Hull coach Grix delivers verdict on rugby league's new play-the-ball rules

HULL FC face their first game under rugby league's new play-the-ball rules against Huddersfield Giants, with a quicker and cleaner ruck expected this year.

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In an effort to speed up the Super League competition and align it to Australia's NRL, players will be penalised more harshly for play-the-ball infringements, namely for laying on in the ruck, with coaches already reporting an increase in the speed of the game in the friendly matches played so far.

That has led to more space for attacking players and more attacking opportunities to the general game, something which, in Hull assistant coach Simon Grix's eyes, is only going to benefit Super League in the long run.

"Speeding the game up has made the NRL very entertaining," Grix told the Mail.