EXCLUSIVE: Andrew Johns proposes bold five-point try initiative amid rising concerns over ‘boring’ trends

Andrew Johns has proposed a bold concept aimed at preventing NRL matches from becoming “tedious” and to inspire teams to play a more dynamic style of rugby.

While this season has seen some thrilling matches and impressive scores, there have also been encounters that left much to be desired.

In the opening round, Newcastle edged past the Wests Tigers with a narrow 10-8 victory in a game marked by its low scoring, a trend that continued in round three with a similar result between the Warriors and Roosters.

Johns believes he has a means to “encourage” more attacking gameplay, which could, in turn, enhance the excitement of the sport.

“Rugby league is thriving – viewership is on the rise, and crowds are increasing – yet some matches, particularly at night when conditions are dewy, can be quite dull,” he remarked on Wide World of Sports’ Immortal Behaviour.

“When teams get caught in a struggle of trading sets, it often becomes monotonous. An instance of this was the Roosters against the Warriors – it was rather lacklustre and slippery. I ended up muting the game and making dinner instead.”

“I enjoy watching every game, but some can really test your patience.”

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“It’s a matter of risk versus reward – if you’re trying to come out of trouble and make a mistake in tough conditions, it could cost you dearly. To incentivise teams to pass the ball more while escaping tough situations, why not award five points for a try scored from within your own 40?”

“If teams are in a scramble for points, this will encourage more attacking play.”

Since 1983, four-point tries have been the standard, raised from three points, but the NRL has not been averse to implementing radical changes in recent years.

Johns also highlighted the thrill that two-point field-goals have brought to the game, despite initially confessing that he “disliked” the concept when it was first introduced.