The play-the-ball decides ruck speed.

What the tackled player must do

The tackled player has to make the ball available again by playing it at the mark. They cannot simply roll away, crawl forward, or play from a clearly wrong position to gain an unfair advantage.

• Regain control and return to the mark as managed by the referee.
• Face the opponents' goal line and play the ball back in a legal motion.
• Avoid moving off the mark, blocking markers, or deliberately trapping defenders.
• Let the dummy-half collect the ball and restart the attack.

Where defenders can stand

Markers are the defenders at the play-the-ball. They must be square and legal before they can influence the next phase. If a marker is not square, interferes early, or is never in a legal position, the referee may penalise or restart the count.

Other defenders must retire to the defensive line. Moving up too early from the line is a separate offside problem from marker positioning.

Why slowing the tackle is risky

Defenders are allowed to complete a tackle, but they are not allowed to keep holding, pulling, crowding, or delaying once the tackle is complete. The referee judges whether the defence is legitimately finishing the tackle or illegally slowing the restart.

• Holding down the tackled player can bring a penalty or six-again call.
• Hands on the ball after the tackle can be interference.
• Defenders lying in the ruck must clear the area rather than block the play-the-ball.
• Attackers can also offend by moving off the mark or seeking a cheap penalty.

Why play does not always stop

Some ruck infringements are managed with a tackle-count restart instead of a full penalty. This keeps the attack moving and punishes the defence without stopping every minor ruck offence.

That does not mean all ruck offences are equal. Professional fouls, repeated infringements, foul play, or offences close to the try line may still bring stronger sanctions depending on the competition rules.

Where fans argue

• "The defender was trapped, so it must be a penalty against the attacker": sometimes, but the referee checks whether the defender first failed to release or clear the ruck.
• "Fast play-the-ball means legal play-the-ball": speed does not fix stepping off the mark or playing the ball incorrectly.
• "Every slow ruck is six again": the referee still decides whether there was an infringement and what restart fits.
• "Markers can chase from anywhere": markers must start square and legal before defending.

How officials sort it

1. Call the tackle complete and identify the mark.
2. Check that defenders release and clear the tackled player.
3. Check whether markers are square and other defenders are onside.
4. Watch the tackled player's action at the play-the-ball.
5. Use play-on, six again, penalty, or stronger sanction based on the offence.

Source material

• International Rugby League
• Rugby Football League Laws of the Game
• NRL rules and interpretations