Official Blayke Brailey

[bort]

I was all for 6 interchanges a few years back, but I can’t see it happening with the way concussion rules are now.

6 is **** all as it is, but if you throw in 1 or 2 forced replacements in there it would nearly be game over.

That’s why I think they’ll stick with 8 - it’s basically 6 +2 in case of head knocks or other injuries.

Agree, for every reduction to interchange any injury has a greater impact

 

[Wilson]

I was all for 6 interchanges a few years back, but I can’t see it happening with the way concussion rules are now.

6 is **** all as it is, but if you throw in 1 or 2 forced replacements in there it would nearly be game over.

That’s why I think they’ll stick with 8 - it’s basically 6 +2 in case of head knocks or other injuries.

Six interchanges is actually the suggested method to reduce injuries, like concussions. It’s why it’s being floated in the first place. Less interchanges, subsequently introduces more fatigue which in turn would reduce the amount of high velocity contact injuries.

 

[stormshark]

Sounds logical,reduces the advantages of the 30 min power game and sized player

 

[Proud Shark]

The idea has been floated of having an 18th man that can join the bench for a game ending concussion. I like that as an option too if they went to 6.

 

[sharkyboy]

Just because you’re small doesn’t mean you get walked over ffs

It’s all about tackle technique and your mate helping you out. If you’ve watched Blayke defend you’ll know he has an outstanding defensive technique. Coupled with the fact he will only need to play 30 max unless Jayden gets injured

 

[HaroldBishop]

Just because you’re small doesn’t mean you get walked over ffs

True but there are definitely less smaller players in the game compared to years gone by.

The sooner they reduce to 6, the better. But they will need to crack down on the amount of stoppages for it to be effective.

 

[gando2230]

Agree if to reduce to 6 interchanges, needs to be a 18th man to cover the Concussion.
If clubs are found guilty of taking advantage of that hit them hard with fines or point reductions.

 

[vicsharkfan]

Re watch granny over Xmas.. this discussion had me thinking did we ever get fined for boogs in the grand final. He went to la la land..

 

[BlackWhiteBlue]

Re watch granny over Xmas.. this discussion had me thinking did we ever get fined for boogs in the grand final. He went to la la land..

How he was allowed back on i have no idea. Same goes with chad getting 2 high shots where he stayed down

 

[Western Sharkie]

Re watch granny over Xmas.. this discussion had me thinking did we ever get fined for boogs in the grand final. He went to la la land..

A GF is almost always treated differently given what’s on the line (rightly or wrongly).
Same as Origin. Rules are bit more “rubbery”.

 

[snowman]

we didnt get fined because we hadn't broken the concussion rules that season, we got a warning

 

[HaroldBishop]

Agree if to reduce to 6 interchanges, needs to be a 18th man to cover the Concussion.
If clubs are found guilty of taking advantage of that hit them hard with fines or point reductions.

It will 100% get rorted. No 18th man for mine.

 

[BlackWhiteBlue]

we didnt get fined because we hadn't broken the concussion rules that season, we got a warning

I never knew that. Understandable though. Boogie was out

 

[slide rule]

I’d want to go back on in a grand final.

**** it.

Risk of damage isn’t as high as people want to pretend.

 

[BlackWhiteBlue]

I’d want to go back on in a grand final.

**** it.

Risk of damage isn’t as high as people want to pretend.

Not in a 1 off. But repeatedly is the issue

 

[Wilson]

I’d want to go back on in a grand final.

**** it.

Risk of damage isn’t as high as people want to pretend.

lol.

 

[bort]

It's specifically an NRL problem. Smaller players can be game changers at every other level but the way the NRL is played/officiated disadvantages smaller players who tackle low. IMO it needs to be fixed. Maybe reduced interchange part of the solution, but probably not the only thing that needs changing.

Plenty of 'smaller' players doing well in the NRL currently - I don't see it as that much of an issue really, it's a professional contact sport, only the most athletic are going to make it. Across many sports this means getting bigger, stronger and faster.
If you reduce interchange maybe some of the awesome big fellas we have running around now that weren't always the fittest may have given up and gone to another sport years ago? Maybe Fifita wouldn't have got an opportunity as early and gone over to union?

I do agree however that there is no benefit to executing a good legs tackle anymore and that is disappointing and legitimately unfair on smaller players or those with (what used to be considered) good technique.
If you rip someone down by the legs one on one all they have to do is flop their upper body around a bit and it's a penalty for not letting go when a) you tackled them like half a second ago and b) throwing your upper body around with both arms wrapped around the ball is not actually a way that you can get up so it doesn't even deserve to be considered as an attempt to play the ball.

You either let go instantly and they quickly play the ball with your defense massively on the ropes or you hang on and get penalised, if not marched off. But if you grab someone around the upper body and push them around for a bit you chew up heaps of time and then chuck them on the ground and waste plenty more time. This slows the game down a lot but is much more effective in today's game than a good legs tackle, and a smaller guy can get even more easily dominated.

I'd rather see them have a crack at fixing this up before reducing interchange again.

 

[Paul C]

Those guys made their dubuts 20-30 years ago, the game was a game of all shapes and sizes back then.

Nowadays it is a game of 110kg wingers.

Far more difficult to make it when your body is lacking size. It's actually a really big problem for the game.

Gal has managed to play as a midget.

 

[bort]

Gal has managed to play as a midget.

I don't think he's who people are thinking of when they say they want more small players in the game...

 

[HaroldBishop]

180cm and 104kg. Biggest ****ing midget I've ever seen.,