Since 1978 for me...and not seen anything yet this season to compel me to watch any games live. Fingers crossed things will improve.



As has been said already can't believe Leeds have been caught with their pants down again with inadequate cover at hooker.



...and by hooker I mean somebody who can bloody defend up the middle

I'm sure the recent trophy hauls have helped enormously in keeping the depression at bay, even if it is patently obvious that the haul is due to the rest of the SL competition being dreadful. I can think of worse though. Having to watch St Helens for instance. That's about as turgid and depressing as it gets.





Trust me, it's been the case for as long as I can remember. I care because I'd like to pay to watch world class players playing top class RL somewhere fairly close to home soil. It's been a very long time since we've been afforded such luxury. The 1980's were domestically poor but at least we got to see some star quality players at clubs alongside a healthier international game.

Thanks for the advice





In future, I'll make sure I target pre-season NRL friendlies and NRL Round 1 instead of their play-off fixtures and Grand Final later on in the season because their playing standards will have dropped sharply by that stage.

Thats obviously not what I said, I just said that early rounds of the NRL have just as much potential to be great as the later ones, im saying most teams dont get significantly better over the course of the year, some peak quite early, therefore by the time teams enter round 1 they should be 100%

Again mate its almost like your talking rubbish, or just came on here to troll people???

This.Balanced and not too hysterical. And that was long way away from some of the dross i watched in the 80s as a kid withan error count higher than tbe score.

The NRL is a tougher competition but to suggest teams peak for round 1 - maybe the lower sides - defies logic, do you think Robinson expects the Roosters to improve over the season as he implements new plays, new tactics, new strategies or do you think his job is to maintain their current level?



Do you think if these games were re-played in April the results from the WCC series would be the same, better for SL or better for the NRL?

The SL will never be close to the NRL though, any sane person has known that for years. It's like expecting the Championship in football to get to the level of the Premier League it isn't going to happen due to resources.



Regards international RL, i really don't see how it was any healthier in the 80's when there were still just the big 3 nations playing the game to any sort of reasonable standard and we were getting hammered by the Aussies up until the shock win in the 88 series.

Do you even watch it? The Rabbitos best performance last year was clearly Round 1, they were nearly perfect in terms of completion rates, passing and kicking accuracy, tackle percentage etc. showing some teams do peak in round 1

Obviously some improved over the course of last year (Cowboys Sharks) but others got worse (Rabbitos Knights)



Dont know about WCC games, some SL teams dont seem to wake up until Summer when the playing standard noticibly increases, but I do think they should be played in late October, when both teams are more likely to be on top form and I would think they would be closer

Top thread this.



Bring back winter rugby, NRL is da bestest, biscuit legs, Leeds only won due to poor opposition, SL killed the game, summer rugby killed the game, why oh why can't life be like it was when I was 25 and everything was better, Sky killed the game, Southstand is full of horrible young people enjoying themselves....



Sorry if I missed any, i'm sure he'll fill in the gaps in due course.



Someone wake us up when he's spat his dummy and left the forum.... again....... for good..... again. Thanks.

You are only focusing on results there.

What about Kangaroo Tours?

Kiwi Tours?

GB Tours?

All played "during RL seasons" and not sidelined as mere end-of-season afterthoughts?

Have we got around to organising 2016 4N ticket sales and venues yet?

When was the last time we toured NZ for a 3 Test series?

When was the last time we played PNG in Goroka, Mount Hagen or Port Moresby?

International RL is an irrelevance today and no amount of RLWC legacy propaganda will alter that.

It used to be eagerly anticipated.

Today, it is seen as getting in the way.

The RFL blame the Aussies but are only interested in staging series at home.

Only Jeff wants to return to winter rugby.



There are a growing number of posters on here are seeing the standards for what they are. SL sides have played 6 games against NRL teams in the last two years with all the advantages in SL's favour and we have lost every game Surely that tells even you there is a gulf in the standards?



I personally believed Sky saved the game and have impacted it positively - playing in the summer has improved the standard on the field - it was pretty dire before.



The standards have dropped off alarmingly in the past 3 years - this has coincided with the increase in revenues in Australia and our inability to attracted both playing and coaching talent from down under.

Sal, when are all the key games played during your wonderful summer season?



I'll give you a clue... none are played during the summer months





SL exists as a buttplug for Sky Sports schedules during the soccer off-season. That's its only meaning and the real reason for its existence. The rest is propaganda.



Cricket and Tennis are summer sports.



The numerous footy codes are not.



Ask yourself this question... If playing during the summer is so beneficial, why aren't the other footy codes doing the same?