SUPER League will introduce a golden point for the 2019 season and trial a two-referee system.

The league has also confirmed a reduction in the number of interchanges, from 10 to eight, with immediate effect and the introduction of a shot clock to cut down on time-wasting.

The radical moves, which include the removal of the contentious free play from knock-ons, will bring the top-flight English game more into line with Australia's National Rugby League.

Super League split from the governing body, the Rugby Football League, towards the end of 2017 and is now in control of its own destiny, with chief executive Robert Elstone, the former Everton supremo, a big fan of the NRL.

The RFL recently announced that the scrapping of the free play and interchange reduction will apply to both the Championship and League One in 2019 but stopped short of bringing in golden point, other than for play-off or Challenge Cup fixtures.

Golden point was introduced in Australia in 2003 and, when Super League kicks off on January 31, matches which are level after 80 minutes will be followed by two five-minute periods of extra-time.

Any score will end the game but, if there is no score after 10 minutes, then it will be deemed a draw and both teams will take one point.

A shot clock will be introduced to speed up play, with teams penalised if they take more than 35 seconds to form a scrum and more than 30 seconds to take a drop-out. Clocks will be installed this month at each of the 12 Super League grounds.

Sanctions will also be introduced to ensure that no more than 80 seconds is used up by each kick at goal and, in addition, in the last five minutes of each match, the clock will automatically be stopped following a penalty or conversion or a drop goal that goes out of the field of play.

The NRL adopted a two-referee system in 2009 in an effort to help ease pressure on officials and Super League is now poised to follow suit, but not until 2020.

A working group was established last season with a view to bringing in two referees this year but, following talks with the RFL's officials department, it opted to delay for 12 months and will instead trial the system.

Elstone says the changes, which were made after consultation with players, coaches, fans, commercial partners and the NRL, are designed to reward the fittest and most mobile players and provide additional attacking opportunities.

Elstone said: "The changes to our rules and laws are there to highlight what's different and special about Super League.

"Our competition will get faster, more intense and more dramatic. They will provide our players with an even better platform to show their outstanding athleticism, courage and skill.

"There's a growing frustration across sport with time-wasting, gamesmanship and a lack of transparency and integrity in time-keeping.

"We listened to our supporters and commentators and the changes are focused on emphasising our sport's key attributes of intensity, relentlessness and integrity."