Kill the inter-change & then expand the NRL

[RL1908]

I don't think you need to cut the players in a team down from 17 - I think you could get the same result by cutting First Grade Squads.
Currently First Grade Squads consist of about 25 players. Cut this down to 22 and you free up 48 players. Clubs pay less $$$ more players for more teams. If a Club cops injuries they go to their Toyota Cup sides and blood youngsters

The problem with cutting the NRL squad without a corresponding cut in the fresh inter-change bench, is that it exposes teams to massive problems if they have injuries - 21 is not enough in a 17-man game. I also think the 17-man game is contributing to the rate of injuries.

Maybe Warren Ryan's 11-a-side model makes just as much sense financially as it does in regard to opening up the game.

 

[Azkatro]

Good debate. The first thing that comes to mind is that you're taking 64 bench-quality players and putting them on the field. That's going to result in a noticeable drop in quality for a number of years, which is already in question now.

Second, I question if there are any potential safety issues in blooding an 18 or 19 year old off the bench into first grade, when he has already played a game earlier in the day, and the opposition players are still fresh. Especially considering the majority of replacements will be forwards. I'd worry about the impact of that if he was coming on against a fresh forward pack that was dominating. Naturally the idea would be more feasable if the under 20 concept was relaxed out to under 23's again.

Lastly, the biggest problem around adding teams is the financial impact. Even if we got the most astounding TV deal money ever seen in 2011, if we go to 20 teams (let's say) crowds are likely to drop on average if there are 10 games a week - especially if we've spread 64+ benchies across the other teams, and the new replacements are largely unproven youngsters who will be far less fresh having already played earlier in the day.

 

[LeagueXIII]

I don't see how crowds in perth will affect crowds in Sydney?

 

[Man_of_Steel_1982]

The problem with cutting the NRL squad without a corresponding cut in the fresh inter-change bench, is that it exposes teams to massive problems if they have injuries - 21 is not enough in a 17-man game. I also think the 17-man game is contributing to the rate of injuries.

Maybe Warren Ryan's 11-a-side model makes just as much sense financially as it does in regard to opening up the game.

11 a side is probably long overdue.

 

[dimitri]

The problem with cutting the NRL squad without a corresponding cut in the fresh inter-change bench, is that it exposes teams to massive problems if they have injuries - 21 is not enough in a 17-man game. I also think the 17-man game is contributing to the rate of injuries.

Maybe Warren Ryan's 11-a-side model makes just as much sense financially as it does in regard to opening up the game.

That's my whole point about the Toyota Cup.

Now we have plenty of players from Toyota Cup Sides ready to take the step up - however I really don't think this will be necessary if you were only cutting squads by 2 players