One defender marks in front; the dummy-half receives from behind.

“Dummy-half” and “second marker” are playing terms

The 2026 IRL lawbook calls the defender immediately opposite the tackled player the player marking. It calls the player directly behind an own-team participant the acting halfback. For the attacking team, that acting halfback is usually called the dummy-half.

IRL permits one acting halfback from each team. The defending acting halfback stands directly behind the player marking and is commonly called the second marker. That familiar label is useful, but the law's formal positional test is “acting halfback”; it does not define two identical marker positions.

These are phase roles, not fixed positions

Any eligible, onside teammate can move into dummy-half under the 2026 IRL law. The number 9 hooker commonly provides this service, but the laws do not reserve it for the hooker. A fullback, forward, halfback, or any other teammate can act there.

The first marker also need not be a particular shirt number or necessarily the defender who completed the tackle. One opponent may take the position immediately opposite the tackled player. The legal position matters more than the player's usual team role.

“Square” is shorthand for immediately opposite

Players and commentators say the marker must be “square.” IRL Section 11, Law 10(c) states the actual test: one opponent may take a position immediately opposite the tackled player. “Square” is useful shorthand, not a separate defined lawbook term.

A defender still behind or beside the tackled player has not satisfied that test merely by claiming the marker role. Every tackler must first release the tackled player, who must not be touched again before the ball is in play, and the players who effected the tackle must be given time to clear the ruck.

The “second marker” must stay directly behind

Under IRL Section 11, Law 10(f), the defending acting halfback may stand immediately and directly behind the player marking. If that player takes the role, they must remain directly behind their teammate until the play-the-ball movement is complete.

The role is permitted, not compulsory. All other defenders must meet the 10-metre retreat rule; standing beside the ruck does not create a third marker. If the two central defenders separate early to close both sides, Law 10(c) treats that early split as a tackle-count-restart infringement, subject to its 40-metre-zone penalty exception.

A dummy-half who takes the role starts directly behind

The attacking team does not have to appoint a dummy-half at every play-the-ball. If a player does take the acting-halfback position, IRL Section 11, Law 10(f) requires that player to stand immediately and directly behind the teammate playing the ball and remain there until the play-the-ball movement is complete.

The player cannot reach around and collect the ball before it has been legally played. Once the tackled player has played it backwards, the ball is in play. Ordinary laws governing possession, passing, kicking, knock-on, offside and obstruction then apply.

Three timing phrases should not be collapsed

Ball in play: under the 2026 amendment and Section 11, Law 10(e), this occurs when the tackled player has played the ball backwards. Before then, the player marking may not touch that player and may not kick or heel the ball.

Movement complete: both acting halfbacks must remain directly behind their own participant until the play-the-ball movement is complete. Ball cleared the ruck: Law 10(h) uses this later release point for defenders who retired to the defensive line. The law does not use one blanket timing phrase for every player around the ruck.

Standard IRL law allows a pass, run, kick or try

Section 11 defines the starting position; it does not impose a special “pass only” restriction. Once the ball is live, IRL Section 5, Law 3 allows any onside player who is not out of play to run with it, kick it, or pass it in a legal direction. A dummy-half who runs and is legally tackled has used the next tackle in the team's current set.

The dummy-half may also score by legally grounding the ball in the opponents' in-goal. “Dummy-half cannot score” and “turnover if dummy-half is tackled” are modified-format rules, not the standard 2026 international 13-a-side baseline.

The tackled player has one narrow pickup exception

The note to IRL Section 11, Law 10(f) says that if no marker takes position and no acting halfback is present, the ball is deemed clear immediately when it is heeled and the player who played it may immediately regain possession and play on.

Both stated conditions matter. The note is not a general right for the tackled player to turn around and recollect whenever the usual receiver is late. If the no-marker/no-acting-halfback exception is not satisfied, use the ordinary play-the-ball positions.

The defence may leave the ruck unmarked

IRL says an opponent may take the position immediately opposite, so a marker is not compulsory. Leaving it empty does not allow a defender beside the ruck to invent a late marker position after the movement has begun.

Everyone not participating as the player marking or defending acting halfback must retire ten metres, or to their own goal line. On a quick play-the-ball, Law 10(g) recognises that some players may not have time to retire: the referee penalises intentional active or passive interference, while genuinely accidental interference produces a scrum. A player who had a reasonable opportunity to move away cannot rely on “accidental” interference.

What officials watch at the ruck

• Wrong starting channel: the player claiming marker is not immediately opposite, or the defending acting halfback is not immediately and directly behind that player.
• Early split: the two central defenders separate before the movement is complete to close both sides.
• Heel interference: a tackler clearing through the attacking side affects the backward play of the ball.
• Continued contact: a defender holds or touches the tackled player before the ball is in play.
• Kicking or heeling: the player marking tries to play the ball with a foot.
• Defensive-line movement: a defender who was required to retire advances before the ball has cleared the ruck.

The attack also has duties

The tackled player must regain their feet without delay where tackled, lift the ball clear of the ground, face the opponents' goal line, place it in front of the foremost foot and make a genuine attempt to play it backwards with the foot. The tackled player must also allow the tacklers time to clear the ruck.

Other attackers must retire behind the teammates involved in the play-the-ball or to their own goal line. An attacker who loiters beside the ruck and causes an obstruction—the lawbook's “sleeper”—can be penalised. A player who, while scoring, dives through the ruck or into a teammate (including the player who played the ball) and thereby impacts the defence can likewise be penalised for obstruction.

Set restart, penalty, handover or scrum?

IRL Section 11, Law 10(c) gives the attack another set of six for interference with the smooth play-the-ball or an early marker split. It instead awards a penalty when the tackle is effected inside the 40-metre zone measured from the team in possession's own goal line. That field-position exception belongs to the 2026 international baseline; a competition may replace it.

Different acts have different outcomes. Law 10(d) makes an illegal play-the-ball a handover; Law 10(e) makes an accidental forward deflection while trying to play it backwards a play-the-ball to the non-offending team; and the note to Law 10(g) makes accidental interference by a player caught out of play a scrum. Section 16 permits advantage where stopping would disadvantage the non-offending team and preserves later misconduct action. See the set-restart guide for the wider system.

How to analyse the play-the-ball

1. Name the ruleset. Start with IRL 2026 only if the appointed competition has not modified it.
2. Check release and place. Tacklers release; the tackled player regains their feet where tackled and places the ball correctly.
3. Identify the roles. Is one opponent immediately opposite? Has either team placed an acting halfback directly behind its own participant?
4. Watch the foot and the timing. The tackled player genuinely plays the ball backwards; there is no early touch, kick, heel or split.
5. Check everyone else. Other defenders retire and do not advance until the ball clears the ruck; other attackers remain behind their participants.
6. Match act to outcome. Use play on, advantage, set restart, penalty, handover, play-the-ball or scrum according to the exact provision and competition rules.

Four IRL 2026 rulings

These are explanatory hypotheticals, not official casebook incidents.

• Forward at dummy-half: a prop stands immediately and directly behind the tackled teammate, waits for the movement to complete, collects and passes. Ruling: play on. IRL assigns a phase position, not a shirt number.
• Early defensive split: the player marking and defending acting halfback move to opposite sides before the movement is complete. Ruling: another set of six, unless Law 10(c)'s 40-metre-zone exception makes it a penalty.
• No one at the ruck: no opponent takes marker and no acting halfback is present. The player heels the ball backwards and immediately picks it up. Ruling: play on under the specific note to Law 10(f).
• Trapped defender: a fast play-the-ball leaves a defender short of ten metres. The defender tries to leave and does not influence play. Ruling: no automatic penalty merely for being caught short; Law 10(g) asks whether the player intentionally interfered or retained an avoidable advantage.

What the international rule does not say

• “Only the hooker can play dummy-half.” Hooker is a team position; acting halfback is a role at one play-the-ball.
• “Both central defenders must have made the tackle.” IRL tests where the player marking and defending acting halfback take position, not their usual role or tackle statistic.
• “There are two formal marker positions.” IRL names one player marking and one defending acting halfback; “second marker” is the familiar playing label.
• “The marker may strike for the ball.” Law 10(e), clarified for 2026, prohibits the player marking from kicking or heeling it.
• “A dummy-half who runs and is tackled always loses possession.” Not in standard IRL 13-a-side law; modified formats may impose that consequence.
• “Hands up make a short defender legal.” The signal does not excuse avoidable interference.

RFL modified formats and the NRL differ

RFL Primary Rugby League 2026: Under-6 to Under-9 have no marker and require the acting halfback to pass. Under-10 also has no marker, but permits one dummy-half scoot per six-play set and does not allow that player to score. Under-11 permits one active marker, allows the dummy-half to run without forfeiting possession if tackled, and still prohibits a dummy-half try. Retreat distances also change by age group.

RFL Masters 2026: two markers are permitted and remain passive unless the dummy-half runs. A dummy-half may run but cannot score; if tackled in possession, a sixth tackle is awarded with scrum head and feed to the defending side.

NRL 2026: the ARLC's 4 February announcement says certain tackle-count restarts beyond the 20-metre line replace the former 40-metre threshold. The announcement does not enumerate every covered infringement on that page, so the current NRL officiating instructions control the application. Do not transfer an NRL threshold or a modified-format restriction to an IRL match.

Rules and effective versions

• International Rugby League — International Laws of the Game 2026 with Notes on the Laws — Section 5, Law 3; Section 11, Law 10(a)–(h) and notes; Section 16, Law 8.1 and advantage notes. Controlling international 13-a-side baseline.
• International Rugby League — “Amendments to International Laws 2026,” 9 January 2026 — amendments implemented from 1 January 2026, including the genuine foot attempt, prohibition on the marker kicking or heeling, and when the ball is in play.
• Rugby Football League — Primary Rugby League Rules 2026 — Under-6 to Under-11 play-the-ball, marker, retreat, running and scoring conditions.
• Rugby Football League — Masters Rugby League Playing Rules 2026, Rule 4 — two-marker, passive-marker and dummy-half conditions.
• Australian Rugby League Commission — “ARLC confirms 2026 on-field rule changes,” 4 February 2026 — NRL 20-metre threshold announcement for certain tackle-count restarts.

Checked against the IRL 2026 lawbook and the amendment notice effective 1 January 2026. The RFL Primary and Masters documents and the ARLC announcement support only the labelled variations; appointed competition regulations and current officiating instructions may supplement the IRL baseline.