What is the shot clock, and why has it been introduced in the Super League?

THE new Super League season gets underway this weekend and there are a number of changes to the rules.

2018 Grand Final winners Wigan take on Saints in the open game on Friday – here is all you need to know about the new rules.

What is the shot clock and why have they been introduced?

• Shot clocks are being introduced in an attempt to speed up play
• Teams will be penalised if they take more than 35 seconds to form a scrum
• Teams will be penalised if they take more than 30 seconds to take a drop-out

What other rules have been introduced?

There have been a number of new rules introduced into the Super League:

• Teams can now only make eight interchanges in a game (used to be 10)
• The golden point extra-time rule means that if a game is drawn at full-time, it will be decided in two additional five-minute periods.
• However if it is still a draw at the end of the extra ten minutes, it will remain a draw
• There are to be trials of the two-referee system used in Australia’s NRL.

Have the rules been introduced in the Championship?

Both Championship and League One clubs have rejected the golden point for their competition but they have made some changes to match the super league.

The number of interchanges will be reduced to match the top flight and there will be the same time limits on scrums and drop-outs.

However, these will be monitored by timekeepers and shot clocks will not be installed.

Key Super League dates

• World Club Challenge, Wigan Warriers vs Sydney Roosters, DW Stadium: February 17
• Magic Weekend, Anfield: May 25 – 26
• Challenge Cup final: August 24, Wembley
•  Grand Final, Old Trafford: October 12