When the season resumes : Tue Mar 31, 2020 9:53 am  

Do you think we should have unlimited substitutions and maybe a few more on the bench if we have midweek fixture etc to ease the load on the players if we have a fixture pile up?

Re: When the season resumes : Tue Mar 31, 2020 10:06 am  

It would make sense to increase the number of subs to six and to increase the number of allowed substitutions to 14. That’s just my opinion however no matter what they do there are going to be some tired bodies. Strength in depth will be the key to who is successful this season should the RFL wish to cram in all the fixtures.

Re: When the season resumes : Tue Mar 31, 2020 10:13 am  

Yeah good point we shall see what happens

Re: When the season resumes : Tue Mar 31, 2020 10:44 am  

8 players on the bench, Each one allowed on once just while we get the fixture pile up sorted out then back to normal after that

Re: When the season resumes : Tue Mar 31, 2020 10:48 am  

The Whiffy Kipper wrote:

8 players on the bench, Each one allowed on once just while we get the fixture pile up sorted out then back to normal after that

I agree.
I've argued for this before, I've also said that two or three of those subs should be aged 21 or under at the start of the season to allow them to get 1st team experience.

Re: When the season resumes : Tue Mar 31, 2020 10:53 am  

I would say constant midweek games would be really bad for player welfare but might have to be done from a financial standpoint and increasing subs would be a great idea.

Re: When the season resumes : Tue Mar 31, 2020 12:49 pm  

If we start back on 1/6/20 which seems extremely unlikely at the minute we would have lost 11 fixtures one of which magic which will not necessarily be need to replayed.

If we started on 1/7/20 we would have lost 14 games, we will get a weekend back on the 18th as it seems obvious the challenge cup will be cancelled totally. That is a lot of games to catch up on unless the loop fixtures are abolished and its worked on a home away basis meaning we will only have 15 matches left as we have played 7, i reckon that will mean we would only need to play 4 midweek games. Some other clubs would have more as they are already games behind. All that would mean we finish on October 10th as planned. There is always the option of extending the season by a month if possible? Meaning minimal midweek games.

Re: When the season resumes : Tue Mar 31, 2020 1:16 pm  

Two games a week does appear to be the best way forward. Gives us a chance of a reasonable season with the number of games played. Will complete the season and bring a decent amount of revenue back from walk up fans.

The only problem with two games a week is player burnout which is a real possibility especially if there is pressure to play when carrying a knock.
Perhaps one way is to limit the number of games a player can play. This could be 5 or 6 games a month. If the revised season is 3 months or 92 days then 5 games a month would mean playing every six days. That isn't player burnout.This is the first season we've had the reserves so now we can make use of them and give them first team experience. Cancel the reserve league and make reserve squad players available to play first team.

I do hope SL can suggest a way forward for discussion as we all want to make it succeed. I'm sure we'll all be ready to compromise and get the season back again and see some rugby.

Re: When the season resumes : Tue Mar 31, 2020 2:20 pm  

Maybe scrap the loop fixtures and the play-offs this year, first past the post wins, after all there's no guarantee Old Trafford will be available depending how this and next season's football season pans out.

Re: When the season resumes : Tue Mar 31, 2020 7:26 pm  

We’ve probably got the deepest squad in the league, so we wouldn’t be in a bad spot if they pile on the fixtures. It’s not ideal even with a big squad and as pointed out a few amendments in interchanges may need to be looked at.