The Broader Game: NRLW games up to 70 minutes to promote fatigue factor
Alicia Newton NRLW Chief Reporter
Thu 8 Jul 2021, 02:03 PM
The NRL Telstra Women's Premiership will expand its regular game time to 70 minutes this season in another step towards building a stronger competition in 2021.
An increase of five additional minutes per half comes after women's Ampol State of Origin jumped from 60 to 70 minutes in 2020.
The expanded time adds to matches increasing from seven to 18 this season, along with the number of playing weeks increasing from four to seven.
NRLW teams will go from playing a minimum of 240 minutes in a season to a maximum 490 minutes, excluding potential golden point.
In 2020, the NRLW averaged 41.1 minutes of ball in play within 60 minutes of game time.
A total of 10 of 42 tries from sides came in the final 15 minutes of matches.
During the 2020 State of Origin match, two tries were scored in the final 10 minutes of play to set up a grandstand finish between NSW and Queensland.
More recently, the Maroons were able to kick a penalty goal with two minutes left on the clock last month in regular time they wouldn't have had in previous years.
The average time in play for both Origin clashes has seen a jump of more than six minutes.
Roosters captain Corban Baxter told The Broader Game the additional time in the NRLW would allow sides to build into a match and take advantage of fatigue.
"I think it's a positive move and something the girls will thrive with, having that extra 10 minutes," Baxter said.
"I think the players have handled the 60 minutes quite well. It feels over before you know it and that's been the feedback from a lot of players.
"When you take into account tries being scored and goals kicked, it takes time away from having the ball in hand.
"It is actually a fair jump, there are a few studies around what that last five minutes of each half can do for a team.
"People want to see more game time and this is going to help a lot."
The change isn't the only one expected for the NRLW this year with an 18th player due to be activated in line with the men's competition for an act of foul play or the failing of three HIAs in a match.
The six-again rules are again not expected to apply in the NRLW with penalties awarded instead.
Jillaroos strength and conditioning coach Simon Buxton said players' workloads had been a priority throughout the year and will be monitored across the NRLW and into the World Cup.
NRLW players in NSW have been exposed to a busier workload in the first half of the season through their local club rugby league competitions compared to players in Queensland and New Zealand.
"This year we forecast how many games an elite player might play in regards to representative and club footy and for some, it's a lot," Buxton said.
"We work with the RLPA in terms of sending correspondence out to the Harvey Norman or BHP clubs to be mindful of workload for some players and potentially rest players at certain times given what's ahead.
"Player burnout is definitely something we're wary of especially coming up to a big second half of the year which will hopefully include internationals and the World Cup."
The NRL Telstra Women's Premiership will expand its regular game time to 70 minutes this season in another step towards building a stronger competition in 2021.
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