2026 countdown

[TIGERS]

I read that Roger Fabri (the sprint coach) has been working with Galvin over the off-season - as well as James Tedesco - but more importantly for us, also Bula and Turuva.

Jeez he turned Bird into a world beater last off-season didn't he. I'm not sure about Fabri. He gives me Webhe vibes. Charlie Staines is fast but if you don't have power and timing, raw pace doesn't mean much.

In Bula's case I don't think he needs a yard of pace, he needs Hodgo teaching him how to chime in better with backline play. People forget Greg Inglis was a Clive Churchill winner playing at 6 before his barnstorming days at Souths. Great footy brain and not just speed.

 

[BlackWhiteGold]

https://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/sport/nrl/kickoff-decision-extended-squads-nrl-proposes-four-rule-changes-for-2026-season/news-story/f3d85e9834274f0687134bba0994ff17

Kick-off decision, extended squads: NRL proposes four rule changes for 2026 season
The NRL will implement a raft of rule changes ahead of the upcoming season, which will also include extending matchday squads from 17 to 19.

Michael Carayannis
December 30, 2025 - 11:28AM

The NRL are planning a radical change to the century old kick-off rule among other tweaks which could also see teams carry squads of 19 on game days.

It is understood the NRL have pieced together four potential rule changes which will now be discussed by clubs and the RLPA with the view of implementing them as soon as next season.

The NRL had been toying with potential changes in recent months but that has now come to a head.

It is understood the four alterations include:

KICK OFF
A drastic change to the kick-off rule which could see the scoring team kick-off.

Teams will have the option to kick or receive after being scored against.

The team that has been scored against will now have the option to kick-off or receive the ball to restart play. As it stands, the team which concedes a try or goal restarts play by kicking off.

It means momentum is hard to stop and can result in lopsided scorelines. In the 1997 Super League breakaway competition the scoring teams had to kick-off.

EXTENDED MATCH DAY SQUADS

Coaches will now be able to carry benches of six players but will still be only able to play four per game. It means game day squad sizes will increase from 17 to 19 but interchanges will remain capped at eight. This idea came out of a meeting with coaches, including Wayne Bennett, Ivan Cleary, Craig Bellamy, Ricky Stuart, Michael Maguire and Craig Fitzgibbon at the end of last season.

The plan was originally to have 21 players available but that has now been scaled back. It would allow clubs to carry specialist players on the interchange bench just in case they lose a starter. The NRL introduced an 18th man to help cover for headknocks or acts of foul play in 2021.

ACT OF SCORING

If an attacking player drops the ball in the act of attempting to score a try over the tryline they will not be penalised by a seven tackle set. Instead the defending team will receive the ball for an ordinary six-tackle set from the 20 metre mark to restart play.

PENALTY ZONE

Set restarts instead of penalties will be awarded from outside the 20-metre line of the attacking team. This is designed to speed play up. Full penalties will still be awarded inside the 20-metre mark. This season, penalties were awarded inside the 40 metres. Set restarts were introduced in 2020 but tweaked in 2022 where penalties were awarded inside the 40-metre zone of the team in possession.

The NRL will now engage with stakeholders to see if all – or some – are introduced in time for the NRL to launch at the double header in Las Vegas on March 1. Pre-season trials begin on February 7 with the Bulldogs taking on the Cowboys and the Dragons playing Newcastle in a double header at Kogarah Oval. Those four teams will then travel to Las Vegas.

The NRL made no new rule changes in 2025.

 

[BlackWhiteGold]

Haven't had a deep think about what these means except maybe ...

KICK OFF
More value on Royce Hunt, Bunty Afoa types if we chose to receive kickoff after being scored against to get us back on the front foot.

EXTENDED SQUADS
Less need for backrow/centre utilities on the bench. Maybe just carry a specialist centre as 18th/19th man to replace a centre or winger if they have to come off injured. Also potentially could carry an impact type player (forward or back) as 18th/19th man if a player is injured in last 10 mins of the game.

PENALTY ZONE
Probably increases the value of fitter, smaller forwards who can handle set restarts in the middle.

 

[jadtiger]

https://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/sport/nrl/kickoff-decision-extended-squads-nrl-proposes-four-rule-changes-for-2026-season/news-story/f3d85e9834274f0687134bba0994ff17

Kick-off decision, extended squads: NRL proposes four rule changes for 2026 season
The NRL will implement a raft of rule changes ahead of the upcoming season, which will also include extending matchday squads from 17 to 19.

Michael Carayannis
December 30, 2025 - 11:28AM

The NRL are planning a radical change to the century old kick-off rule among other tweaks which could also see teams carry squads of 19 on game days.

It is understood the NRL have pieced together four potential rule changes which will now be discussed by clubs and the RLPA with the view of implementing them as soon as next season.

The NRL had been toying with potential changes in recent months but that has now come to a head.

It is understood the four alterations include:

KICK OFF
A drastic change to the kick-off rule which could see the scoring team kick-off.

Teams will have the option to kick or receive after being scored against.

The team that has been scored against will now have the option to kick-off or receive the ball to restart play. As it stands, the team which concedes a try or goal restarts play by kicking off.

It means momentum is hard to stop and can result in lopsided scorelines. In the 1997 Super League breakaway competition the scoring teams had to kick-off.

EXTENDED MATCH DAY SQUADS

Coaches will now be able to carry benches of six players but will still be only able to play four per game. It means game day squad sizes will increase from 17 to 19 but interchanges will remain capped at eight. This idea came out of a meeting with coaches, including Wayne Bennett, Ivan Cleary, Craig Bellamy, Ricky Stuart, Michael Maguire and Craig Fitzgibbon at the end of last season.

The plan was originally to have 21 players available but that has now been scaled back. It would allow clubs to carry specialist players on the interchange bench just in case they lose a starter. The NRL introduced an 18th man to help cover for headknocks or acts of foul play in 2021.

ACT OF SCORING

If an attacking player drops the ball in the act of attempting to score a try over the tryline they will not be penalised by a seven tackle set. Instead the defending team will receive the ball for an ordinary six-tackle set from the 20 metre mark to restart play.

PENALTY ZONE

Set restarts instead of penalties will be awarded from outside the 20-metre line of the attacking team. This is designed to speed play up. Full penalties will still be awarded inside the 20-metre mark. This season, penalties were awarded inside the 40 metres. Set restarts were introduced in 2020 but tweaked in 2022 where penalties were awarded inside the 40-metre zone of the team in possession.

The NRL will now engage with stakeholders to see if all – or some – are introduced in time for the NRL to launch at the double header in Las Vegas on March 1. Pre-season trials begin on February 7 with the Bulldogs taking on the Cowboys and the Dragons playing Newcastle in a double header at Kogarah Oval. Those four teams will then travel to Las Vegas.

The NRL made no new rule changes in 2025.

Yes to A and B,i am indifferent to C and very much against D as all that will do is make the referee even more powerful and allow them to manipulate the game( 6 again on steroids)
Just my initial thoughts.