happy_tiger
Well-known member
Really love the 6 man bench ....having extra players on the bench but only using 4 is something I have brought up numerous times
6 man Bench Utilisation
- Thread starter Lestronge
- Start date
Tucker
Well-known member
This rule is unlikely to have the positive impact the NRL are seeking.
Fatigue won’t change . It’s still 8 interchanges , but spread across 6 players , but like football you can use 4 , then rest just ride the pine . I like it . The cowboys loss for example last year doesn’t happen this year . And it shouldn’t , especially with things like foul play losing your player for the game , and offending player getting a sin bin etc.
There is little fatigue in the game compared to what it used to be,i am not suggesting we go back to the days of 2 reserves as there is no doubt that injured players need to come off the field.However the rules that i liked most was if a player was replaced they could not return to the game,players showed more skill in those days as they were not continually been forced to tackle fresh players.
Just my thoughts and no doubt many will disagree.
crazycat
Well-known member
It's a good idea, I support a 6 person bench.
But I realise that it actually will hurt us a lot.
Melbourne, Brisbane, etc. Teams with reserves that are at First grade standard will get to have 6 first graders ready to go.
We will be lucky to have 2 genuine first graders on our bench, they will have 6 when we vs them.
Competition gets harder for us.
But I realise that it actually will hurt us a lot.
Melbourne, Brisbane, etc. Teams with reserves that are at First grade standard will get to have 6 first graders ready to go.
We will be lucky to have 2 genuine first graders on our bench, they will have 6 when we vs them.
Competition gets harder for us.
Define used to ? When it was 12 interchanges , 10 , unlimited ? Pre the 6 again rule ? Your saying the players were more skilled playing against poorer defences ? It’s simply the case that players now are bigger stronger faster , more athletic and more skilled . They have better endurance , and better training methods . It’s why I’ve always said , the worst team in the nrl today would put 50 on the best team of the 90s or 80s, even the 00s. and that’s the way it should be. It’s funny you’re saying that about fatigue when 2-3 years ago when the 6 again came in , most teams couldn’t compete , and everyone said it was touch football. How quickly the players and teams adapted . Royce hunt is a prime example . He was leaner last year , and still couldn’t keep up, now he’s got a completely different body shape . I’ll be keen to see how he goes .
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 .
crazycat
Well-known member
wait Sexton?
Do you mean Skelton or have I missed big signing news.
That said, I see it differently.
We were missing a first grade forward pack in 2025 and were super lucky that Terrell May turned out to be a great forward. KPP, Bunty, they will elevate our pack to first grade. For those being demoted from our pack, i.e. Sukkar, Seyfarth, Hunt... I only see Hunt and Seyfarth providing depth in the competition although Sukkar is new.
Our backs likewise. Taylan demonstrated that he is a quality center, but he still looks like he might go off his tree again. If we have a backline of:
Turuva, May, Bula, Toa, Skelton...
It's first grade. As I said May could go AWOL or whatever, Toa is probably a bit weak too. I don't see proven first grade centers in our squad as AD really wants to play 5/8.
^I really see back depth as a weakness as I believe we will have some injuries and May will do something stupid on social media.
Wingers, yea they are important but it's a lot easier a position for reserve grade to step in bar Tackling!
Makasini, Laulilii lets see what they can do and Benji start blooding them.
We really only have depth in the halves with AD/Fainu/Luai/Madden and at Prop. That's kinda the way it should be but would like an experienced NRL center in our squad to step in for May or Toa as needed.
I think 19 should be a specialist half like Madden. If our starting halves go down early I want a specialist. If Bula gets injured we can move Tito to fullback and bring on Maka.
Of course this is not ideal for Madden getting game time in reserves at times where game times conflict
It was proposed by the best coaches in the game and NRL looks set to approve it.
Tucker
Well-known member
Yeah I mean the good clubs will get benefit and those with questionable depth and questionable coaching will struggle. It’s putting greater burden and pressure on coaching which is something that may well widen the gap, therefore I’d be surprised if it has the positive impact that the NRL are hoping for.
Odessa
Well-known member
4 forwards with one of them a hooker
5 would be a half 6 an outside back if we have Tino on the wing he can cover fullback
5 would be a half 6 an outside back if we have Tino on the wing he can cover fullback
I think what will be interesting is it makes an 80 minute hooker even more valuable.
You play 3 forwards - 2 props, 1 backrowe on the bench as rotation forwards and then have a half, an outside back and a hooker can come on as needed - but if you have to bring one on for injury which probably happens in 1 in every 3 games approx then your hooker needs to play 80 minutes.
It also reduces the need for a backrower who can play in the outside backs - so the Bird type.
However I think is a lot of coaches trying different approaches in season 1 especially and it might vary depending on players coming back from injuries, young guys you might want to get a go if the match is going well, etc. Most teams hardly use the 4th bench player at all if they dont have injuries.
Also if you have a hia early to an outside back then do you bring on an outside back but means you only have 3 others you can use for the rest of the match, etc.
Think it'll really add some excitement to how the game works.
You play 3 forwards - 2 props, 1 backrowe on the bench as rotation forwards and then have a half, an outside back and a hooker can come on as needed - but if you have to bring one on for injury which probably happens in 1 in every 3 games approx then your hooker needs to play 80 minutes.
It also reduces the need for a backrower who can play in the outside backs - so the Bird type.
However I think is a lot of coaches trying different approaches in season 1 especially and it might vary depending on players coming back from injuries, young guys you might want to get a go if the match is going well, etc. Most teams hardly use the 4th bench player at all if they dont have injuries.
Also if you have a hia early to an outside back then do you bring on an outside back but means you only have 3 others you can use for the rest of the match, etc.
Think it'll really add some excitement to how the game works.
