One look at Australia’s Four Nations casualty ward shows how burnt out players have become and why NRL pre-season games are becoming less necessary, Test forward Nate Myles says.
While happy to back the All Stars game’s return in 2015, Myles believed the calendar was already so packed for fatigued players that trials had lost their lustre.
And as the NRL debated over decreasing interchanges by 2016 which would increase burnout, Myles dreamt of a day the Rugby League Players’ Association (RLPA) became the “strongest voice in Australia”.
Eleven rookies were named in the Kangaroos’ 24-strong squad after Myles was among a host of players forced to pull out of the ill-fated Four Nations campaign.
He is still debating whether to be considered for the All Stars game which returns to the Gold Coast on February 13 as he recovers from shoulder surgery.
The match has been slotted into a pre-season that also includes the Auckland Nines, the World Club Challenge and a string of trials before the March 5 kick-off.
Asked if the need for trials had changed, Myles said: “I think it will, to be honest … (with) a few more years of the Nines and the All Stars along with another long season.
“I don’t think there is a point to having three trials especially with the Nines where you are playing against other sides.
“But to find that balance you will also have to run it by the coaches who will want a good 80 minute hitout against another club.”
He added: “For players it is all adding up – the availability of the Four Nations is probably an indication of where the players’ bodies are heading at the moment.”
Myles hoped the players had a strong voice when the NRL considered reduced interchanges – a major point to emerge from this week’s two-day Competition Committee in Sydney featuring the game’s most influential figures.
Reducing the current 10 interchanges down to eight or even six is expected to counter wrestling but increase burnout.
The measure is being considered after stats at the meeting showed if trends continued the game would be dominated by bigger players, there were would be more gang tackles and wrestling and less tries would be scored.
“I think our RLPA should be strongly involved in that,” Myles said.
“I’d like to see the RLPA become the strongest voice in Australia.”
On reducing interchanges, Myles said: “It’s a Catch 22.
“You will see less explosiveness, but you will see more footy being played, less wrestle.
“Fatigue will kick in then you will see the great players really excel.”
NRL head of football Todd Greenberg said the league would keep an “open mind” about making changes in 2016.
“As we see the balance start to be dominated more by defence we will continue to make discussions that are the best for the game,” he said.
“If that is reducing interchanges we will do it.
“But we have to consider it with our players’ workload in mind and broader issues like concussion.
“But we are very open minded about what it will look like in the future.”
Damo
Guest
I think the nines and a proper knockout world club challenge should replace trials. If u get knocked out u then choose to play other trials of you want. I agree all stars and city country should go.
Rugby League Development Fund
Roar Rookie
I really think the preson needs a revamp. I'd like to see a few of the clubs play 50/50 league/union or a unified game with comparable clubs in the region. For instance, Storm v Rebels, Souths v Waratahs, Broncos v Reds, Warriors v Whoever :) It would actually be an event that people look forward too, outside of the usual NRL games, SOO etc. It's another revenue stream. I don't know where you'd squeeze it in. I think if they ever rationalise the Premiership by removing rounds, then that opens the door for more pre-season activity.
Arnold Krewanty
Guest
IMO, NRL could replace the trials with the old bush-based Qantas Challenge. Great for country communities. Clubs always whinge about trials because their are no points involved. NRL clubs could be able to elect if they want to play trials - be interesting to see the results compared the did/did not play teams come season start.
Russell Johnson
Guest
Thanks for replying we used to have that but it disappeared with clogs, sailors , harlots and £,s,d though Woolworths lingered on for a while afterwards it wasn't pretty to watch!
Sleiman Azizi
Roar Guru
Provincialism is the death of many things in Australia.
Russell Johnson
Guest
Sleiman is there a rule against seeing the bigger picture in Oz ? Is everyone simply not interested? It would be nice to know!
The RiffMarn Stew Moses
Roar Guru
Im surprised that clubs if they arent already are not playing intra club trials in order to fomr new combinations etc. Trials to me arent really required but if they want preseason footy so badly why not have a pre season comp & have some sort of purpose to play for in that sense?
Professor Rosseforp
Guest
The trials are a waste of time. If the team and coaches can't get their moves and combinations going, and "blow away the cobwebs" without this sort of nonsense, it's time to hang up their boots/clipboards/whistles and go home. Give the players a decent break in the off-season, bring them back for training, then get the season going.
Russell Johnson
Guest
I think that players need to be looked after much better than they are, but this growing theme never mentions coaches and players playing on match after match with niggling injuries. This happens on both sides of our TGG. Players suffer and choose to play on and then are unable to produce the goods at the end of a long season or where they should in international events. No they have to go to hospitals and other medical facilities to repair themselves in order to be ready for the next season! There may be other reasons why there is a problem here and they all need discussing but why do I get the feeling that this is just another attempt to push the International game aside in the blinkered and myopic NRL World. That's the place where RL's dreams and hopes go to die!
Tricky Ricky
Guest
Myles has come along way since the poo in the hallway incident.
The eye
Guest
This season right on the back of the WC will take a heavy toll on blokes like GI,Cordener and Guerra who are or have also played the World Club Cup,will be gruelling for rep. players..guns like Cameron S. Cooper C.were shells of the superstars we know they are in the closing rounds,semis and 4N..Nate Miles is just saying it as it is
Birdy
Guest
Ok let's get rid of trials, that frees up the 3 weeks we're all looking for . Stand alone SOO, test matches , how good is that. And elite players getting paid too much, let's pay them less and watch them go to France and Japan. But let's not forget why RL came about, the RU wouldn't pay injured players any money , they sat back and watched them starve and get kicked out of their homes .
Alex L
Roar Rookie
Heaven forbid someone try and get themselves a better deal...
dayer
Guest
League is slowly dying to the other sports in the NSW and QLD in your dreams league is getting stronger
Sleiman Azizi
Roar Guru
The elite are usually like that, lol.
Sleiman Azizi
Roar Guru
I agree with the promotion part but I wonder how much of a promotion a trial match really is.
Mark Ferguson
Roar Rookie
League is slowly dying to the other sports in the NSW and QLD and he wants to expose the public to fewer games, These players need to be out there promoting NRL to the masses to ensure their lfutures to help grow the game further not whine about it.
Terry
Guest
Trials are a necessary evil and always will be to wipe the cobwebs and get some new combos going. also injuries happen all the time..... look at boyd this week at training.
Ronald M
Guest
Let me say up front that I do not like the All Stars game and think it should be scrapped along with that other waste of time, the City - Country game. That said, the reason for scrapping them should be because they are pointless not because of player burn out. Player burn out is a subject that is never even mentioned in the UK yet their season starts before ours does and ends after ours. They also play 2 games in 1 week if they have extra commitments like World Club Challenge matches or Challenge Cup replays or if the weather disrupts the schedule for any reason. Yet you never hear any whinging from the POMS just from those whinging Aussies. Besides, player burn out is entirely within the scope of clubs and coaches to resolve. Do clubs have to play every star every match or for the full 80 ? If your team is playing the bottom club on the ladder at home does every star you have have to run on that pitch ? The answer is no, Coaches / Players themselves can decide if that player should play every game and the fact that they choose not too shoots this issue down in flames.
Garry
Guest
I agree Luke. The elite want there wages to go up but want to play less footy!! Give us a break!