Statistics show the size of National Rugby League players "continues to get bigger and bigger," according to Paul Crawley of the Sydney DAILY TELEGRAPH. But "is the game better for it?" That "is the question that will be put to some of the game’s smartest minds when the likes of Wayne Bennett, Tim Sheens, Laurie Daley, Trent Robinson, John Lang and Darren Lockyer gather on Tuesday for a two-day meeting of the Competition Committee." While the NRL "has ruled out reducing the interchange for next season and resisted calls for a return to one referee," Head of Football Todd Greenberg has outlined significant changes being considered to make rugby league a better and safer sport. Part of the plan "is to plough more money and resources into the referee ranks and make them the game’s '17th franchise,' while simplifying rules to make it easier for everyone to understand." Plenty of statistical data "has been gathered and part shows how players just keep getting bigger." It is a problem many believe "is pushing talented players out of the game at all levels." Greenberg said, “There is no doubt there is an appetite from the Competition Committee to look at it because you have always got to make sure there is that balance of fatigue on the game and making sure that there is opportunities for the little guys to continue to show their skills" (DAILY TELEGRAPH, 12/2). In Sydney, Brad Walter wrote "much of the debate is expected to revolve around longer-term issues, with calls to reduce the number of interchanges from 10 to eight, and even six, expected to be considered." Greenberg said, "Interchange won't change next year. But certainly we will start shaping some of our thoughts for the future because with the interchange it will lead to roster changes and all of that sort of thing, so you need to give people plenty of warning" (SYDNEY MORNING HERALD, 12/1).
