NRL byes and extended benches could do plenty for the competition and future expansion

With the introduction and immediate success of the Dolphins, expansion discussion has come to the forefront.

Sure the Dolphins have knocked over a somewhat depleted Roosters team, and an inconsistent Raiders, but they have the wins, which is more than most expansion teams have done.

All of a sudden, the talk is not around the 18th team, but teams 19 and 20. With squads diluted of talent with the addition of an extra team, there is a need to develop more first grade quality players. To have teams ready for expansion there needs to be more focus on the lower grades to have those players ready to play.

With just two rounds completed, we have the Knights needing dispensation just to name a full squad. This will probably only get worse as the season progresses, and inevitably this will lead to a drop off in the quality of games.

Whilst the current quality in games has been good, the Knights versus Tigers on prime time Sunday was hardly a ringing endorsement of the competition. Further to that was the concussion of Kalyn Ponga, wiping him from the game and for the next few weeks.

By having 17 teams, the NRL has lucked-in this year. By giving teams an extra bye round, teams have an extra week to rest players and depending on timing, give players up to 14 days of rest.

We all want to see games on television and with expansion they can now increase the byes without decreasing the number of matches shown.

Another aspect that should be looked at is the interchange bench. It’s been four on the bench for years, and now with an 18th man that is activated if two players are ruled out. Why not go another way and increase the bench size to six or seven players?

There is no need to increase the number of interchanges but at least teams could carry a specialist half, outside back and enough forwards. It would also help blood more players in first grade, and allow players more rest.

For example, the Panthers are up 20 points with 15 minutes to go, Nathan Cleary comes off, and a young half gets some game time at first grade level without the pressure of a match-winning performance. That is similar to the NBA clubs giving young guys experience at the end of games that are already effectively decided.

Could stars like Nathan Cleary be looked after better with extended NRL benches? (Photo by Bradley Kanaris/Getty Images)

Having a larger number of bench players could create some exciting variation to game plans. A team could choose to carry four props and play a power game, or a majority of edge forwards to have a really mobile forward pack. With concussions occurring in almost every game, it’s important that the NRL looks at ways to ensure that players being ruled out doesn’t lead to mismatched games.

Adjusting the bench size is one way to create a more level playing field and not having one team disadvantaged by playing with a thin bench.

Egan Butcher was left on the field last weekend against the Warriors and had the Roosters possessed a larger bench to choose from, they probably wouldn’t have left him on the field after his suspected head knock. With head injuries being more prevalent as players become faster, stronger and quicker, having a larger bench could help by encouraging coaches to bring off players once a suspected head knock has happened and not wait for the independent doctor to do it.