Six years after the set restart was introduced, the NRL's call to implement them between the 20 and 40-metre line has led to the biggest change to games since 2021.
One month into the season there has been a 57 per cent increase in set restarts compared to the same period last year, with one now awarded every 30 tackles.
That has allowed teams to have long possession runs, making fatigue a significant factor for defending teams and margins blowing out to 17 points per game.
According to analytics website Rugby League Eye Test, 62 per cent of tries this year have been scored by a team having the ball for at least a second straight set.
Holding onto the ball has, in turn, become key.
In the last season before the set-restart rule was introduced, Sydney Roosters won the 2019 premiership despite completing at a better rate than their rivals in just six of 27 games.
In contrast, the team that has completed at a higher rate has won 25 of 32 matches played this year.
"It's decided games so far this year for the most part," Roosters coach Trent Robinson said recently.
"(Completions) have gone up by about five or eight per cent in the past five years. So you have to do that.
"But you've also got to play footy. We saw that with the Broncos last year.
"The six-again and moving it 20 metres further means you have to ask questions with the ball as well."
Striking that balance is the key.
Melbourne, Canterbury, the Warriors and Penrith are the top four clubs for completions this year. Those four sides have lost just four games between them.
Newcastle are the outlier, ranked 14th for completions but sitting fourth on the ladder.
Meanwhile St George Illawarra's completions are relatively good despite them being winless.
"You have to honour your style," Robinson said.
"You have to play what you believe in as well.
"Marrying the two up for us whilst we're getting support and the combination play, that's the key for us going forward."
How the reliance on completions changes over the course of the season remains to be seen.
"There are times in the year where everyone's sort of really match fit and you might be able to get away with like a 70 per cent completion," Penrith and Australia captain Isaah Yeo said.
"But particularly at this time of the year, you want to complete well. It's been really hot and humid.
"For us, it's not like we're playing like a really one-out brand of football. To do that under fatigue and in the conditions is nice."
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