Sharks V Cowboys 11-A-Side This Week

[Pumba]

TOYOTA CUP TO TRIAL 11-A-SIDE

The Toyota Cup Sharks and Cowboys will trial the revolutionary 11-a-side concept for what will be their final games of the 2008 season at Toyota Stadium on Saturday night.

With both clubs out of finals contention, the NRL thought the match to be a suitable one to again trial 11 players on the field, with the Knights and Storm under-20’s also participating in the rules experiment last weekend.

The rules of the match will see the two teams run out with 11, while six players are included on an interchange bench, with 10 changes permitted each half.

As a result of the extra running room the match is destined to produce attacking rugby league and potentially more tries.

The idea is said to be the brainchild of former successful NRL coach and now ABC commentator Warren Ryan.

The Sharks will be looking for speedsters such as fullback Ben Orcher, winger Blake Ferguson and centre Nathan Stapleton to make an impression in the game on Saturday.

The Toyota Cup match between the Sharks and Cowboys gets underway at 5.15pm on Saturday evening.

Link

 

[fourplay]

damn I wish this game was on fox

I really enjoyed last weeks 11 a side match.

 

[hellteam]

Ok i agree the match last weekend was pretty interesting, but really why are they doing this ? It's just not going to happen.

If there was 11 on the field, it wouldnt be rugby league anymore.

 

[roopy]

In the words of Jack Gibson, 'anyone standing still in Rugby League is going backwards.'

 

[roopy]

It's an interesting question where we are going with 11 a side if we all decide it doesn't completely suck and is worth a look.
I say NYC trials should be replaced by an 11 a side knockout comp next year, which should get 16 coaches thinking about how best to exploit the format, and give us a final game between two sides who are good at it.
That game would be a fair benchmark for the format - if it sucks - we would know - if it doesn't suck - we would know.