6 man Bench Utilisation

[upthetigers]

Melbournes bench is usually full of no names from the Q cup. Same with Brisbane . They are extremely top heavy , just smart at recruitment and preparing their guys for nrl . The roosters are the team who could field a NSW team most years . Sombrero etc.
I think we have gone along way to fixing our depth issue this offseason . We didn’t lose any starters of our top 17 last year , yet now have guys like Robert’s , Pearce Paul , Makasini , Geyer , Bunty , all making claims for the 17 , and probably most will get in . So that will mean guys like sexton , toa, seyfarth , sukkar , bird , hunt, Fainu will all push out to the extended squad . We are far deeper this year than we have been in a long time . Our NSW cup halves will be Madden and probably Andrew’s , with Matai , Lyle’s , and Mason backing them up . Those boys could be at Ryde Eastwood most of the year . Not because they’re shit , because the depth is there. Plus most of the kids are pushing 50 games . The squad depth is there IMO. The reason the team will or won’t fail will rest on the guys getting the big money . They need to perform .

The only depth we lack is backup hooker cue the TDS replies

 

[innsaneink]

This new bench rule will require our coaches to strategise heavily not only during the game but who is selected.

What I mean is we can't keep selecting the same players 18 & 19 if they don't get any game time each week. And our NSW Cup schedule doesn't allow many non-used bench players to play Cup that same weekend.

So could we see a lot of rotation of at least 2 players selected on the bench each week?

For example, one week could be ...

Latu Fainu
Royce Hunt
Bunty Afoa
Sione Fainu
Alex Seyfarth
Jeral Skelton

Let's say Seyfarth & Skelton don't end up being activated that week then they drop back to NSW Cup the following week with Tony Sukkar & Luke Laulilii coming in (provided there are no injuries).

Will be an interesting strategy to ensure players get adequate game time over a few weeks.

Thats been my concern all along with this

As you said theres only about three rounds this year whete #18 & 19 could play reggies if not used.

Id be reluctant to have developing players in these positions

 

[Rock Hopper Steve]

Thats been my concern all along with this

As you said theres only about three rounds this year whete #18 & 19 could play reggies if not used.

Id be reluctant to have developing players in these positions

You would definitely need to have rotation happening as BWG touched on, no other solution.

 

[BlackWhiteGold]

You would definitely need to have rotation happening as BWG touched on, no other solution.

Maybe just maybe Benji is a step ahead with the recruitment of experienced depth players like Bunty Afoa, Mav Geyer & Jock Madden, all very possible of rotating in and out.

 

[pacey]

19. Jock Madden - all season.

 

[Vicious]

I might be in the minority here, but I actually liked what I saw from Charlie Murray last year when he stepped up to first grade. I think he has the makings of a decent hybrid 9/13. Could spell Api for 15-20 and also join the forward rotation if required. He'd be my smokey for the 14 jersey if Douehi goes to 13 once Latu comes back.

I think I read this is the first time he has been full time heading into an NRL season and you would assume he’s gone all in knowing he will be unlikely to get any more NRL opportunities if he doesn’t make it work this season.
I’m another who thinks he looked decent in his limited NRL opportunities late last season and would not need to improve too much to become a more regular part of our NRL top 19 this season.
Aside from when Latu plays there, he has the most fluent passing game of anyone in our squad playing 13.

 

[Rock Hopper Steve]

Maybe just maybe Benji is a step ahead with the recruitment of experienced depth players like Bunty Afoa, Mav Geyer & Jock Madden, all very possible of rotating in and out.

New season another year smarter for Benji you would hope, be very disappointing if his coaching doesn't evolve, all capable of rotating but if he stands up in the trials Bunty would be my pick to play every week.

I know one thing for sure there will have to be cover for Toa, man the injury news sucks, can't have him having a stinker if the niggle comes back again.

 

[Vicious]

New season another year smarter for Benji you would hope, be very disappointing if his coaching doesn't evolve, all capable of rotating but if he stands up in the trials Bunty would be my pick to play every week.

I know one thing for sure there will have to be cover for Toa, man the injury news sucks, can't have him having a stinker if the niggle comes back again.

Spot on RHS.
If we have Bunty and Royce fit and motivated they will give us that power running through the middle that we have often been missing.
Benji choosing the right times for them to be on the field and the right amount of minutes for them to play will be the key.
Like you I am very concerned to hear Starford’s shoulder has not been operated on and he still may not be 💯 throughout the 2026 season.
If he’s not at his best we need to work out who will capably fill that right centre position.

 

[BlackWhiteGold]

New season another year smarter for Benji you would hope, be very disappointing if his coaching doesn't evolve, all capable of rotating but if he stands up in the trials Bunty would be my pick to play every week.

I know one thing for sure there will have to be cover for Toa, man the injury news sucks, can't have him having a stinker if the niggle comes back again.

I think having Makasini, Luke Laulilii & Skelton (and possibly Patrick Herbert) pushing for spots, we'll have good coverage for To'a. And keep an eye on 20yo T&T centre Max Taotua to emerge mid-season, he's progressing nicely.

 

[magpies forever]

I like the idea but I'm concerned over 2 of the 6 not getting game time in either NRL / State Cup on that weekend when named. Unless maybe 3 of the 6 can play State Cup on understanding they'll also be on bench for NRL. What happens if injured? Can additional players join bench at last minute? I suppose the question is is when does this bench have to be named? If the same time as the main squad Tuesday afternoon, that will surely be problematical. In the long run I can see the NRL developing an offensive and defensive groups of maybe 8 players each and coach determines when those specialist players go in as a unit, the remain numbers are made up of say utility players. Doesn't the NFL have something like that?

 

[Vicious]

I think having Makasini, Luke Laulilii & Skelton (and possibly Patrick Herbert) pushing for spots, we'll have good coverage for To'a. And keep an eye on 20yo T&T centre Max Taotua to emerge mid-season, he's progressing nicely.

Agreed, it’s not as if we do not have anyone potentially capable of making the right centre spot their own, it’s just the uncertainty that nobody other than Starford and on occasions Patrick Herbert are proven right centres at NRL level.

 

[Tiger Tarl]

I would definitely want a backup for Api on the bench. I realise Latu can cover 9 (he played hooker for Tonga a few years ago so must have some chops there) but haven't seen him training there much. Maybe I missed it. And I assume Makasini will likely get a spot on the 6-man bench as he can supposedly cover anywhere in the backline.

So IMO we'll have Makasini for backline cover. Latu for halves/hooker cover. Then 4 forwards. Two props. A lock and a 2nd-row backup just in case. Maybe something like:

14. Latu
15. Hunt
16. Bunty
17. Sione
18. Seyfarth?
19. Makasini

Bunty for Pole after 20min (or vice versa). Sione for Twal after 25min. Hunt for May ten minutes either side of half (gives Terrel a short break and allows Hunt to be explosive for those sessions). This keeps our forwards fresh, then reverse in the second half, so that's 6 interchanges used.

Save Seyfarth (or Geyer/Roberts, best 2nd row depth) as backup. Keep Makasini as backup (but make sure he's playing in reserves each week). Which leaves us Latu for Api at the 60th minute. OR... Move Doueihi to lock and Latu into the halves at some point.

Will be interesting how Benji uses the bench. Could be a game-changer for us. Equally, we could stuff it up and play our middles for too long. Guess time will tell.

 

[EllisFan]

If we can get big minutes out of our back rowers it might pay off to rotate TDM , Pole, Hunt & Bunty to keep their impact high. Might need Sione or Twal to do a job out wider on occasion. Interesting to see how it’s coached.

 

[tiger_one]

This "fix" aka the extended bench was initially portrayed as a cover against player concussions etc.
But as always, the devil is in the fine print.

It is really a forced-hand for all coached to re-think their game plans; yes, have cover for injuries etc BUT ALSO use the bench as a real part of the game plan.
Easier said than done.

 

[Mighty_Tiger]

I actually like it. Gives more ability to have a specialist role on the bench and has potential to change things up around durability for the forward’s opening the play up abit.

 

[area52]

Dont get me started on vlandys.