NRL 2026: New rules explained, extended interchange, pre-season challenge schedule, how to watch, prize money, utility players, news, videos

The NRL’s pre-season challenge is the first chance to see the new rules changes which were confirmed by rugby league powerbrokers on Wednesday.

While a drastic change to the kick-off rulings were floated — they never arrived, leaving all but Wayne Bennett pleased.

The NRL’s statement confirmed changes to the rules surrounding trainers, the interchange bench, an accidental breach in-goal and where tackle counts can be restarted on the field.

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The changes, outside of the new interchange rules, will be first implemented this weekend while coaches will have a chance to experiment with a new-look bench from the season-opener in Vegas.

So how will these changes influence the game and what does the rugby league world think of them?

THE INTERCHANGE REVOLUTION

Arguably the biggest change of all will allow teams to pick a bench of six players, an increase from the four previously confirmed an hour before kick-off.

While coaches have six players on the bench at their disposal, only four are allowed to be used — with eight interchanges permitted across the 80 minutes.

Teams do not have to nominate which four players will be used in the game before the kick-off, representing a big win for coaches who can now cover a wider range of positions on their bench.

The influence of a bench utility could become lesser, with teams able to pick an out-and-out playmaker on the bench should their No.6 or No.7 go down.

The same goes for an outside back — with NRL coaches previously and traditionally limited to a forward-heavy bench.

This rule’s influence, however, won’t be on display in the pre-season challenge because coaches are granted an unlimited amount of interchanges from a 28-player squad.

For Sharks coach Craig Fitzgibbon, the bench revolution is a welcome one.

“There is that strategic element and it will be horses for courses because you’ve got to weigh up where your squad’s at,” he said to NRL.com.

“You’ve got to weigh up what you’ve got in your team and on your bench. We’ve got multiple players that can play multiple positions so we’ll go in with a plan and if that plan deviates, then we’ll adjust on the fly.

“If there’s an injury or a strategic change, you can implement it so it’s nice to have that option.”

Former Sharks, Warriors, Cowboys and Roosters halfback Chad Townsend, this change will be a “fascinating” watch, with utilities potentially on the chopping block.

“This is a really interesting rule, I have always been a bit of a traditionalist with rugby league… I’ve never been a fan of mass changes in the rules area,” he said on SEN.

“But this one will be interesting to watch. I think we will see more specialist players on the bench. We will see a definite halfback in that six-man rotation and even a fullback.

“A lot of people are talking about ‘is it the death of the utility’ now where coaches will have choice around what’s going on in the game.

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“Ultimately, it will be up to the players to go on and execute, I think plans will be in place but obviously scenarios will come up and that will dictate who goes on.

“It’s going to be a really fascinating watch.”

Sharks back rower Teig Wilton was also excited to see a wave of new players make their debuts with more players included in match-day squads.

“Two extra players on the bench opens up extra opportunity for players to get a game and then it also offers a bit more specialisation too,” he said.

“That utility player isn’t as necessary when you have a couple of extra players on the bench and it will be interesting to see how different teams go about it.”

IN-GOAL KNOCK ONS

There will be no seven-tackle set following a knock-on in-goal by the attacking team.

Therefore, wingers can throw everything they have into their aerial finishes — without the guilt of gifting their rivals an extra tackle.

This one is a welcome change and you can expect to see even more ridiculous attempts at grounding the ball this year and in the pre-season challenge.

THE TRAINER SHIFT

The third rule change is that trainers will be restricted from entering the field of play to prescribed and clearly defined circumstances.

This will ensure player safety remains the priority while reducing unnecessary intrusions by Trainers carrying messages.

However, Townsend explained that the shifts are limited to only the blue shirt trainer — and clubs will still be able to find a way to manipulate the use of their support staff.

“For me, I still feel like clubs can manipulate this rule to be honest with you,” he said.

“This rule is based around the blue shirt trainer who goes on and carries the messages. But there’s two other trainers every team is allowed.

“That’s the yellow shirt and the medical orange shirt. Teams can find a way to get a message on the field through those other changes.

“I don’t think it’s going to be a huge difference… I don’t see it as a massive change for the players.”

RESTARTING THE TACKLE COUNT

The final change implemented by the NRL is for certain infringements beyond the 20-metre line, the tackle count will restart, replacing the current 40-metre threshold.

Simply put, this one will speed up the game.

Now penalties won’t be awarded for those infringements, giving teams only a 20-metre window for a penalty and a break in play.

That leaves 80 metres of the field where set restarts are awarded, not penalties, meaning the game with inevitably have less stoppages.

For Townsend, the former premiership-winning halfback didn’t agree with this change.

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