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The Conversation
The Conversation
Science
Stephen Woodcock, Associate Professor of Mathematical Sciences, University of Technology Sydney

Have the NRL's rule changes made boring blowouts the norm? The stats say no

NRL AFL National Rugby League Super League

Throughout the 2021 National Rugby League (NRL) season, commentators bemoaned the number of “blowout” results with a wide margin of victory between the sides.

The average margin of victory during the season was 17.89 points, higher than for any season during the preceding decade.

Many critics, including NRL legend Johnathan Thurston, blamed recent rule changes, which aimed to speed up the game and reduce defending teams’ ability to regroup and catch a breather by giving away a penalty. The new rule, they argued, allows stronger teams to drive weaker opposition to exhaustion more easily.

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