6 man bench

[SupermanSupportsEasts4Eva]

It's seems like another unnecessary sh!t rule change. Much like the Super sub in t20 cricket.

[Bates]

I see the logic in your suggestion. My concern is turning into the NFL..... 11 on the field with 46 active players. This rule change is generally being looked at one dimensionally by punters. Coaches will have a very different spin on it and I can see the game dynamics changing substantially as a result of this change. Again, the NRL have probably missed the threat this rule change makes.

Imagine you have an excellent 100% goal kicker who is a shit player. Game tied 2 min to go and you get a penalty. Bring on the kicker.... see my point.

Bingo.

The bench will keep growing and 4 by 25 minute quarters will also be introduced.

[Rooster_6]

It allows for a game not to be disrupted if a half or outside back goes down
potentially reduces the impact of a true utility on a game
Watsons value might feel a little lower etc
i presume 18-19th men should be rotated as they also need to be playing plenty of nsw cup games to get game time

Yeh it's a real interesting one, for example I imagine Hugo Savala is part of the 19 as the back up half every week but is it good for his development to not be playing 80minutes week in, week out to continue working on his game..?

[Fishwa]

It allows for a game not to be disrupted if a half or outside back goes down
potentially reduces the impact of a true utility on a game
Watsons value might feel a little lower etc
i presume 18-19th men should be rotated as they also need to be playing plenty of nsw cup games to get game time

There used to be a rule (maybe 15 years ago) that if a player played less than (i think it was circa 20 minutes) they were still able to play in the feeder team that weekend. Unsure if that still exists - but seems like a logical solution. May not always be possible due to scheduling, but would work especially for teams playing Thursday/Friday nights

[Bates]

Shares in the bench utility have plummeted with the new rule.

I'm looking forward to seeing how it's utilised in SOO.

DCE could well be the 18th man for QLD

[Chook2]

There used to be a rule (maybe 15 years ago) that if a player played less than (i think it was circa 20 minutes) they were still able to play in the feeder team that weekend. Unsure if that still exists - but seems like a logical solution. May not always be possible due to scheduling, but would work especially for teams playing Thursday/Friday nights

Yes I think they still can play if the nrl game is earlier sometimes players with limited game time will back up in the nsw cup
they will need to rotate these guys and still play them in nsw cup when they can

[MKCS]

Shares in the bench utility have plummeted with the new rule.

I'm looking forward to seeing how it's utilised in SOO.

DCE could well be the 18th man for QLD

Exactly and this is why I don't like the rapid rule changes that occur in the game. NRL teams have signed strong utility players and paid them increasingly more and more but now the utility position is kind of obsolete which impacts these specific players along with the teams that might have invested big money in a strong utility option.

[Chook2]

Yeh it's a real interesting one, for example I imagine Hugo Savala is part of the 19 as the back up half every week but is it good for his development to not be playing 80minutes week in, week out to continue working on his game..?

Yes nothing is better then game time for players, in particular younger ones so can only imagine they will rotate and if the nrl game is earlier the 18-19th man can still backup when they can

[caz]

Not sure which players we use, but i think coaches will (at least initially) pick 4 players like they would normally to use, and then just have an out and out Half, and outside back as spots 5 and 6 - which will only get used if an injury in those positions occurs.

So i dont think it will change much, but just stop situations like 2nd Rowers playing in the centres - so i actually think its a good tweak to the rule - Soccer is similar with 5 subs allowed from i think 12 players on the bench for internationals

the make up of the 4 players to get game time makes sense but it might effect the timing of interchanges. in effect it might essentially become a 3 man bench as coaches keep that fourth player up their sleeves until well into the second half to keep their options open in case a half or an outside back goes down

[SamKerrSimp]

You could have a 10 man bench and Robbo will still use the 3 players

I don't know why the NRL don't just do the logical thing that everyone has wanted for years and that's to make the 18th, 19th, 20th man etc available to come in to the game if a player is ruled out for a head injury.

[Bates]

Exactly and this is why I don't like the rapid rule changes that occur in the game. NRL teams have signed strong utility players and paid them increasingly more and more but now the utility position is kind of obsolete which impacts these specific players along with the teams that might have invested big money in a strong utility option.

Yep clubs should have 2 years heads up before the new rule is introduced alternately the NRL contacts Batesy for his advice

[Bates]

I reckon Ivan Cleary will be all over this new rule. He is the grasshopper.

[ism22]

It's a stupid change (as is just about everything that flog V'landys does as part of his personal legacy building agenda).

However, I reckon it's gonna suit us as we have Watson, Savala, Walker and DCE on our books. Having the option of tactically choosing to use a playmaker or a big body (plus possibly have a solid outside back in the mix for injury cover) could help.

Personal rant but as a middle aged, competitive runner who does 120km+ a week, part of injury prevention (and peaking for the big monents) is never busting a gut for nothing. Gym bro and footy culture both have this 'always go hard' attitude. I get it but if the cue is in the rack and there's nothing to gain by having key players out there then IMO it's completely reasonable to rotate them to the bench. Sometimes there's absolutely nothing to gain from somebody going hard, other than an ACL to add injury to insult when we're already on the ropes...

[David Sutherland]

Yes it would be good to have a halves and outside back cover but if they have to be used because a half and back go down during the game you are left with only two interchange players - 6 interchanges - a coach couldn't save one of the interchange players until late in the game and or not use them- would have to use both for forward interchanges throughout the game.

[Billy Gunn]

The NFL has specialist punters, the NRL could have specialist 2 point field goal kickers. Any advantage a team can find when the game is in the balance.