General Warriors Preseason 2026

[Naynay]

But you are only allowed to play 4 of the 6 bench selections so how is that extreme and how does that eliminate utility?
The coach still has to choose which 4 players to utilise whilst the game is live and the unpredictable nature of injury or HIA could happen in the 1st minute or the 79th.
The coach could be cunning and try to out-fox his opposite with a certain 6 man bench and that may give his team an advantage, fair play. But that could also blow up in his face too..

I think thats over thinking it, the truth is that it will probably be optimal to have 3 player that you decide pre game will play, maybe 3 forwards and then have a 4th forward a back and a half and just sit on the 4th interchange until something happens.

 

[Tokyo Warrior]

But you are only allowed to play 4 of the 6 bench selections so how is that extreme and how does that eliminate utility?

Why pick a utility on the bench if you can cover all bases with specialists? I will admit, I haven’t thought it 100% through…

 

[WAH MAN]

It's an extra person taken out of reserve grade every week. I'd say that is the main criticism of the 6 man bench

That provides a space for the Leka's and EIT's to step up to reserve grade. The smartest fastest thinking teams will get maximum benefit

 

[Damo]

That provides a space for the Leka's and EIT's to step up to reserve grade. The smartest fastest thinking teams will get maximum benefit

Why would Leka and EIT need to step up to reserve grade?

 

[WAH MAN]

Why would Leka and EIT need to step up to reserve grade?

As they have done in the past. That's what i failed to communicate

Rewrite. It creates space for younger players in lower grades to come up to reserve grade. Like Leka and co have done.

 

[Damo]

As they have done in the past. That's what i failed to communicate

Rewrite. It creates space for younger players in lower grades to come up to reserve grade. Like Leka and co have done.

That's all well and good, but if you are constantly the 5th or 6th man due to you being the next cab off the rank, the player themselves will suffer due to possibly not getting any game time. Multiply that by the 17 teams in the NRL and that's a lot of players potentially missing out on showing their ability.

I think halving the amount of players by limiting it to 5 instead of 6 is the best way forward. Or even require the player to get rotated like the 18th man does.

 

[Brightman]

It's an extra person taken out of reserve grade every week. I'd say that is the main criticism of the 6 man bench

The positive is the potential to play first grade, also they could rotate these guys in and out of the 6 man bench to keep them match fit and all that.
I see a bigger upside..

 

[Brightman]

I think thats over thinking it, the truth is that it will probably be optimal to have 3 player that you decide pre game will play, maybe 3 forwards and then have a 4th forward a back and a half and just sit on the 4th interchange until something happens.

That is a Penrith trait, many times Cleary will leave his starters on and Webster has done that with the Wahs several times too.
Doesn't discount reacting to how the opposition is performing though, this possible rule change broadens this scope..

 

[Brightman]

Why pick a utility on the bench if you can cover all bases with specialists? I will admit, I haven’t thought it 100% through…

You can never account for everything, players like TMM are valuable bench players period..

 

[Brightman]

That's all well and good, but if you are constantly the 5th or 6th man due to you being the next cab off the rank, the player themselves will suffer due to possibly not getting any game time. Multiply that by the 17 teams in the NRL and that's a lot of players potentially missing out on showing their ability.

I think halving the amount of players by limiting it to 5 instead of 6 is the best way forward. Or even require the player to get rotated like the 18th man does.

Didn't seem to affect EIT very much..

 

[Noitall]

You can never account for everything, players like TMM are valuable bench players period..

I reckon don’t sleep on TMM. Halves often come into their peak years in late 20’s like SJ once he adjusted his game when his speed was gone. TMM lost some years too because of head injury out of the game and that might have saved some wear and tear. It’s a real shame he didn’t see that bulldogs game out to get a real gauge but him, Tanah Boyd and CHT could be in real preseason battle for halfback and five eighth