NRL legend Ryan Hoffman has voiced significant worries regarding the new interchange rules set to take effect at the beginning of the 2026 season.
The former premiership-winner, known for his toughness on the field, has raised objections to this shift-one of several rule changes introduced this year-arguing that it may lead to more issues than it solves.
During an appearance on the Loose Carry Podcast, Hoffman highlighted his apprehensions about the conditioning and growth of players on the verge of selection.
"There's going to be a lot more problems than solutions that are coming out of this six-man bench. I really do," he remarked on the podcast.
"It concerns me for the development of a lot of players, especially that utility factor. Just the fact of being on the bench on the off chance you might be used. It really concerns me."
He continued to shed light on the complications arising from player injuries, warning that teams may hesitate to make critical decisions.
"All these players are under injury clouds. So we better keep him here, and then he doesn't play for four or five weeks. Then, probably the one week you do send him back, you then need him. It's going to make coaches even more gun-shy."
Hoffman believes these modifications will reshape the game, particularly by eliminating the need for players to shift out of position when specialist outside backs are available on the bench.
He illustrated this point by referencing the 2025 grand final, stating, "A great example was the grand final last year with the Melbourne Storm losing Jack Howarth to injury, and then putting in Tyran Wishart, who was their utility on the bench. Unfortunately for Tyran, it was probably the worst position for him to go to on the field in terms of effectiveness."