Brisbane skipper Sam Thaiday unsure about possible new diving rule changes Sam Thaiday is dubious about possible new diving rules. FEARS that rugby league could end up like soccer could actually lead the NRL to trial a diving solution enforced in the round-ball code. The Courier-Mail understands the diving issue, where players stay down to attract penalties via the video referee, is being discussed in the corridors of NRL headquarters and will be put on the agenda for discussion by the rules review committee at the end of the season. One theory being floated is a rule that would somehow force the "injured" player off the field for a set period of time to be medically assessed by a doctor. Just as in soccer where players who stay down on the ground forcing a halt in play must get off the pitch until the referee allows them to return, NRL stars could be taken out of play before being cleared to come back on. Under current rules players who are injured by foul play are entitled to a free interchange. Brisbane skipper Sam Thaiday wasn't convinced when told of the prospect of players being forced to leave the field after foul play, believing players would still find a way to exploit the rules just as they do now. "You learn to play and use the rules as a football player and if you're not doing it you're behind the eight-ball," Thaiday said. I'm sure they will have many discussions and it's something that you probably won't be able to fix with a click of the fingers. It has almost become a part of the game, there are so many referees these days and they still miss a lot. I think that is why it's come to the way it's come, I hope we never end up being like soccer players and diving for nothing. But there's things in the game that happen that are missed a lot of the time and sometimes it does take that bit of time off for a referee to get a call in his ear from the umpire upstairs to say there was a high shot or there was a twist of the leg or something like that. I don't know how to fix it, I don't know how they will go at the end of the year talking about it. The diving issue raised its head for the Broncos last week when Penrith skipper Kevin Kingston was given a crucial penalty for his side to go ahead by eight points in the second half after staying on the ground after a tackle. Broncos lock forward Corey Parker was furious at the Panthers hooker and voiced his concerns with referees at the time claiming the rival took a dive. Parker said he might be "old school" in believing there was a certain spirit in which to play the game and agreed the NRL needed to look at the issue. "If the NRL has looked at it and are going to look at ways to try and prevent then obviously it's a concern for them," Parker said. They're identifying that maybe there is a case and we will try to prevent it. But to be honest, I just don't think there is a need for (diving) in the game. I was just asking the referee for a bit of discretion. It was frustration as well, but we don't want to see that happening frequently in the game but certainly as long as it's there in black and white as a rule to some degree players are going to use it.