I believe the new interchange will have a far greater impact than most people predict. Barrett, like all coaches have to get their bench right. Do you carry an extra prop or a spare hooker? I get a feeling most clubs are going to want at least one of their backrowers ready to fill in rather than use up an interchange in the same way some backrowers can fill in at centre rather than carry a back on the bench. It makes the players like Brown, Symonds, Leary and Buhrer worth there weight in Rocking horse poop.
I'm an absolute Leary fan, he may not have been given much time in 2015 but I think he will play an important role for us this year.
I think the NRL will have to look at putting in some replacements as well as interchanges. With the new concussion rules, it's very possible you could be without 2 players due to head knocks which impact not only on the interchange but the replacements as well. If a team was unlucky enough to have 2 head knocks in the first 20 minutes, you'd be left with 2 players for the rest of the interchanges. Given how closely the NRL are monitoring the concussion tests, i'm surprised they haven't taken this into account.
