Discussion- New Bench Rules

jodragon40

jodragon40

Staff
Ok,

Its time to talk football again. Gone are those great days when 1st grade relied up 2 reserves off the bench from ressies to help with injuries during the game.

So how do these new rules really affect the game. Below are the new rules. Any thoughts?

Key Changes & Details:
Squad Size: Increases from 17 to 19 players on game day.
Bench Size: Coaches can name six players on the bench (up from four).
Interchange Limit: Still eight interchanges available per game, with only four players allowed to be used from the extended bench.
18th Man: The existing rule for an 18th player (for head knocks/foul play) remains.

Open for discussions
 
D

Dave03

SGI NSW Cup
It's good for us because CT & Sele are best 17 but obvious injury risks every game. I can imagine a scenario of picking CT but having someone like feagai on the bench for injury cover. Ditto with Sele. I think coaches will still pick 4 main interchange players like normal but the 2 extra bench players would be players who cover multiple positions like a feagai and a nick t.

They also have to balance it out with not stunting the development of younger players if selected but not used, e.g. selecting Halangahu but not playing him for 3 weeks in a row. It's better they get consistent match time in reserve grade.
 
jodragon40

jodragon40

Staff
Dave03 said:
It's good for us because CT & Sele are best 17 but obvious injury risks every game. I can imagine a scenario of picking CT but having someone like feagai on the bench for injury cover. Ditto with Sele. I think coaches will still pick 4 main interchange players like normal but the 2 extra bench players would be players who cover multiple positions like a feagai and a nick t.

They also have to balance it out with not stunting the development of younger players if selected but not used, e.g. selecting Halangahu but not playing him for 3 weeks in a row. It's better they get consistent match time in reserve grade.
Click to expand...
Its going to be very interesting to see because you are spot on you cant have players sitting on the sideline losing match fitness
 
D

Dragon David

SGI Jersey Flegg
The 19 players in the Team List will need to be rotated to ensure that they have some time playing rather than sitting on the bench and maybe not getting a run affecting their match fitness etc., So on game day, 13 will start out of the 19 and 6 benched. During the game only 4 of the 6 bench players can be picked to run out to either relieve a player suffering from exhaustion or replace an injured player or part of strategy. Out of those 4 bench players that can be used from the 6, is one to be the 18th man or can the 18th man be from the other 2?

All interesting indeed.
 
Leighton Craig

Leighton Craig

SGI Jersey Flegg
Am I the only one who doesn’t like this rule change

Yes having extra spots for designated positions for like 1 outside back and 1 half/utility will be handy will all the concussions happening now days. Let’s use dragons for an example king togia would be our bench half/utility having him in the bench would be useful if someone goes down, but he wouldn’t play any minutes unless he comes on at hooker, having him in the bench would slow down his development arguably making him worse, I’m sure he won’t want to sit on a bench and not play but I’d rather see him play nsw cup week and week out it will help him get better instead of sitting in the bench doing nothing. And let’s just say for 1 game we rotate it and let king togia play cup for 1 game then Reed or O’Neil will be on our bench, there obviously not ready for 1st grade and rushing them into first grade will also hurt there development, so what I’m trying to say is there will be players on the bench who won’t play any minutes arguably not growing as players because there not playing at all, yes if nsw cup is after or the next day perfect they can play that but away games they won’t be able too and I’m sure players won’t want too sit on a bench all season and not play

Also it makes the game more exciting seeing a 2rower having to play centre or a hooker go into the half’s because a injury seeing teams target them because there out of position, the utility roll is going die if we have 6 on the bench
 
Eric

Eric

Staff
Leighton Craig said:
Am I the only one who doesn’t like this rule change

Yes having extra spots for designated positions for like 1 outside back and 1 half/utility will be handy will all the concussions happening now days. Let’s use dragons for an example king togia would be our bench half/utility having him in the bench would be useful if someone goes down, but he wouldn’t play any minutes unless he comes on at hooker, having him in the bench would slow down his development arguably making him worse, I’m sure he won’t want to sit on a bench and not play but I’d rather see him play nsw cup week and week out it will help him get better instead of sitting in the bench doing nothing. And let’s just say for 1 game we rotate it and let king togia play cup for 1 game then Reed or O’Neil will be on our bench, there obviously not ready for 1st grade and rushing them into first grade will also hurt there development, so what I’m trying to say is there will be players on the bench who won’t play any minutes arguably not growing as players because there not playing at all, yes if nsw cup is after or the next day perfect they can play that but away games they won’t be able too and I’m sure players won’t want too sit on a bench all season and not play

Also it makes the game more exciting seeing a 2rower having to play centre or a hooker go into the half’s because a injury seeing teams target them because there out of position, the utility roll is going die if we have 6 on the bench
Click to expand...
There is something to be said for rewarding teams which carry a utility on the bench who might not get used if there are no injuries.
 
Frank Facer

Frank Facer

SGI Jersey Flegg
Leighton Craig said:
Am I the only one who doesn’t like this rule change

Yes having extra spots for designated positions for like 1 outside back and 1 half/utility will be handy will all the concussions happening now days. Let’s use dragons for an example king togia would be our bench half/utility having him in the bench would be useful if someone goes down, but he wouldn’t play any minutes unless he comes on at hooker, having him in the bench would slow down his development arguably making him worse, I’m sure he won’t want to sit on a bench and not play but I’d rather see him play nsw cup week and week out it will help him get better instead of sitting in the bench doing nothing. And let’s just say for 1 game we rotate it and let king togia play cup for 1 game then Reed or O’Neil will be on our bench, there obviously not ready for 1st grade and rushing them into first grade will also hurt there development, so what I’m trying to say is there will be players on the bench who won’t play any minutes arguably not growing as players because there not playing at all, yes if nsw cup is after or the next day perfect they can play that but away games they won’t be able too and I’m sure players won’t want too sit on a bench all season and not play

Also it makes the game more exciting seeing a 2rower having to play centre or a hooker go into the half’s because a injury seeing teams target them because there out of position, the utility roll is going die if we have 6 on the bench
Click to expand...
Well thought out good post.

Back in the 80's and 90's when there was first grade, reserve grade and 3rd grade or under 23's. To my knowledge there weren't any bench players who hadn't already played reserve grade or 3rd grade/Under 23's. It meant a coach could put anyone on from reserve or 3rd grade/under 23's. It was only during the semi that coaches had bench players who had not played earlier that day, unless their reserve grade had played on the same day. They pretty much had as many reserves on the bench as they wanted.

Many of you will remember in 1985, when we made the grand final in all grades, Chris Guider started in the Under 23's grand final win, then came on as a reserve and played in the reserve grade grand final win and then came as a replacement in the first grade grand final. He is/was the only player to have played in 3 grand finals on the same day. He is also the best hooker I have see play for us and in my opinion should have been our starting hooker in the 85 grand final. He later had a kidney condition and was advised to retire at a young age. He then got involved with the Church of Scientology and returned to play for us. He even captained us in some games. I recall a game at Belmore Oval, where mid game he had played himself to exhaustion. Our trainer came onto the field to treat him and gave him oxygen on the field and then Guider continued to play the game. Guider later while in his prime retired early again, that time to devote his life to the Church Of Scientology. If he didn't retire, he most likely would have taken over as our club captain when Craig Young retired.
 
jodragon40

jodragon40

Staff
Frank Facer said:
Well thought out good post.

Back in the 80's and 90's when there was first grade, reserve grade and 3rd grade or under 23's. To my knowledge there weren't any bench players who hadn't already played reserve grade or 3rd grade/Under 23's. It meant a coach could put anyone on from reserve or 3rd grade/under 23's. It was only during the semi that coaches had bench players who had not played earlier that day, unless their reserve grade had played on the same day. They pretty much had as many reserves on the bench as they wanted.

Many of you will remember in 1985, when we made the grand final in all grades, Chris Guider started in the Under 23's grand final win, then came on as a reserve and played in the reserve grade grand final win and then came as a replacement in the first grade grand final. He is/was the only player to have played in 3 grand finals on the same day. He is also the best hooker I have see play for us and in my opinion should have been our starting hooker in the 85 grand final. He later had a kidney condition and was advised to retire at a young age. He then got involved with the Church of Scientology and returned to play for us. He even captained us in some games. I recall a game at Belmore Oval, where mid game he had played himself to exhaustion. Our trainer came onto the field to treat him and gave him oxygen on the field and then Guider continued to play the game. Guider later while in his prime retired early again, that time to devote his life to the Church Of Scientology. If he didn't retire, he most likely would have taken over as our club captain when Craig Young retired.
Click to expand...
I remember those days
 
HaydoM8

HaydoM8

SGI Jersey Flegg
Coaches are not stupid ...

We will see benches like Liddle Sele Kerr Loko LKT Tuipuloto one week then the next week it would be Liddle Sele Kerr Halangahu Feagai ONeill

coaches will start to play essentially with a three man bench and the other three will be rotated in and out of the 1st grade side on a weekly basis ... play a game in reserves one week then bench the next ... Also any time we have an NRL game on a day before the NSW cup game you will see the entire bench play cup.
 
jodragon40

jodragon40

Staff
HaydoM8 said:
Coaches are not stupid ...

We will see benches like Liddle Sele Kerr Loko LKT Tuipuloto one week then the next week it would be Liddle Sele Kerr Halangahu Feagai ONeill

coaches will start to play essentially with a three man bench and the other three will be rotated in and out of the 1st grade side on a weekly basis ... play a game in reserves one week then bench the next ... Also any time we have an NRL game on a day before the NSW cup game you will see the entire bench play cup.
Click to expand...
Phew I thought I was the only one that believes coaches aren't stupid 🤣
 
Last edited:
Leighton Craig

Leighton Craig

SGI Jersey Flegg
HaydoM8 said:
Coaches are not stupid ...

We will see benches like Liddle Sele Kerr Loko LKT Tuipuloto one week then the next week it would be Liddle Sele Kerr Halangahu Feagai ONeill

coaches will start to play essentially with a three man bench and the other three will be rotated in and out of the 1st grade side on a weekly basis ... play a game in reserves one week then bench the next ... Also any time we have an NRL game on a day before the NSW cup game you will see the entire bench play cup.
Click to expand...
So ur saying if one of our half’s get injured ur fine with having O’Neill as our backup, he’s obviously not ready to play first grade
 
Frank Facer

Frank Facer

SGI Jersey Flegg
Maybe the go is to go back to every club having a Reserve grade team that plays before the First grade game, like before the ARL and NRL? It worked fine back then. To my knowledge the only reason they stopped playing 3 grades on the day, was because of costs associated with funding 3 grades and the cost of travel and accommodation.
 
J

Justadragon

SGI NSW Cup
Frank Facer said:
Maybe the go is to go back to every club having a Reserve grade team that plays before the First grade game, like before the ARL and NRL? It worked fine back then. To my knowledge the only reason they stopped playing 3 grades on the day, was because of costs associated with funding 3 grades and the cost of travel and accommodation.
Click to expand...
See your point Frank but now we have NSW cup and QLD cup, different comps.
 
Frank Facer

Frank Facer

SGI Jersey Flegg
Justadragon said:
See your point Frank but now we have NSW cup and QLD cup, different comps.
Click to expand...
And "feeder" clubs. There were no feeder clubs before the ARL. I am not a fan of "feeder" clubs. Teams like Brisbane can have multiple "feeder" clubs.

Pretty much no one cares about NSW Cup in NSW, besides Newtown and Norths fans. It may be something more in Qld as that is pretty much made up of all the clubs from Brisbane comp, before Brisbane entered the comp.

Surprisingly New Zealand Warriors are one of the NSW Cup teams. As I was writing it, I literally started scratching my head.

It is only a matter of costs regarding having a reserve grade team, which plays before the first grade team. I firmly believe most fans would be in favor of having reserve grade play the same club/team first grade plays before each game, like it used to be. Many fans, including myself used to like watching the reserve grade play before first grade game and we liked watching them come through the grades. The more I think about it, the more I think it should be done. V'landys can find money for other things, I say find the money for reserve grade again. It would also help raise the standard of NRL players, as they would be competing in a stronger comp, before playing first grade.

Bring back Reserve Grade
 
Last edited:
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top