The addition of the six-again for ruck infringements was credited for speeding up the game in 2020, and the latest addition for next season is expected to take the game to a new pace again.

On Friday the NRL announced a new set of rules to come into play in 2021, including adding a six-again for 10m infringements instead of a penalty.

It will take another stoppage out of the game as the Australian Rugby League Commission looks to add more momentum to the game.

In a shortened season in 2020 and with little preparation, players took several rounds to adapt to the new pace of the game, but Abdo is confident the 2021 changes will not be another huge added toll.

"2020 was an unusual season, we had a shortened pre-season and there wasn't much respite for the players," he said.

"It was difficult to judge in just one season.

"We have to be cognizant of the overall player welfare issue and the overall speed of the game.

"There's an ebb and flow.

"There's some elements of what we've introduced that will speed things up and then there'll be natural stoppages and breaks.

"It has to balance off. We'll look at that and monitor that and if need be, we'll make adjustments."

Abdo also said the ARLC didn't consider lowering the number of interchanges to allow players to adapt, while scrums remain a major stoppage in matches.

Gold Coast fullback AJ Brimson said getting notice of rule changes in December with a March 11 kick off allows plenty of time for teams to adapt.

Brimson was one of the players who blossomed from adding fatigue into the game last season through the six again rule and said it was now up to teams to train to benefit from the new changes.

A fan of the six-again last season, Brimson said it allowed smaller players like himself to inject into games as fatigue set in.

"It's a quicker game so it's more entertaining for the fans and obviously when you're defending it six again is pretty hard but that's where you're got to try limit giving them away," he said.

Australian Associated Press