Newcastle legend Matthew Johns played in a time when forwards played big minutes.

Players like him and his brother Andrew knew the game and could take advantage of tiring big men.

Writing for The Daily Telegraph, Johns says coaches should butt out of the interchange debate.

“When coaches become guardians of the game, rugby league is in trouble” Johns writes.

“Everything they say and do is geared toward nothing more than this weekend’s two points.

“Coaches want to control every aspect of the game and put the game in one of those wrestling holds they coach so well.

“The reduction in interchange is all about taking control away from the coaches, freeing up the football. Loosening the grip on defensive superiority. Reducing the interchange from 10 to eight will do very little, reducing it to six will do plenty.”