Webster doubles down on bench change reservations
Following the NRL's controversial ratification of a six-man bench, the Warriors' coach outlined his reasons for being against the change.
After publicly tending his disapproval of the NRL’s proposed six-man bench rule change a fortnight ago, Warriors coach Andrew Webster has provided a reaction to the since-ratified expanded interchange.
From 2026, teams will be permitted to carry a 19-man team into every match and allowed to choose four of their six interchange players (for a maximum of eight changes) at their discretion.
“I think the utility player is going to be lost a little bit,” Webster said at the Warriors’ media session earlier this week.
“You’re going to pick two forwards – two front-rowers and a back-rower [on the bench] – so there’s 16 players.
“Then you’re going pick an outside-back, you’re going to pick a half and you’re going to pick a hooker. So if only one of those three will, therefore two of those guys don’t play each week.
“If you do a rotation policy each week to try and get them games, then you’re starving your team in a situation where, say you lose your halfback after 10 minutes, you’d want to put [your interchange half] on, wouldn’t you?
“That’s the best part about our current game, the gladiator version of it is that you’ve got to have those players that can play more than one position, the utility role.
“I’m just concerned that our bench players won’t be getting much football this year, because there won’t be anywhere for them to play.”
LISTEN TO ANDREW WEBSTER’S PRESS CONFERENCE IN FULL BELOW
Webster confirmed he made his reservations about the change clear to the NRL during the consultation process – and that he certainly wasn’t alone in his stance among the game’s coaches.
“It doesn’t surprise me [that the rule change went through],” he said.
“There’s been different changes throughout the year [in previous seasons]. And you know the thing is, we might circle back 12 months later and go, ‘That was a great call’, and what the hell do I know?
“But I’ve also got one eye on development, one eye on making sure everyone’s developing and getting a game. That way if they play they’re getting proven in reserve grade, therefore they challenge first grade.
“Maybe I’m a bit biased and it might end up the best thing for the game. Right now, I think the concussion rule is the one that’s the hardest – if we went back to the old system where after the first head knock we let the 18th man play that would have been really cool.”
Hear what Fonzie and the TWL team had to say about the new interchange rule on Tuesday’s podcast episode: