Bold plan for an extended substitutes bench could revolutionise the NRL

A recommendation from the NRL’s most successful coaches to expand the number of bench players could add tactical intrigue to a game trapped in a straitjacket of left- and right-side regimentation, while also improving safety standards.

A meeting on December 2 of premiership coaches Wayne Bennett, Craig Bellamy, Ricky Stuart, Ivan Cleary and Michael Maguire, as well as Sharks boss Craig Fitzgibbon, was united in supporting an increase in the NRL game day squad to as many as 21, potentially doubling the size of the bench.

Adam Reynolds looks on from the bench after being injured in the grand final. Brisbane were lucky to hang on with a reshuffled backline.Credit: Getty Images

However, the existing limit of eight interchanges and four replacements would remain. In other words, a coach would have a choice of up to eight players on the bench, but can only use four.

The problem faced by coaches in an increasingly brutal and fast game is not the number of interchanges, but the number of fit players near the end of the 80 minutes.

This is exacerbated by the NRL’s relentless desire to increase the amount of time the ball is in play.

Most games finish with coaches using seven of their eight interchanges, but often with a bench decimated by injury.

The ARL Commission will vote on the proposal on Wednesday, with a squad of 19 or 20 the most likely option discussed. Clubs are presently permitted to add an 18th man to the bench, but he rarely plays as their use is restricted to acts of foul play that force a teammate out of the game or after two failed head injury assessments.

NRL clubs often finish games with their bench decimated by injuries.Credit: Getty Images

With most clubs choosing a bench of three forwards and one back, there is rarely the opportunity to inject a young, twinkle-toed player with the ability to sneak, slip, spin and slide through the tiniest of gaps to break a game apart.

While more bench options grant a coach some extra weapons, he can also make mistakes, given that he can only use four replacements.

Two bench backs can blow open a game, but they may not be capable of shutting it down against a heavy forward onslaught.

Tyran Wishart (right) played most of the grand final out of position in the centres after an early injury to Jack Howarth. The substitute had little impact in the Storm’s narrow loss.Credit: Getty Images

Four-time premiership coach Cleary said: “I’m keen on it, as I’m old enough to have used the concept of four from six on the bench when I coached reserve grade in the early 2000s. I liked it then as it provides specialist cover for specialist injuries, while also allowing the tactical replacements pending game situations.”

Maguire, expressing a personal view rather than commenting on the coach’s meeting, said: “A bench of six makes the game a better spectacle when fans can see the players in their positions at their best, plus it improves player welfare, particularly with growing concerns re head injuries.”

This year’s NRL grand final demonstrated the failings of today’s bench rules.

Melbourne centre Jack Howarth was forced from the field in the first half with a groin injury, meaning the only back on the Storm bench, Tyran Wishart, replaced him.

Ben Hunt is held up by Reece Walsh after he was concussed while making a tackle in the grand final. The veteran half was forced from the field late in the game.Credit: Getty Images

Not only was centre the least suited backline position for the 89kg Wishart, marking one of the NRL’s best in Kotoni Staggs, but he was stuck out wide and unable to be shifted to a position around the ruck where his speed could exploit tired forwards late in each half.

Maguire also lost five-eighth Ben Hunt (head knock) and halfback Adam Reynolds (calf injury) towards the end of the decider, but he had gambled on a bench with a half and hooker who were able to replace them.

However, he admitted after the game to “shitting myself” as an exhausted middle forward was forced to defend on the left wing. Only the brilliance of fullback Reece Walsh stopped the Storm from scoring what could have been the match-winner.

Those opposed to expanding the bench can argue that attrition and injury balance out, but it sends a bad message when a winger with a torn hamstring is forced to stay on the field because there is no bench replacement.

One negative is the cost of a travelling party of 21 players, particularly for clubs outside Sydney.

It also means up to four players will not take the field in a match, depriving them of game time and robbing a club’s state cup feeder team of talent.

However, there is the potential for state cup teams to play curtain raisers, meaning some of their players can then sit on the bench for the NRL game.

As the NRL moves to a 20-team league, there is a need to fast-forward the development of the future Reece Walshs, even by sitting on the bench and absorbing the action.

In this year’s AFL grand final, premiers Brisbane gambled on using the injured Lachie Neale, who was listed as a substitute beside a four-man bench with a maximum of 75 rotations. Should Neale have injured his calf again, it would have meant two players were out of the match. The AFL has scrapped the substitute and introduced a five-man bench for 2026.

Given the antipathy of ARL Commission chairman Peter V’landys towards AFL, one coach quipped that any suggestion rugby league was copying the southern code might doom plans to expand the NRL bench.

“What is AFL?” V’landys countered. “I don’t follow this AFL, so it will have no bearing on any decisions we make.”