Who can sit on the team bench, and can we use phones or radios?

Under NSWRL Policy 4.33, these team staff and players may be seated at a team bench during a match:

• A maximum of two coaches (coach and assistant coach).
• One team manager.
• Up to three sports trainers.
• A doctor, if available.
• Up to seven interchange players, depending on Local League interchange rules.
• Up to two ball persons per team.

Coaches must hold an appropriate coach accreditation, and at least one must hold an age appropriate accreditation for the team. Sports trainers must remain quiet and seated at the bench unless undertaking their duties. In Under 6 to Under 12 matches a team may use a maximum of two sports trainers, and in Under 13 and above a maximum of three. Injured players from a participating team, and unregistered non-participants, are not allowed inside the playing enclosure or at team benches.

Under Policy 4.12, walkie-talkies, mobile phones and other electronic devices on the field of play or within the playing area cannot be used for communication between team staff. The only exception is using a phone or tablet to display Match Day Cards for player and team staff identification, or for live scoring.

It is a breach of the rules for a player, coach, trainer, manager or other official to approach a referee or touch judge before, during or after a game to seek a rule explanation or for any other reason directly relating to a game.