It's not fun, but Corey Horsburgh say the Canberra Raiders have the spine to take advantage of the NRL's new rules.
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The NRL have doubled down on last year's six-again rule in an attempt to speed the game up even further.
They've not only increased the scope of when the referee can call six again, but they've also removed scrums for when the ball goes out of play and brought in a tap instead.
It's designed to speed the game up, increase fatigue and open it up to create a spectacle for the fans.
But it's also led to injury concerns given the toll 2020 took on the players - especially those from the Green Machine.
Players are now wondering when they're going to catch their next breath.
The difference this season though is the players have had time during the pre-season to adapt, which wasn't the case last year when the six-again rule was first introduced following the coronavirus lockdown.
Horsburgh said Raiders head of physical performance Nigel Ashley-Jones had tailored their training to prepare them for what's to come.
The fiery redhead got his first taste of what to expect in the Raiders' pre-season trial against the Sydney Roosters.
He said it was especially tough given he was coming back from a foot injury.
But he'll likely have to bide his time before getting his next dose after the NRL banned him for the opening round after pleading guilty to drink driving.
Horsburgh was expecting to have to force his way back into the Raiders team through the NSW Cup.
He felt players like England internationals Josh Hodgson and George Williams, Dally M Medallist Jack Wighton and fullback Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad would be able to exploit the rule. And take advantage of tiring defences.
"It wasn't fun to play on the weekend, but it's one of those things - you've got to adapt," he said.
"There's nothing we can do, you've just got to adapt and most people will after the first couple of weeks.
"You'll probably see a few tired middles in the first few weeks of the comp. But we'll be ready for that.
"We've had a bloody hard pre-season so it's going to be good.
"Nigel and the staff get us ready for that stuff so we've just got to go out there and do it now. We've definitely done the work."
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Raiders centre Curtis Scott had concerns about the new rules translating into even more injuries.
He missed the final four rounds of the regular season and then the finals as well after breaking his leg last year.
Scott was part of a massive injury toll at Canberra last season, with the middle forwards hit especially hard.
They'll also be the ones who feel the full effect of the increase in the speed of the game.
"It'll be interesting to see how they go. It's going to speed up the game, but we saw last year there was an increase in injuries," Scott said.
"It's just one of those things you have a question mark over as a player.
"I thought the game's been going really good for 120 years and I don't know why they want to change the rules now and mix it up.
"I'm sure it will be more exciting for the fans at home, but you do have to remember the increase in injuries last year just from speeding it up that little bit more.
"With so many more six-agains it's going to be hard to just get a breath out there."
NRL ROUND ONE
Sunday: Canberra Raiders v Wests Tigers at Canberra Stadium, 4.05pm.