NRL set to trial two technologies to put an end to forward pass debate

The NRL are set to trial two new technologies later this season in a bid to put an end to the age old debate of whether a pass is thrown forward or not.

The Sydney Morning Herald reported two firms have approached the NRL about the use of their technologies, whose inventors believe can definitively determine whether a pass has been thrown forward.

One technology comes from London-based firm Sportable, which uses the method of inserting a microchip into the ball to track whether the ball leaves a players’ hands forwards or backwards.

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The other technology uses limb-tracking technology to determine whether the trajectory of the pass is forward or back.

NRL head of football Graham Annesley confirmed both methods will be trialled this season to determine their effectiveness.

“It’s very early stages,” NRL head of football Graham Annesley told The Sydney Morning Herald.

“All we have agreed to at this stage is a trial of the technology in training matches to determine whether the technology meets our needs. If we’re convinced it is accurate and suitable, we would need to build a business case to take to the commission.

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“Both technologies have potential beyond forward passes, also other parts of the game.

“The microchip technology was initially developed as a high-performance coaching aid. The discussions I’ve had with them have been purely around officiating.

“There is a long way to go and it’s purely a trial, it’s nothing more than that.”

The COVID-19 pandemic forced a delay in trialling the technologies, but they are set to be tested as early as August.

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“It’s a microchip in the ball and then there are a series of portable trackers placed around the stadium to track the ball,” Annesley said of the Sportable firm’s technology.

“In theory, it can determine when the ball leaves the players’ hands, whether the initial movement of the ball is backwards or forwards.

“That’s bearing in mind that the ball can float forward due to the velocity of the ball. They claim it’s accurate enough to determine whether that initial instant the ball leaves the hands is in a backwards direction.

“We are looking to trial it this season.”

Originally published asNRL set to trial two technologies to put an end to forward pass debate

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