game DAY late mail

[roosterproud]

Ahead of the first official Sydney Roosters Team Talk on Tuesday afternoon, we've got to run through a few of the changes to the process before we take to the field on Saturday.
As opposed to the old process of a 5pm Team Announcement on Tuesdays, fans will now receive a 21-man squad at 4pm on Tuesdays, a 19-man squad 24 hours prior to kick off and the final side (Late Mail) one hour before the game.
The 21-man squad will consist of 17 players named in position, as well as up to four interchange reserves.
For Holden Cup Team Announcement, you'll receive a 23-man squad at 4pm on Tuesdays, a 20-man squad 24 hours prior to kick off and the usual Late Mail one hour before the game.
With this new process fans can get a better idea of who is training hard for a spot in the side on a weekly basis.
The first official Team Announcement of the 2017 NRL Telstra Premiership season will happen on Roosters.com.au and on the Roosters APP at 4pm, Tuesday the 28th of February.

[stringaz]

That'll only suck this week as we should probably know with injury and suspension who'll be running out from week to week for the rest of the rounds

[zac]

So how does this work? Can a team run out on game day with a player that wasn't named in the original 21 man squad?
It's a kind of meaningless change, if it can. That said, I don't really have a problem with ducks and drakes. Better if everyone's aware that team lists are only guidelines.
If you're stupid enough to bet on sport, then you should be aware that you won't always have all the info.

[Chook 74/75]

And den?

[Rooster_6]

I guess why is the question?

Of all the improvements the NRL could have been working on in the off-season this seems odd.

The NRL has a long history of making change for the sake of change. A 23 man squad means nothing to the fans... lets be honest.

[Tommy Smith]

So how does this work? Can a team run out on game day with a player that wasn't named in the original 21 man squad?
It's a kind of meaningless change, if it can. That said, I don't really have a problem with ducks and drakes. Better if everyone's aware that team lists are only guidelines.
If you're stupid enough to bet on sport, then you should be aware that you won't always have all the info.

No they have to request special dispensation from the NRL to play someone from outside the 21. I.e. they have to have a good reason.

Personally I love the change. No more last minute shenanigans from coaches to **** up my dreamteam.

[Jacks Fur Coat]

Good for the coach.

Bad for the fans.

Maybe a touch more realistic than cutting and pasting last week's team....but not much.

Tough on supercoachers.

[Moose]

I kinda like that we'll have an idea of who's (probably) the next in line to be called up in case of injuries

[roosterproud]

it will kill wyong picking a strong team every week

[John Corey]

I guess why is the question?

Of all the improvements the NRL could have been working on in the off-season this seems odd.

The NRL has a long history of making change for the sake of change. A 23 man squad means nothing to the fans... lets be honest.

The official reason seems to be they want fans to know who are fighting for spots in the 17.

But we all know how 'honest' the official reason usually is 😁

[Maxy Walker]

So the 21 includes the first 17 named in position. So it's really not much different to last year.

Is the 21 man squad just a Roosters thing for the fans or is it the new process for all teams? Looks like just a roosters thing to me. Much ado about nothing.

[Roosterfarian]

I think it may have something to do with the recent spate of player betting.

[Guest]

I think it may have something to do with the recent spate of player betting.

I agree

[Waylander]

Here's the full detail of the change, from NRL.com ...

In 2017, NRL.com and the 16 NRL clubs will announce squads of 21 players at 4.00pm on Tuesdays, with 19-man squads named 24 hours prior to kick-off for every match.
The team lists process was reviewed in the off-season with a goal to recommend the optimal future system for NRL matches.
The aim was to improve the accuracy of player information, including correct positional data, and to limit any potential integrity risk to the game through an improved team announcement procedure.

Every Tuesday at 4.00pm Sydney time, NRL.com and each club will announce a 21-man squad consisting of 17 "Active" players named in position, with a maximum of four additional players named as "Reserves". (The Warriors squad will be released at 3.00pm Sydney time [5.00pm Auckland time] on Tuesdays.)
Then 24 hours before each game kicks off a 19-man squad, only from players included in the initial 21-man squad, is selected with 17 "Active" players named in position and a maximum of two additional players named as "Reserves". For example:

• • Wednesday 8.00pm announcement for teams playing at 8.00pm on Thursday
• • Thursday 8.00pm announcement for teams playing at 8.00pm on Friday
• • Friday 7.30pm announcement for teams playing at 7.30pm on Saturday
• • Saturday 4.00pm announcement for teams playing at 4.00pm on Sunday

Then one hour prior to kick-off a final team of 17 active players is confirmed, only selected from players included in the 19-man squad.
Clubs wanting to bring in a player from outside the 21-man squad or the 19-man squad after they have been announced must apply for an exemption which will be evaluated by the NRL's Head of Football on a case-by-case basis.

Other Rules:

• • Players named as "Reserves" on Tuesday will still be able to be named in the starting sides of NYC and NSW/QLD Cup
• • Any players included in the 19-man squad will be deemed ineligible for selection in the final 17-man squad if they play in a NSW/QLD Cup match prior to the NRL match
• • In each squad announcement, coaches are to endeavour to name teams with players in correct positions

NYC team lists will follow the same process, but their squad sizes at the three announcements are 23, 20 and 17 players.

[novice chook]

The new process makes complete sense to me - if an injured player is ready to play then he is named at the start of the week as part of the 21 man squad. If he's not named as part of the squad then he's not in the side for that round.

Don't know about you, but I'm sick of hearing that a bloke is out for 3-4 weeks only to see him return to the field in less than 7 days as a last minute inclusion. This way, there's a little more transparency about the whole process. Which can only be a good thing.