KIERSTEN DUKE: Ivan Cleary and Ricky Stuart should be free to play whichever NRL stars they like

Ricky Stuart picked up where Ivan Cleary left off this week by resting 10 of his players for the final NRL round after the Penrith coach benched 16 of his squad the week before.

While it’s well within the rules for teams to rest players, it’s sparked debates between fans and experts alike. A heated discussion which is seemingly becoming a re-occurring event.

It’s renewed calls for the NRL to mimic its great rival, the AFL, and introduce a pre-finals bye round. But I think the NRL should keep its season structured as it is. While I am all for the athletes’ health coming first, I believe that’s what bye rounds are for.

If you’re one of the teams who have worked hard enough to guarantee a place in the finals, then you have earned the privilege of resting players later on in the season while other teams still fight for their place.

I agree with Billy Slater who said the season was long enough and it doesn’t need to be made an extra week longer. The one issue the Panthers move did cause was a slight betting scandal when news of the shake-up got out before the teams were announced and informed punters backed the Bulldogs resulting in them quickly became the favourites when they were heavy outsiders. The critics of the mass resting of players say it cruels TV ratings and crowd numbers. Not to mention it seems unsportsmanlike and isn’t a good look for the brand.

Neither of the NRL’s broadcasters have come out blasting the mass resting of players with several News Corp journalists backing the moves on Fox League this week.

While I can imagine the broadcasters are far from thrilled when they hear the biggest teams in the league are resting their marquee players, the numbers show it doesn’t have a catastrophic impact.

Thursday night’s game had Penrith’s NSW Cup team run out into Accor Stadium to take on the Bulldogs, who were just one win away from cementing a top four position. A Thursday night game against a reserve grade team. You’d expect dwindling crowd numbers but rather a healthy 23,000 turned up. Mostly Bulldogs supporters who are caught in the whirlwind of a rapidly approaching finals appearance, but even then, you wouldn’t have been shocked to see Penrith fans rock up to support the next generation of club stars. After all, the Panthers Pathways are renowned for producing world-class players. You know that even with their reserves you’ll be watching a class game of footy.

If I was a club who worked tirelessly on producing some of the best players to ever grace the footy field, I too would use my up-and-coming talent if it meant having the advantage of fresh legs for my marquee players when it counted the most. Some would say that’s poor sportsmanship. I would say it’s hard work behind the scenes paying off. A world-class pathways system isn’t there to look pretty, it’s there to be utilised.

With four grand final wins under their belt, it’s clear however Penrith manages its squad is working. Why would they care about TV ratings when there’s a grand final at stake? I don’t think fans are too fussed about not seeing their favourite big-name players for one week if it means a premiership title.

If the Panthers achieve the unachievable and win for the first time from outside the top four to claim a record fifth-straight premiership few will be talking about the round 26 loss to the Bulldogs and who played and who didn’t.

Working in the media myself, I can see the points being made about the NRL as a brand. But on this occasion, I’m backing the players.