In Combat beta, see how it goes. in game plz.
The simple niche of the extra range provided by not even just halberds but by the small number of melee weapons has got to go by becoming the standard for all melee 2hs. Melee no longer has any benefit to being close and exposed to extra damage as it did years ago. All combat styles now have the capability of doing high damage as much or even more than melee, the only problem is that melee is largely limited to doing so at the expense of taking more damage due to the proximity it is limited too. The only exception being when using a melee weapon that has this 2 tile range like the noxious scythe.
The jagex team is now planning to release a new tier 95 2 tile 2h melee weapon when melee already has more high lvl weapons than any other combat style. A new high tier melee weapon is unnecessary when melee already has so many, notably when they are looking to give effects and special attacks to the ezk and masterwork sword.
Range is crucial for gameplay and without this extra range melee is severely limited to the aoe damage it can do, notably when compared to the other combat styles, ranged, magic, and necromancy all have great aoe damage, but melee doesn't unless it has this extra tile range. Limiting melee to this only serves to weaken it and places it at the bottom when compared to all other combat styles, notably when it has little to nothing to gain from it.