When we go to eight interchanges as well... : Wed Jul 22, 2015 8:57 am  

If/when we follow the NRL I wonder how we will do given that our props are already rather light and mobile. I would expect them to cope. We could, however, see more converted second rows playing upfront. Also it could allow a chance for someone like Burke or Greenwood to be rehabilitated.

New Subs Rule ?. : Wed Jul 22, 2015 9:34 am  

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/rugby-league/33619283 If Super League implement the changes intended by the NRL, who say it will place greater emphasise on skill to balance out the power and size factor, would it help the present Wigan system that it is based on a strict team structure ?.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/rugby-league/33619283 If Super League implement the changes intended by the NRL, who say it will place greater emphasise on skill to balance out the power and size factor, would it help the present Wigan system that it is based on a strict team structure ?.

Re: New Subs Rule ?. : Wed Jul 22, 2015 10:15 am  

"fewer fresher players on the field at any one time" just completely counter-intuitive to me. How does this improve the game?

Re: When we go to eight interchanges as well... : Wed Jul 22, 2015 10:58 am  

Are you kidding? Their fitness this year has looked awful. Tautai barely makes it back onside after every PTB. Did you see Widnes' first try last week? All down to Crosby's incredibly poor defence and being lazy getting back to the line. Same with J.Tomkins getting back to a scrum after the ball has gone out of play, he's 40m away from it with his hands on his head.

Also Greenwood has left the club permanently iirc?

Re: New Subs Rule ?. : Wed Jul 22, 2015 11:18 am  

Rather than subbing the props less I wouldn’t be surprised if it was the back rowers and the hooker that subbed less. Something like this:

20 mins – Both props change
50 mins – Both props change
60 mins – Back rower and hooker on
70 mins – Both props change

Re: New Subs Rule ?. : Wed Jul 22, 2015 4:58 pm  

CyberPieMan wrote:

"fewer fresher players on the field at any one time" just completely counter-intuitive to me. How does this improve the game?

It stops you rolling out massive units who can only do ten minutes before they're on their knees.

Reduces the huge collisions, opens up gaps.

I can see why they're looking that way.

Re: New Subs Rule ?. : Wed Jul 22, 2015 5:29 pm  

P-J wrote:

It stops you rolling out massive units who can only do ten minutes before they're on their knees.

Reduces the huge collisions, opens up gaps.

I can see why they're looking that way.

But aren't you then risking games with error strewn final 20 minutes, which can only be magnified towards the end of a season? Also, won't conditioning end up biased for stamina & not strength? At the extreme, you'd end up with nothing much more than touch-rugby.
I'm sorry, but I don't see this as anything more than another step in the sanitisation of the game.

Re: When we go to eight interchanges as well... : Wed Jul 22, 2015 7:01 pm  

personally, I would convert Lockers to a prop.
If hes only playing 20 min spells, it might help manage his fitness issues.
hes no Faz, but I think he'd do a job.

Re: New Subs Rule ?. : Wed Jul 22, 2015 7:32 pm  

CyberPieMan wrote:

But aren't you then risking games with error strewn final 20 minutes, which can only be magnified towards the end of a season? Also, won't conditioning end up biased for stamina & not strength? At the extreme, you'd end up with nothing much more than touch-rugby.
I'm sorry, but I don't see this as anything more than another step in the sanitisation of the game.

We used to play with 2 subs and 4 interchanges, games weren't error strewn, the way it is now has driven out an Andy Gregory or a Martin Dermot, clever players who relied on skill, not speed and power. There are no individuals now, just teams of guys who all look and play the same. Removing the skill which is what has happened with the 10 metre rule and 10 interchanges has forced the game into a possession and territory based game, skill has become second fiddle.

Re: When we go to eight interchanges as well... : Wed Jul 22, 2015 9:21 pm  

Wigg'n wrote:

Are you kidding? Their fitness this year has looked awful. Tautai barely makes it back onside after every PTB. Did you see Widnes' first try last week? All down to Crosby's incredibly poor defence and being lazy getting back to the line. Same with J.Tomkins getting back to a scrum after the ball has gone out of play, he's 40m away from it with his hands on his head.

Also Greenwood has left the club permanently iirc?

Genuinely sorry that Greenwood never really got a run. When I saw him play he did not look out of place, although that is not saying much.
In relation to your point about our props looking knackered, I always thought it was part of Wanes master plan to lull the opposition into a false sense of security. Perhaps it is because Bit con has been moved upstairs.