The NRL is considering a dramatic overhaul of its protocols for team announcements next year, as part of its efforts to safeguard against threats to the integrity of the game.
With fears surrounding gambling and match-fixing growing, the governing body is preparing a radical shake-up to its traditional Tuesday team announcements.
One of the options being considered is asking clubs to name a provisional squad on Tuesday afternoon, as is currently the case, with a limit on the number of players that can be named on an extended bench.
Clubs would then need to provide a revised line-up closer to kick-off, potentially 48 hours before, with a tighter limit on the number of players that can be listed.
Late change: The Cowboys handed an NRL debut to Kalyn Ponga on Friday night despite not naming him in the original squad.Credit: Bradley Kanaris
The team that takes the field would need to be chosen from the latter list, a move that would significantly reduce the number of late changes or the chances of a coach blooding a rookie without warning.
Such a system would also eradicate a coach's ability to bring in an unnamed player.
That scenario would provide a much stricter protocol than the existing system, whereby clubs can name a squad, with no limits on the size of an extended bench, on the Tuesday regardless of when their match is held.
Coaches often name 17-man squads that bear little resemblance to the line-ups that take the field on game day. Unannounced changes to squads have often been the subject of conjecture, with massive gambling plunges occurring when word has leaked about a star player being a late addition or withdrawal.
The presence or absence of the game's elite can shift betting lines by as many as eight points, making such information valuable to those looking to wager on the outcomes.
The NRL is pressure-testing a range of potential initiatives with a view to implementing them for season 2017.
Darren Murphy, an integrity risk management professional from Sportsafe Solutions, believes the mooted changes are an important initial step in protecting the integrity of rugby league.
"This is a positive first step to tighten up the procedures around the naming of squads, and the NRL integrity unit should be congratulated for taking a proactive step, given the issues it has faced in 2016," Murphy said.
This is a positive first step to tighten up the procedures around the naming of squads.
Sportsafe Solutions spokesman Darren Murphy
"As we know, a crucial element of any match-fixing or corrupt scheme involves those with 'inside information' using that knowledge to gain an unfair advantage, typically over the wider community.
"By shortening the window around the naming of squads, and not being able to bring in unnamed players at the last minute, this measure will hopefully be a step in the right direction to reduce the amount of change as to what was announced on a Tuesday [and] what runs out on Saturday or Sunday, thereby reducing – but not completely eliminating – the opportunity for people to trade off inside information in betting markets."
The NRL recently updated its code of conduct to bind all club officials including directors, administrators and football staff.
Those bound by the NRL rules are prohibited from wagering on rugby league matches. In relation to insider trading, the code states: "No club or person bound by this code shall provide, either directly or indirectly, information that is not in the public domain in relation to a match (whether, in each case, as to its outcome, its course or otherwise) or the progress of a team in the NRL competition, the National Youth Competition, the related competitions or the representative competitions which might assist another person to gamble in relation to that match or that progress."
NSW police have launched Strike Force Nuralda to probe match-fixing allegations, with dozens of NRL players and identities to be hauled before the Crime Commission.
At a press conference he called, former brothel owner and notorious punter Eddie Hayson said he did not fix NRL games.
Hayson also denied receiving inside information from a host of league identities, including former Newcastle halfback Andrew Johns or suspended Sydney Roosters recruiter Peter O'Sullivan.
"Inside information doesn't really exist in rugby league," Hayson said. "Somebody in or somebody out is neither here nor there … I don't bet on inside information."
Warriors CEO Jim Doyle, the former boss of the NRL's integrity unit, recently called for the governing body to revisit its protocols around team announcements, to prevent inside information being leaked for punting purposes.
CrownBet's Matthew Tripp – who is also a co-owner of the Melbourne Storm – is also behind a push to give clubs more time to name their teams so they more accurately reflect the sides that run out on game day.
The NRL has previously considered changing its team-naming protocols, but it is understood one of the reasons for aborting the plans was concerns its match-day program, Big League magazine, would be affected.
How the system could work
Initial squad: All 16 teams must name a squad on Tuesday, the number is yet to be determined, likely 20 to 25 players.
Revised squad: Teams would then be cut back to a smaller squad, about 19 to 20 players, announced a day or two before kick-off.
Final squad: Teams submit their final 17-man line-up of players who can only be chosen from the previously announced squads.