2026 pre-season

[RufusRex]

You are not really thinking it through fully … if you lose a half and cook ends up playing in the halves then liddle is one of your reserves - there are only 3 more available to you so you only need 3 forwards for the other three subs

the idea of 6 is you don’t need utilities you replace with specialists..

Three forwards a hooker a half snd and an outside back gives you what you need … if anything the new bench will devalue the likes of Wishart going forward

 

[Eric]

You are not really thinking it through fully … if you lose a half and cook ends up playing in the halves then liddle is one of your reserves - there are only 3 more available to you so you only need 3 forwards for the other three subs

the idea of 6 is you don’t need utilities you replace with specialists..

Three forwards a hooker a half snd and an outside back gives you what you need … if anything the new bench will devalue the likes of Wishart going forward

Maybe but remember that game vs Warriors last year. In the first 10 min JDB and Stewart took each other out via a head clash then Sele wentl down 10 min later. I think 1 more forward was injured well before fulltime as well.

 

[Frank Facer]

You are not really thinking it through fully … if you lose a half and cook ends up playing in the halves then liddle is one of your reserves - there are only 3 more available to you so you only need 3 forwards for the other three subs

the idea of 6 is you don’t need utilities you replace with specialists..

Three forwards a hooker a half snd and an outside back gives you what you need … if anything the new bench will devalue the likes of Wishart going forward

I think a team has to be able to cover losing a middle forward early in the game and even the chance of losing 2 middle forwards during the game. Hence Cook or Liddle on the bench, an outside back and 4 forwards. Eric's example was the best one anyone could come up with.

 

[Justadragon]

I also think a lot will depend on our trials, its not too far away now, the wingers are also my main concern. This is what makes this year both exciting and frustrating I suppose for any supporter. We just dont know how this team is going to perform no matter who we pick.

 

[Dragons Chris]

I also think a lot will depend on our trials, its not too far away now, the wingers are also my main concern. This is what makes this year both exciting and frustrating I suppose for any supporter. We just dont know how this team is going to perform no matter who we pick.

Flanno's blind spot and the wingers.

 

[jodragon40]

I believe that the 2 trial games will be more important this season. They will be used essentially to ascertain who should be boarding the plane to LV.

There has to be more intensity in the games against the Knights and then the Charity Shield game against the Rabbits not just playing promising juniors and using it as a gauge of club strength.

 

[Dave03]

I believe that the 2 trial games will be more important this season. They will be used essentially to ascertain who should be boarding the plane to LV.

There has to be more intensity in the games against the Knights and then the Charity Shield game against the Rabbits not just playing promising juniors and using it as a gauge of club strength.

Very important for the wing and bench spots. Has 6 players on the bench bren confirmed?

 

[jodragon40]

Very important for the wing and bench spots. Has 6 players on the bench bren confirmed?

Not too sure

 

[Edward]

You are not really thinking it through fully … if you lose a half and cook ends up playing in the halves then liddle is one of your reserves - there are only 3 more available to you so you only need 3 forwards for the other three subs

the idea of 6 is you don’t need utilities you replace with specialists..

Three forwards a hooker a half snd and an outside back gives you what you need … if anything the new bench will devalue the likes of Wishart going forward

In the modern games, halves aren't injured much. Usually only soft tissue injuries. Personally I wouldn't keep a half on the bench even with 6 interchanges. I'd go 4 forwards (including hooker), an outside back and a utility if we have one. If not, 5 forwards.

 

[RufusRex]

Devil in teh detail with what happens if multiple players are taking out due to illegal play ..
The reason for this is to give teams the ability to react if a half or outside back is injured - to replace like for like ...


I expect what will end up happenning is that your hooker and 2 of your forwards will be used and coaches will hold back on the 4th player to be able to react to a late injury.

 

[Edward]

Devil in teh detail with what happens if multiple players are taking out due to illegal play ..
The reason for this is to give teams the ability to react if a half or outside back is injured - to replace like for like ...


I expect what will end up happenning is that your hooker and 2 of your forwards will be used and coaches will hold back on the 4th player to be able to react to a late injury.

That's true but I don't think any team is wiling to risk being a man down in order to take out an opposition player.

 

[Dragon David]

Not too sure

The new rules are still in the proposal stage I think which means that the 6 on the bench rule has not been ratified as yet. I would presume that the NRL would be aiming to have the new rules agreed to in principle by all clubs and the Players Union so that they can be utilised in the trial games and then a decision made on whether or not which of those rules should be part of the set up in 2026 after the trials. Whichever one(s) has(have) been agreed to be implemented during 2026 I suppose they will be put to the ESL to adopt as well for consistency - same for the Pacific Islanders etc.

So in the meantime, I would imagine that all clubs would be practising the new rules now during pre-season training just in case.

 

[Edward]

The new rules are still in the proposal stage I think which means that the 6 on the bench rule has not been ratified as yet. I would presume that the NRL would be aiming to have the new rules agreed to in principle by all clubs and the Players Union so that they can be utilised in the trial games and then a decision made on whether or not which of those rules should be part of the set up in 2026 after the trials. Whichever one(s) has(have) been agreed to be implemented during 2026 I suppose they will be put to the ESL to adopt as well for consistency - same for the Pacific Islanders etc.

So in the meantime, I would imagine that all clubs would be practising the new rules now during pre-season training just in case.

That 6 on the bench rule sounds reasonable to me. Not sure about the others.

 

[RufusRex]

do you actually think that we will be able to use more than 4 players though ... that is what people seem to be suggesting ...
we wont ... bench of 6 of which you can use 4 ... so carrying 4 or even 5 forwards on that bench is looney toones.

If anything, teams will go the other way and pretty much use just 3 bench players holding that last one back in case of emergency.

3 forwards, a hooker, a half/58 and an outside back ...

 

[Edward]

do you actually think that we will be able to use more than 4 players though ... that is what people seem to be suggesting ...
we wont ... bench of 6 of which you can use 4 ... so carrying 4 or even 5 forwards on that bench is looney toones.

If anything, teams will go the other way and pretty much use just 3 bench players holding that last one back in case of emergency.

3 forwards, a hooker, a half/58 and an outside back ...

Only 4 but have some leeway to carry an outside back on the bench if there's an injury. I think the rule is only 4 can be used but have more to choose from.

 

[RufusRex]

it is ... bench of 6 with you able to use 4 ...

 

[Edward]

The new rules are still in the proposal stage I think which means that the 6 on the bench rule has not been ratified as yet. I would presume that the NRL would be aiming to have the new rules agreed to in principle by all clubs and the Players Union so that they can be utilised in the trial games and then a decision made on whether or not which of those rules should be part of the set up in 2026 after the trials. Whichever one(s) has(have) been agreed to be implemented during 2026 I suppose they will be put to the ESL to adopt as well for consistency - same for the Pacific Islanders etc.

So in the meantime, I would imagine that all clubs would be practising the new rules now during pre-season training just in case.

Someone told me...... see for yourself

https://www.news.com.au/sport/nrl/nrl-coaches-back-radical-rule-change-to-double-interchange-bench/news-story/ae8a81c9e0b8aa2419dcc8a17c73626e

 

[Justadragon]

Someone told me...... see for yourself

https://www.news.com.au/sport/nrl/nrl-coaches-back-radical-rule-change-to-double-interchange-bench/news-story/ae8a81c9e0b8aa2419dcc8a17c73626e

So you have 8 players and can only use 4, thats a big chunk sitting around doing nothing and out of your ressies side.

 

[Edward]

So you have 8 players and can only use 4, thats a big chunk sitting around doing nothing and out of your ressies side.

Agree. 6 is probably good. I think 8 is going too far.

 

[Justadragon]

Agree. 6 is probably good. I think 8 is going too far.

Yeah Ed, I dont know what to think about it all, even having 2 players sitting there doing nothing is a lot to ask, these guys have to be NRL standard, why cant they just leave it at 4 and increase the amount of interchange. You still have 18th man but bring him on for any major injury not just concussion.