NRL to ban controversial blue shirt trainers from field during live play following controversial moments
After years of fan complaints, the NRL has finally moved to end one of rugby league’s most annoying traditions with trainers banned.
One of rugby league fans’ long held gripes will be no longer with the NRL planning to ban blue shirt trainers from entering the field during play.
For so long the blue shirt trainer has overstayed their welcome on the field but that will change in 2026 under a proposal sent by Andrew Abdo to club bosses this week.
Instead blue shirt trainers will only be allowed to enter the field after tries have been scored or a stoppage in play for a goal line drop out.
Under the proposed change the blue trainer’s role will change from “message trainer” to “interchange trainer”.
“Blue trainers will no longer be permitted access for tactical messages during play,” Abdo wrote. “Messages will only be permitted after a try has been scored.
“After a try has been scored trainers must remain with the defensive team until after the conversion is attempted.
Blue shirt trainers will no longer be allowed to enter the field during live play.
“Trainers must run on and off the field at all times and will not be permitted to loiter on the field at any time.”
The orange shirt (medically qualified head trainer) will still be permitted unlimited access to attend to injured players but must not communicate with uninjured players.
“These changes will ensure player safety is maintained while limiting the opportunity for the constant relaying on messages during play,” Abdo said.
The NRL’s crackdown follows a spate of issues with trainers in recent years.
Penrith and North Queensland were both fined $10,000 and respective blue shirt trainers were each banned for one game after squirting liquid onto the football in May.
Later that season, ex-Penrith yellow shirt trainer Corey Bocking was banned for five matches – and Penrith fined $50,000 – after Bocking ran in front of Titans goal-kicker Jayden Campbell as he lined up a sideline conversion attempt.
There are no changes proposed for yellow shirt trainers who are still allowed to enter the field of play to help the head trainer assist an injured player from the field or treat an injured player if the head trainer is already occupied. They cannot supply water unless a try has been scored.
Cowboys blue shirt trainer squirting water onto ball during a game.
The NRL’s crackdown on trainers comes amid a host of proposed rule changes for the 2026 season.
The planned changes include:
– The non-scoring team can choose if they want to kick-off or receive.
– Teams can carry 19 man squads on game day but still play just 17.
– If an attacking player drops the ball in the act of attempting to score a try over the tryline they will not be penalised by a seven tackle set.
– Set restarts instead of penalties will be awarded from outside the 20-metre line of the attacking team.
NSW and Rooters star Connor Watson said he was not a fan of the planned kick-off rules.
“I like it the way it is,” Watson said on SEN.
“If you score you should get the ball back. If you get to the end of the game and you’re trying to make a comeback and a team goes to score they should have.
“It skews it in favour of team who has conceded.”
Meanwhile his former Roosters teammate Luke Keary backed the changes.
“It will hopefully tighten a few games up,” he said on SEN.