The Parramatta Eels celebrate winning last year's Nines. Photosport
The NRL will get another look at life without the zero-tackle rule on 20-metre taps after scrapping it for next month's Auckland Nines.
The rule appears likely to stay for the 2017 NRL season, however it won't feature in the February 4-5 tournament when an error is committed in the
attacking in-goals or a ball is kicked out or marked by a defender.
While the rule has been a part of the NRL since 2014 in a bid to stop the negative play of kicking the ball dead, it presented an advantage in the Nines with four less defenders and a tackle count that ordinarily stops at five.
It should also prompt more attacking play closer to the tryline, with teams now more likely to attempt a try through kicking in the air and along the ground.
The rule change is the only alteration from last year's tournament. Numerous teams were criticised during last year's regular season as they opted to run it on the last close to the line rather than kick and risk giving away the seven-tackle set.
