Todd Payten appeared visibly frustrated when questioned about set restart calls following the North Queensland Cowboys' heavy defeat to the Wests Tigers at Leichhardt Oval on Saturday, a match that highlighted ongoing controversy about this season's expanded penalty rule.
The Cowboys conceded five set restarts in the opening 10 minutes, which proved costly as the Tigers built an early advantage. They leaked two tries while Kai O'Donnell was in the sin bin for repeated infringements, putting the visitors on the back foot from which they could not recover.
Payten's discomfort with the questioning reflects broader frustration across the NRL about the 2026 rule changes. Referees now penalise set restarts anywhere between the 20m lines, whereas last year the zone was between the 40m lines. The consequence has been stark: last year there was an average of 5.87 set restarts per game in round one, with a 35 per cent increase of six-agains in 2026 with an average of 8.14.
The rule, while intended to speed play, has created new headaches for coaches to manage. Referees now call a set restart rather than full penalty for infringements that occur anywhere outside a team's defensive 20-metre zone. This shift from traditional penalties to set restarts fundamentally changes how teams defend in their own half, and the learning curve has been steep.
All coaches received a notice telling them referees will be looking closely at several areas, with particular attention on slow rucks, with a note stating "The referees have reviewed several slow rucks in R1 that, upon reflection, should have been a penalty or set restart depending on field position". This warning suggests that further adjustments may be coming as officials and teams calibrate to the new framework.
The Cowboys underwhelmed during their first clash for 2026 in Las Vegas, and a heftier loss on Saturday keeps pressure on coach Todd Payten, with Payten's Cowboys having now lost their first two games of 2026 after missing finals last season. The consecutive defeats, particularly the manner of this loss at the hands of a Tigers side beginning their season, have intensified scrutiny on the coach's future prospects.
Whether Payten's frustration proves justified or merely reflects coaching adjustment to new rules will become clearer as the season progresses and teams adapt to the revised enforcement regime.