Freelance Rugby League journalist Ben Giles offers a solution to the busy Super League schedule planned for next year…
With 2015 seeing an increase in the number of fixtures across the board, and all clubs playing a minimum of 30 games, the already short off-season is set to be reduced further and players are going to be stretched.
I believe I can solve this problem with the introduction of what I have labelled, ‘rookie rounds’, which would essentially involve designating six fixtures of the season where at least four first-team players must be rested to give youth and reserve players some game time.
In my opinion, this would counteract the negative impact on youth development caused by relegation, and lop-sided scores, as well as player burn-out impacting on internationals.
Rookie round summary
- 23 regular rounds + 7 play-off fixtures already guaranteed for all clubs in 2015
- Six of these regular rounds titled ‘rookie rounds’ where at least four first team regulars must be rested by all clubs. Suspensions would not count but injuries would
- First team regulars = 20+ starting line-up appearances in Super League or NRL in previous season
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