Your 2024 First 13 Team predictions

[Super Freak]

1. Walsh
2. Oates
3. Staggs
4. Mariner
5. Cobbo
6. Mam
7. Reyno
8. Carrigan
9. Walters
10. Haas
11. Piakura
12. Riki
13. Capewell

14. Mozer
15. Hetherington
16. Baker/Willison
17. Taupau

I don't see Cobbo making the move to centre next year.

 

[Cavalo]

100% this rule change needs to happen. With the number of head knocks that don't qualify to activate the 18th man, or standard injuries, it make sense for teams to carry an outside back on the bench.
Coaches are hesitant to carry an outside back as the 2 middle, middle/2nd row and bench hooker/utility rotation has been proven (for non-injury impacted games) for years now.
Sure, in most games they won't be used but how many games recently have teams lost a winger/centre early.
Even if they just cover the mandatory 15 minutes HIA assessment period.

 

[Super Freak]

100% this rule change needs to happen. With the number of head knocks that don't qualify to activate the 18th man, or standard injuries, it make sense for teams to carry an outside back on the bench.
Coaches are hesitant to carry an outside back as the 2 middle, middle/2nd row and bench hooker/utility rotation has been proven (for non-injury impacted games) for years now.
Sure, in most games they won't be used but how many games recently have teams lost a winger/centre early.
Even if they just cover the mandatory 15 minutes HIA assessment period.

I've heard suggestion that the interchange bench numbers should be increased to allow for teams to carry cover for HIA's, injuries etc.

It should go from 4 to 6.

 

[BooKhaki]

I've heard suggestion that the interchange bench numbers should be increased to allow for teams to carry cover for HIA's, injuries etc.

It should go from 4 to 6.

No thanks. If teams are concerned about losing someone to injury, they should select a bench that covers all positions. Injuries are part of the game, and teams need to deal with it. Prime example is Origin 1. Hunt and Fifita out in the centres to finish the game is part of the theatre, and made the game better.

 

[Sproj]

AFL has a tactical sub who can come in at any time during a game and sub out one of the first 22. I expect the NRL will adopt this at some point.

 

[BroncsFan]

100% this rule change needs to happen. With the number of head knocks that don't qualify to activate the 18th man, or standard injuries, it make sense for teams to carry an outside back on the bench.
Coaches are hesitant to carry an outside back as the 2 middle, middle/2nd row and bench hooker/utility rotation has been proven (for non-injury impacted games) for years now.
Sure, in most games they won't be used but how many games recently have teams lost a winger/centre early.
Even if they just cover the mandatory 15 minutes HIA assessment period.

I do like the way it is currently setup, because it requires some form of thought from the coaches. Take NSW for instance, if Freddy had a 5 player bench then he's carrying his two hookers and Hynes/Crichton, and there's no decisions to be made.

I think if we just start pushing up the number of players on the bench, then we'll see very stock standard benches moving forward... OR teams will be looking to push the limit by going 1 bench hooker, 3 middles, 1x utility (forward/center)... and there'll be complaints that an extra number is required again to cover halves/fullbacks... until we end up like union with like 7 players on the bench to cover all areas

I'd just consider increasing the opportunity to use the 18th or 19th man... allowing them to be activated whenever and for whatever reason inside the first 30mins or first half, but the player they are replacing cannot return to the game and the interchange of the player is like normal (i.e. HIA's and foul player subs are still free, but a normal sub because the player shit the bed or got injured still costs you an interchange).

If you lose a key spine player or outside back due to injury in the first 5mins or so, then you can at least take them off and have an 18th/19th man sitting there ready to go... but beyond the first half the rules remain as they are i.e. can't be activated unless they cop 2 HIA's (excluding any subbed off for an activation in the first half) or foul play leading to HIA. Other than that cannot be activated... this would prevent having a field goal specialist or 'pinch hitter' sitting there to bring on fresh with 5mins to go.

I could see teams exploiting this by making their 18th man the backup hooker and subbing off their 9 every game at 30mins in, but if they're subbing off due to HIA then enforce the fucking 11-day stand down i.e. you are diagnosing the player with a concussion so **** the Cat 1 or Cat 2, you are admitting the player copped a concussion so they're out next week. If you are doing it this way then they're potentially sacrificing 2 players in the game to get a 19th pinch hitter onto the field (i.e. needing 2x HIA's in the half/game), because they will be standing down for 11 days regardless of what happens in the days following.

If they are just doing it because they don't want to bring their 9 back on, then that's a risk they run with, because that player cannot return.

 

[Broncapz]

Paix or Smoothy 100% going to be stolen by the Roosters.

 

[Mustafur]

If the bench gets increased the amount of players on a professional contract(known as Top 30) would also have to be increased which would create some logistical issues with the cap.

The easiest I solution I can think of is a HIA cover player who becomes eligible to be used when ever a player is forced into a HIA assessment, if the player passes they have to make the change back(different to a 18th man who can only come on after 2 failed HIAs or a HIA off Foul play).

That would be difficult as well because you don't know which player is going to get the HIA so it may be an unsuitable player, but I guess you can shuffle players around just like with 18th man anyway.

 

[Foordy]

Paix or Smoothy 100% going to be stolen by the Roosters.

Tbh, I'm not sure either will be a huge loss to us.

 

[Allo]

Paix or Smoothy 100% going to be stolen by the Roosters.

only for Paix to end up behind Turpin again lmao

 

[BroncsFan]

Paix or Smoothy 100% going to be stolen by the Roosters.

Imagine how desperate a team must be to take reject hookers from the Broncos... oof

 

[GCBRONCO]

only for Paix to end up behind Turpin again lmao

That will be Kev and Billy's fault too.

 

[kman]

That will be Kev and Billy's fault too.

I'm happy for Kevin to let Billy go to the Roosters for sure.

 

[LittleDavey]

I'm happy for Kevin to let Billy go to the Roosters for sure.

You're happy to let go the main hooker who's playing 60-odd minutes for the only team with 11 wins - actually, the only team with double-digit wins? Who is costing about $5 on the cap?

And replace him with who?

 

[kman]

seeYou're happy to let go the main hooker who's playing 60-odd minutes for the only team with 11 wins - actually, the only team with double-digit wins? Who is costing about $5 on the cap?

And replace him with who?

Yes he's definitely playing way too many minutes he can't handle and I would play Smoothy, Paix, Mozer over him any day.

 

[Foordy]

Yes he's definitely playing way too many minutes he can't handle and I would play Smoothy, Paix, Mozer over him any day.

which is why it's a good thing you're not the coach

 

[LittleDavey]

Yes he's definitely playing way too many minutes he can't handle and I would play Smoothy, Paix, Mozer over him any day.

So you'd replace him with:
- His understudy (so to speak) who has clearly been sub-par for a while now and is obviously gassed after 10mins;
- A NRL rookie who's just played a few minutes in his first NRL game;
- A teenager who is nowhere near NRL ready yet.

How do you juggle the use of those three? Who starts, who comes off the bench? For how many minutes?
What happens if Reyno/Mam goes down (keeping in mind that at the moment Billy can slot across to that halves position and Paix/Smoothy can play out the game if required)?

Honestly, I cannot understand anyone at this point holding the opinion that Billy is anything other than a vital cog in our current machine. He's not the best hooker in the comp, by a long shot, but he's doing a great job of late, improving constantly, and suits our team well. All while taking up very little cap space. I don't understand what more people want from him or that position right now.

 

[Foordy]

So you'd replace him with:
- His understudy (so to speak) who has clearly been sub-par for a while now and is obviously gassed after 10mins;
- A NRL rookie who's just played a few minutes in his first NRL game;
- A teenager who is nowhere near NRL ready yet.

How do you juggle the use of those three? Who starts, who comes off the bench? For how many minutes?
What happens if Reyno/Mam goes down (keeping in mind that at the moment Billy can slot across to that halves position and Paix/Smoothy can play out the game if required)?

Honestly, I cannot understand anyone at this point holding the opinion that Billy is anything other than a vital cog in our current machine. He's not the best hooker in the comp, by a long shot, but he's doing a great job of late, improving constantly, and suits our team well. All while taking up very little cap space. I don't understand what more people want from him or that position right now.

This.

the few remaining hold outs are letting his (and the coaches) surname cloud their judgements. if his name was Billy Jones, no one would be complaining about him starting. they would be happy to allow Mozer to develop properly instead of making a massive mistake and rushing him