Past players call for changes to NRL rules

RUGBY LEAGUE: Former NRL players and a leading coach have called on the game’s competition committee to consider slashing the interchange from eight to six to revive the lost gladiatorial battles of rugby league.

The committee – which includes legends Mal Meninga and Darren Lockyer – will meet for a two-day workshop, starting today, where the interchange will be heavily debated.

A reduction to six interchanges, many believe, would ensure on-field physical fatigue which would result in unravelling rigid defensive lines and speeding up play. Coaches also claim it would ensure weary players were forced to battle through exhaustion rather than seek an interchange.

“The game could become more of an attacking focus. It will introduce fatigue and less collision injuries,” Dragons coach Paul McGregor said. “Interchange planning would become more strategic which would bring more coaching into play.”

Former forwards Mark Carroll and Steve Roach want a return to the old days of forwards playing long and harder minutes.

“I want to see the gladiatorial element come back into our game – when players’ backsides were dragging on the ground but they have to keep going,” Carroll said.

“I’d like to see it pulled back to six interchanges. It will bring out the toughness. It would also bring the little bloke back into the game more too. He would be taking on the line to find the tired big bloke.”

Roach also wants a cut to the interchange along with the introduction of a rule stating there can only be two defenders in each tackle.

“Drop it down to six,” Roach said of the interchange. “It would bring back attack. And while we’re at it, I’d like to see them bring in two in a tackle. That third man coming in diving at the legs, that’s just trying to maim someone.”