most no longer knew what constituted a fast or slow play-the-ball, and the NRL needed to decide between being rugby league or touch football.
Harry Grant has described confusion among the playing group around key interpretations | Photo: Jono Searle/AAP
An AAP survey of captains and representatives at Monday's finals launch backed up Grant's claims, with six of the sides indicating they were still not entirely clear on what ruck speed referees wanted.
Also raised by players was the fact there is no chance to ask for clarification, given the game rolls on quickly with a set restart.
"I don't buy that," ARL Commission chairman V'landys said.
"The two six-agains are 10 metre compliance, and this year we have 98 per cent compliance on the 10 metre. We've never had more 10-metre compliance.
"And the wrestling's got to go. The fans did not like the wrestling, they didn't like people slowing down the ruck speed. And we've accommodated that.
"The players know when they're trying to control the ruck speed.
"I think that they're not telling the truth if they believe when they're giving a six again, they didn't know what it was for. I mean, I think it's pretty obvious."
Set restarts increased dramatically over the first half of the season, before dropping off through the State of Origin period and rising again in recent weeks.
Peter V'landys says he's not buying what the players are saying | Photo: Dean Sewell/AAP
The increase at the start of the year coincided with the NRL expanding the area in which they can be awarded to from 60 metres of the field to 80.
V'landys indicated they would not be repealed next season, and rejected Grant's claims that there was confusion this year.
"I have the ultimate respect for Harry, and Harry's an absolute ornament of the game, but he's got this one wrong," V'landys said.
"When you look at the facts, the ruck speed is still the same as it was last year. It's around 3.5 seconds, and it remains that way.
"Some teams try to take advantage of the ruck and slow the ruck down, and at the moment the referees aren't allowing them to do that.
"We make no apology that we're going to keep the ruck speed the same for both teams. So no team gets an advantage anymore.
"The raw numbers don't back up what Harry is saying."
The majority of club representatives surveyed on Monday did not blame referees for results, but suggested there was still some grey area around ruck interpretation.
Roger Tuivasa Sheck is one of the leaders to raise questions about some of the detail in the game | Photo: Bianca De Marchi/AAP
Some also raised concerns around whether a faster game had prompted an increased injury toll.
"I feel like it's not a clear understanding (of the interpretation)," injured Warriors veteran Roger Tuivasa-Sheck said.
"As players we understand they want a faster and more entertaining game, but they're risking that with the number of injuries every team has.
"That's what they have to weigh up.
"Yes we're building a very entertaining game and people love the product. But at the same time you lose all these big players out."
Another captain, who did not want to be named, said he could understand it was a fine balancing act for the NRL.
"I don't know if anyone has ever really known (how the ruck will be interpreted), for as long as I've been playing. It's always been a week-to-week thing," he said.
"But from a bigger picture, I understand there are KPIs the NRL are trying to get at, and they're trying to drive the game towards through refereeing.
"There have been some teething issues, like the statistics around wouldn't be good. That might be a by-product.
"But in terms of big picture stuff we can't complain about where Peter is taking the game and where he is getting it to. And we're all reaping the benefits."
