Referees boss Bill Harrigan has proposed a 20-40 rule and the NRL could trial it in next year's All Stars game.

The league already has a 40-20 rule, where a team can earn the loose head and feed at a scrum if their kicker, from inside his own 40m zone, finds touch in the opposition's 20.

Harrigan's proposal would offer the same reward to a team kicking from inside their 20 and finding the sideline in the opposition's 40.

"If a team needs to get down there quickly because they need to get some points and time's running out, they might chance their arm, kick it downfield again and try and get that scrum ... so they're on the attack straight away rather than trying to bust it out of their own half," Harrigan told ABC Radio on Sunday.

The former No.1 whistleblower has taken his idea to the NRL and he said the response had been positive.

"They've said yes, it's a good idea to talk about at the end of the season and maybe (they'll) use it, in consultation with (NRL All Stars coach) Wayne Bennett at the All Stars game next year," Harrigan said.

Meanwhile, Harrigan has backed video referee Sean Hampstead after South Sydney were awarded a golden point extra time penalty that clinched the Rabbitohs' 26-24 win over North Queensland on Friday night.

Cowboys hooker James Segeyaro clipped Issac Luke high, the Souths No.9 staying down which allowed Hampstead to view the incident.

Rabbitohs halfback Chris Sandow's penalty goal proved the match-winner, but the ruling incensed Cowboys coach Neil Henry.

"Once he had a look at the video and he's got him clipped in the head, he's got to give the penalty," Harrigan said.

"What Issac Luke did, I can only say that he stayed within the rules as they currently stand.

"I wouldn't be one to say that he stayed down .. I'd certainly say that the rule is in place that, if a player does stay down on the ground, the video referee gets a chance to have a look at it, he will and then he'll make up his mind on what he sees."

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