Interchange

[1910]

Media Release

Wednesday, 22 July 2015

INTERCHANGE REVIEW


The number of interchanges will be reduced to eight and a shot clock will be introduced to reduce stoppages under landmark changes to the NRL Telstra Premiership from next season.

NRL Head of Football Todd Greenberg said the changes, which follow a detailed review of the current interchange system, would be the most significant to the game in decades.


They will see:

• The number of interchanges reduced from 10 to eight
• Four players remain on the bench to make those interchanges
• A shot clock introduced for drop outs and scrums

Mr Greenberg said the reduction in interchanges combined with the shot clock would form a package that would give fans a more continuous and free-flowing game while ensuring the game became safer for the players.


He said that, pending further analysis during the 2016 season, interchanges could be reduced further in the future.

“We think these changes are a significant first step because they will reward endurance and fitness and open up the game,” he said.

“As a result of these changes, there will be a greater emphasis on skill, not just power and size.

“We have conducted significant research into the evolution of, and current trends in, the game – how the players are getting bigger, faster and stronger, but more importantly what they will look like 10 years from now.

“We believe that, unless we take action now, the game will become more structured, defensive and predictable in years to come.

“So these changes are designed to ensure we stay ahead of the curve – it is about shaping how the game will look in 2026 and beyond.

“We want the best football being played by the best footballers, and all our research points to these changes having a significant impact on the quality of games that our supporters deserve every week.

Mr Greenberg said while the timings of the shot clock were not confirmed, they would make the game more continuous and minimise time wasting and stoppages.

He said research indicated the game would also be safer for players under the eight interchange system, with the prospect of “collision injuries” reduced.

Mr Greenberg added the review recommended that the composition of the interchange bench would remain the same.

The review was conducted by an expert committee headed by Dr Kevin Norton, a Professor of Exercise Science in the School of Health Sciences at the University of South Australia. He has conducted extensive research on injury development and fitness conditioning in other sports, including the AFL.

Mr Greenberg said the review was conducted in collaboration with the Rugby Football League, which will make its own recommendation for the UK Super League.

He said it was also completed following consultation with the NRL Clubs, the State Leagues and the RLPA.

The RLPA has endorsed the changes to the interchange as well as the implementation of the shot clock, while the NSWRL and the QRL have indicated their desire to also reduce the number of interchanges in their senior competitions accordingly.

The NRL has been working with other governing bodies around ensuring as much uniformity to the competitions in Australia as well as overseas.



For further queries, please contact:

 

[Nashy]

Link?

 

[Morkel]

Wasn't there already a 40 second "shot clock" for dropouts?

 

[Fozz]

Link?

There is an article on the Courier Mail site.

 

[Huge]

Looks like I was wrong...again ! I was calling for the Broncos to get a couple of bigger props in and thought we were short by at least one and probably two heavy hitter props. Our smaller light weight forwards were the way to go and the far sighted amongst us could see the game going that way but not me ! Blair and McGuire are going to be perfect going forward with Glenn and Gillett able to play the same roles if required. That being the case I hope someone like Oates doesn't put on too much weight and stays around his current size in a bid to maintain his agility.

 

[Socnorb]

There will still be a place for the big guys, but they will need to play longer minutes. Francis Molo will need to work on his endurance. Sam Kasiano price just dropped by 100k.

 

[1910]

Link?

It was an email, press release.

 

[Sproj]

Joe O and Jai Arrow are going to be so valuable for us in coming seasons as well.

 

[Morkel]

There will still be a place for the big guys, but they will need to play longer minutes. Francis Molo will need to work on his endurance. Sam Kasiano price just dropped by 100k.

Whereas Andrew Fifita is now going to be worth more.

 

[Super Freak]

Next thing you know, we'll have that stupid power play crap in the game as well.

Nothing wrong with the way the game is being played. There are more important issues to worry about.

 

[Big Pete]

Next thing you know, we'll have that stupid power play crap in the game as well.

I don't understand this line of thinking.

If anything, the game is returning to it's roots and steering away from the ridiculous 'unlimited' interchange era which was incredibly gimmicky, especially when you could name 5 players on your bench.

8 is a good number and I look forward to how it will affect the game.

 

[GCBRONCO]

Agreed, I don't see how an attempt to make the game less reliant on size rotation and opening the door for more more skillful and mobile players to dominate as the match goes on is necessarily a bad thing, if anything it will make it a more exciting and open flowing game.

 

[Foordy]

I wonder how this will affect the bench utility ... Like a Nikorima or Parcell.

On the one hand, those guys coming on against very tired forwards will be havoc for the opposition.

On the other hand, it will cost 2 interchanges (or a quarter of the limit) to get them on and off.

 

[Super Freak]

Agreed, I don't see how an attempt to make the game less reliant on size rotation and opening the door for more more skillful and mobile players to dominate as the match goes on is necessarily a bad thing, if anything it will make it a more exciting and open flowing game.

I didn't say the interchange rule is a bad thing. I'm not against it.

I'm just saying there are more important issues to worry about.

Reducing the amount of ***** up by the refs would be a great start...

Making the game more exciting isn't going to bring back fans if the refs keep making so many mistakes.. Mistakes that can be fixed on the field.

 

[GCBRONCO]

I didn't say the interchange rule is a bad thing. I'm not against it.

I'm just saying there are more important issues to worry about.

Reducing the amount of ****s up by the refs would be a great start...

Making the game more exciting isn't going to bring back fans if the refs keep making so many mistakes.. Mistakes that can be fixed on the field.

I know where your coming from there mate and hell I even agree with you on them needing to do something with the current situation of reffing, the inconsistency is by far the most annoying factor but I still think the interchange was something they needed to address regardless so I fail to see how that is a bad thing, lets just hope it's in the pipeline in the near future.