A heated debate has emerged over rugby league’s international schedule in the wake of the NRL’s injury crisis that has seen two clubs seek exemptions to fill their match-day squads.
Ahead of Round 3, the Knights were unable to field a 22-man squad and had to be granted permission to name players outside their top 30.
Meanwhile, the Bulldogs have 11 players sidelined and also had to seek exemptions for their Good Friday clash against the Rabbitohs.
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According to NRL360 co-host Paul Kent, the NRL needs to “rethink” when international games are scheduled to allow players to complete a full pre-season.
Following last year’s World Cup, some players finished their mandatory eight-week holiday period early, while others had only a five-week pre-season.
“The NRL has got to start to rethink its international schedule out of all of this, you talk about Canterbury, who have now gone and sought an exemption only five rounds in,” Kent said.
“Only five rounds in, because in their 30-man squad they can’t find 21 jumpers. What was it, two weeks ago, Newcastle sought an exemption.
“Because we had the World Cup last year, and we have an international program that fills up all the months after the season now.
“And the players have to have eight weeks holiday according to the CBA, it cuts down on their pre-season which most people tend to believe leads to all these injuries.
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“Because they are not quite physically in the shape they need to be to get through the season.”
Kent called for a reduction in the amount of international fixtures, but The Daily Telegraph’s Paul Crawley wasn’t buying it, pointing to Samoa’s success.
The Island nation stunned the rugby league world by making the grand final, eventually going down to Mal Meninga’s Kangaroos.
“So what are suggesting? Getting rid of international games? Get rid of the World Cup?” Crawley asked.
“I’m talking every year, I get it once every four years… but every year, other than Covid, the Kangaroos tour every year,” Kent said.
“We see the Kiwis are touring, Tonga and Samoa are growing and they are starting to tour.”
“It’s not an eight-week program like the World Cup is, every time we have a World Cup, coaches know, players know, every single club is in the same predicament,” Crawley replied.
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“It is what it is, you can’t get rid of the World Cup, the game is growing at an international level, we need to be promoting it, not knocking it back and worrying about the self interests of clubs.”
Kent argued that players are employees of NRL clubs, not of their international teams and questioned “why do we have to grow the international game?”.
He also pointed to the amount of injuries suffered during the 2023 season, with almost every club having players in the casualty ward.
“Look at Samoa’s efforts at the World Cup, how is that not good for rugby league, we talk about expansion and bringing in a Pasifika team,” Crawley said.
“But how does Samoa’s performance at the World Cup enhance the NRL who are now looking at clubs having to get exemptions,” Kent said.
“Do they need eight weeks holiday? If you want to talk about player welfare, which is what the Player’s Association is all about, then maybe they need to re-examine the fact that they are kicking off with just five weeks preparation.
“Which we are already seeing a multitude of injuries across almost every club.”
