Watch and learn: Coaches go in blind on new interchange
Scott Bailey |
Coaches are preparing to learn on the fly in Las Vegas as they grapple with how to best use the NRL’s largest overhaul of the interchange system this century.
In what looms as a new tactical element for coaches to balance within matches, teams will carry an extra two players on their bench this season for a total of six.
But the new rules still only allow four of those players to be activated, effectively freezing the other two out of the game once the fourth is brought on.
Interchange rules have been among rugby league’s most fluid rules through its history, going from no reserves to players backing up from lower-grade games.
As recently as 2000, coaches had free use of unlimited interchange, before shifting from 12 to 10 and then eight in 2016.
But in recent times coaches have never had to worry about which players to activate and who to leave out after kick off.
For example, if a team has used all four of their bench players and an outside back or half goes down injured, they will be left to juggle the players already activated.
Alternatively, teams could keep three unused players on the bench in case of such injuries, while giving up the benefit of inserting another fresh body into the game until later.
Making matters trickier is the fact the new process was not trialled late last season or in reserve grade, while pre-season matches use unlimited benches.
“I think there’s a lot to watch and learn over the first few rounds,” Bulldogs coach Cameron Ciraldo said last week.
“What I know is we have a team of utilities that were basically able to cover most positions anyway, so we might just stick to that.”
Already for this weekend, each club has gone about their bench selection differently.
Newcastle have gone with four forwards, a play-making utility and spare winger, while rivals North Queensland named five forwards and bench hooker Soni Luke.
Ciraldo has four forwards on his bench with a playmaker and hooker as back up, while the Dragons also have four forwards but with a winger and five-eighth in reserve.
“It’s just allowing us to carry two extra players on there in specialist positions,” Dragons coach Shane Flanagan said.
“Whether you use them or not, and down the track how you get those young guys game time, will be interesting.”
Data from 2024 showed teams lost 67 per cent games if a back went off to injury in the first half, with second-rowers defending out of position at centre often exposed.
“Anzac Day (in 2024) is a good example. We lose Moses Suli off the kick off,” Flanagan said.
“At least now we’ll be able to cover that and a side won’t have to have 79 minutes defending with a backrower out in the centres or a halfback in the centres.
“It gives a little bit of security and safety for the players, in that they don’t have to defend out of position. So I think it’s a good thing.”
AAP