Brisbane forward Sam Thaiday joked he’d have to train even harder if the NRL agreed to reduce the number of interchanges during a match from 12 to 10.
And Gold Coast centre Mat Rogers reckons the NRL should go further and implement an eight-man interchange rule.
Tired of being smashed by hulking forwards fresh off the bench, the smaller men of rugby league are hoping the game’s powerbrokers will listen to reason and change the rules on interchange to achieve the right balance in attack and defence.
Opportunities for playmakers like Scott Prince, Darren Lockyer and Matt Orford will open up more if they can expose tiring forwards forced to dig deeper to shut down the creative talents of their opponents.
“It just means I have to train harder so I can stay on the field longer,” quipped Thaiday.
But seriously Sam?
“It will open up another dimension for the game and it’ll let people like the Lockyers and Matt Bowens – those people who can do those freaky things in the last 10 minutes of the game – it’ll bring their skills out further,” the former Test forward remarked.
The issue has been discussed at this week’s annual conference of NRL chief executives held in NSW’s Hunter Valley and the general consensus is that 12 interchanges are too many in the modern game.
Any tinkering to the law must be approved by the Rugby League International Federation.
Rogers, 31, still remembers the “ridiculous” days of unlimited interchange from 1998 to 2000 when the game diminished as a spectacle as star players were on the field for 80 minutes compared to forwards rotating off the bench at the coach’s whim.
“The forwards were never tired and you could never pick anybody out,” he said.
“I think 10 is a pretty good balance. It wouldn’t bother me if they brought it down to eight.
“I never really come off anyway. The less the better, as far as I’m concerned.
“The way the game is now, you’ve got these massive guys who are great athletes. Guys my size can’t compete against them physically so they need to be worn out.
“If they’re not worn out, it makes it real hard.”
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