I AM all for trying to make rugby league more marketable, writes sport reporter Matt Turner.

At the end of the day, it is something that needs to happen given the dwindling general interest in the game.

However, are the new rule changes for Super League games necessarily the way to do that?

READ > Super League introduces golden point extra-time for 2019

I can certainly see why the powers that be may things like a shot clock, reduced interchanges and golden-point extra time for drawn games are beneficial. We all want to see fast, thrill-a-minute stuff, but at what cost?

On the face of it, these changes fly in the face of player welfare and that should be paramount. After all, they are the ones that make the magic happen.

Essentially, we are asking them to play the game at a quicker pace with less chance for rest and, potentially, for longer.

Considering the players already flog themselves into submission for 80 minutes week in, week out for our entertainment, that does not seem fair. We are putting our heroes at greater risk of burning out.

At the very least, the players should be given a say in this. It is an age-old debate that is revisited time and time again, but surely they should have a seat at the table.

Nevertheless, it looks as if these rules changes will be ratified and, for next year at least, we will have to get used to them.

Don’t get me wrong, I can certainly see the positives of what these alterations could bring.

The potential scrapping of the free play rule from knock-ons is one I can get behind. I cannot remember the last time anything significant came from one.

The “shot clock” for scrums, drop-outs and conversions should reduce the time-wasting that is becoming annoyingly prevalent in a game that is supposed to be built on honesty.

Likewise, having only eight interchanges to play with will hopefully increase the emphasis on the tactical decisions of a coach and allow their nous – or lack of it – to shine through.

However, one thing I simply cannot get behind is golden-point extra time.

Using it in cup matches or play-off games when a decisive result is required is all well and good, but I do not see why that added jeopardy is needed in regular league games.

The scoreboard very rarely lies in rugby league. If a team has done enough over 80 minutes to earn a draw, then it should be rewarded with one point.

Taking that away just to add a bit of drama seems a step too far.