[quote="number 6":2s5xp3qc]anyone notice a reduced number of first team pre season matches, looks like most teams (apart from the leeds/wakey boxing day money maker) are only playing once vs SL opposition[/quote:2s5xp3qc] I wonder whether friendlies count towards the number of minutes players are allowed to play with the new rules coming in this year. Could be a factor potentially? There's also the guarantee of Super League clubs playing a lower league team in the Cup as the first competitive fixture, so clubs may look at that as an additional semi pre season match.

[quote="B0NES":1ilq43f6]Heard Rapana has picked up an injury now .[/quote:1ilq43f6] It’s not a bad one. Will miss Catalan and Wigan should be ok the week after.

[quote="Faithful One":39yp8819]I wonder whether friendlies count towards the number of minutes players are allowed to play with the new rules coming in this year. Could be a factor potentially? There's also the guarantee of Super League clubs playing a lower league team in the Cup as the first competitive fixture, so clubs may look at that as an additional semi pre season match.[/quote:39yp8819] Not sure if the playing minute guidelines are the same as those proposed for 2024? Those were primarily for forwards playing 25 games (totalling 80 mins) and backs 30 games, per season. Therefore, it is unlikely any player would get near those numbers when considering most forwards only play 40-60 mins per game, plus most players will miss a game or two through injury/suspension.

[quote="Rugby Raider":bmu08yys]Not sure if the playing minute guidelines are the same as those proposed for 2024? Those were primarily for forwards playing 25 games (totalling 80 mins) and backs 30 games, per season. Therefore, it is unlikely any player would get near those numbers when considering most forwards only play 40-60 mins per game, plus most players will miss a game or two through injury/suspension.[/quote:bmu08yys] Remember reading the below article how a few players would have met the threshold this year. Will take some thinking about for some clubs, can you imagine a player being unable to play in a Grand Final because he's played too many. Probably not going to be a problem for us though, maybe one day https://www.hulldailymail.co.uk/sport/r ... ore-target

[quote="Rugby Raider":bmu08yys]Not sure if the playing minute guidelines are the same as those proposed for 2024? Those were primarily for forwards playing 25 games (totalling 80 mins) and backs 30 games, per season. Therefore, it is unlikely any player would get near those numbers when considering most forwards only play 40-60 mins per game, plus most players will miss a game or two through injury/suspension.[/quote:bmu08yys] Remember reading the below article how a few players would have met the threshold this year. Will take some thinking about for some clubs, can you imagine a player being unable to play in a Grand Final because he's played too many. Probably not going to be a problem for us though, maybe one day https://www.hulldailymail.co.uk/sport/r ... ore-target

If Rapana is out, hopefully not serious, no issue with Moy starting at FB, have heard he is really impressing in training and some of the new overseas players have been shocked how good he has been.