The NRL is set to rectify the bane of league fans by finally reducing the number of interchanges from 10 a game to possibly as low as six for next season.
In what shapes as a major overhaul, the NRL wants to reactivate the endurance factor that has been eroded in the code by the high number of interchanges.
NRL head of football Todd Greenberg said a two month revue headed by Dr Kevin Norton, a Professor of Exercise and Science, would explore a number of options to tweak the interchange system.
Among the possible changes would be creating a three-man interchange bench with a fourth player to be used as a permanent replacement for injured or concussed players.
According to a News Limited report, the NRL and ARL Commission has been discussing an interchange overhaul for 12 months and will consider implementing changes for the 2016 season.
"Rugby league has a great history of making significant changes as needed to ensure the game continues to evolve and I think that’s exactly what we’re doing here," Greenberg told News Limited.
"We’re not calling out an end position. We’re calling out an intention to look at it properly. We need to back that up with science and data.
"It’s clear what people’s opinions are across the game and we’ll garner that through this piece of work. But we need to back that up with facts and information."
The revue follows calls from some of the game's best thinkers, including Melbourne coach Craig Bellamy, Immortals Bob Fulton and Wally Lewis and commentator Matt Johns, to reduce interchanges.
Fans have also long been disenchanted by the rule that has removed endurance from the game and made it tougher for smaller, skillful players to shine.
Under the current system some forwards play in stints for as little as 10 or 15 minutes with coaches rotating bigger bodied players to constantly target the smaller rivals, particularly halves, who play the full 80 minutes.
Lewis has spoken of his frustration that smaller, skillful players were finding it tougher to survive, while Bellamy and Johns feel a reduction in interchange would diminish wrestling.
"We’ve got to always make sure there’s a balance between attack and defence," Greenberg said.
"We want to make sure that the game is inclusive and that all shapes and sizes can play the game and we’ve got to make sure our rules allow us to make those decisions.
"That’s pragmatic and that’s a sensible approach. We won’t simply make decisions on the run or policy changes on the run.
"The work that we’ll do demonstrates the gravity of the decision that we may make in this space.
"It’s a big decision for the game, it will be a big impact for the game but equally I think it will have great positives for the game as long as we do the work behind the scenes."
Greenberg said the changes would not be directed solely at cutting interchanges.
"People need to understand that the composition of the bench could be made up of interchange players and substitute players," he said.
"That hasn’t been in the game for a long time, a substitute player. We’ll do that in consultation with our medical staff and with the chief medical officers of the clubs to ensure there’s that balance between the interchange and also making sure when players are injured and can no longer participate clubs aren’t disadvantaged.
"That will also form part of the review."
Greenberg said the timing of the revue and overhaul implementation would ensure coaches had ample time to prepare for 2016.
"We’re in March and this is our intent to look at it so I think it’s fair to say that we’re giving a significant amount of notice for clubs because we understand the impact it will have for both recruitment and retention and development of their rosters," he said.
"We are very interested to bring any change that we do make into 2016 and by the middle part of this year we’ll have a final recommendation which will go to the Commission.
"That gives good notice to all clubs, players and recruitment managers about the changes that may come."
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Topic: NRL considering radical rule change
