The NRL has taken a lot of steps to protect player welfare and reduce the chance of injuries, particularly head injuries. Some of these actions have been really effective, whilst others have felt a bit lacklustre and inconsistent. Despite their best efforts the NRL can’t completely reduce the chance of injuries occurring in a contact sport like rugby league, but they can think about ways that to minimise the impact these accidental incidents have on teams and the product as a whole.

When a player goes down injured and is ruled out for the game, the impact can on the rest of the team can be fairly significant. Yes, the clubs all carry an 18th man on the bench, but they are unable to activate them or bring them into the game unless the player was injured through an act of foul play. This often leads to players being moved out of position, ultimately impacting the team’s performance particularly when it is a specialist position that gets injured. Most teams are able to adapt effectively, but when the injury occurs early in the game there is an added element of fatigue which could contribute to more injuries later in the game.

Far too often we see injuries effect the outcome of a match in rugby league. Whilst we have to accept that injuries are part of the sport, perhaps it is time the game considered different ways of supporting clubs to ensure that matches are still fair and competitive. For example the AFL has a substitute which can be activated at any point in the game at the coaches discretion. When the rule was first introduced in the AFL, the player being taken out of the game had to injured as determined by the club doctor. However, the AFL quickly realised this rule was being exploited for tactical purposes, although it was frequently effective when a player was genuinely injured.

Now, the AFL has a rule in which they permit a substitute for any reason whether that is tactical or due to injury. Each team carries a 23rd man in their squad (which historically only had 22) and the head coach is able to bring that player into the game at any point. The player taken out of the game is unable to return, even if they are cleared of injury. This ensures that in most instances the teams are evenly balanced, even in the unfortunate scenario when a player on both teams is injured throughout the game.

Applying this to the NRL, the rule would effectively mean that coaches could bring their 18th man into their playing 17 at any point throughout the game. Obviously, if a player was injured and ruled out of the game the team would be able to bring their 18th man on and maintain a four man bench. However, if a team got through without injury they would be able to bring on their 18th man and take on player out of the game, providing extra impact. This would be particularly helpful when clubs are trying to find a balance on their bench and try to cover positions in the outside backs or spine.

It might take some getting used to, but it would help prevent the lopsided impact of a player getting injured. We have to accept that injuries happen, but we that doesn’t mean we need to allow the injuries that do occur to impact the quality and integrity of the matches play. Perhaps this is one area in which the NRL can learn something from the AFL.