Quote: Keith Swiftcorn "1. The introduction of Catalans Dragons into Sooper Dooper League was supposed to raise the playing standards of French RL on the international stage. Instead, they've gone backwards as their results and performances testify. '"
Thats not really true, and a fair bit too early to judge.
Quote: Keith Swiftcorn "
2. The introduction of Sooper Dooper League a decade and a half ago was supposed to raise the playing standards of British/English RL on the international stage. Instead, they've gone backwards as their results and performances (post Sooper Dooper League era) testify.
'"
That again isnt true. The players these days, even simply down to fitness and tactics are better than they were, they havent gone backwards. What we have failed to do is advance as quickly as Australia and certainly new zealand.
Quote: Keith Swiftcorn "3. Pitching England against a motley crew of disinterested overseas, surplus to requirements, no longer good enough, pensioned-up, tax-havened, ex-NRL retirees is hardly the kind of preparation for competing against NRL-based Aussies and Kiwis in proper Tests. It's pitching one set of Sooper Dooper League standard players against another set of Sooper Dooper League standard players who will never attain the requisite playing standards to compete successfully against the best NRL standard players.'"
that is true.
Quote: Keith Swiftcorn "4. Sooper Dooper League screwed international RL and the only competitive teams worth watching and playing to a high standard worthy of international recognition these days are Australia and New Zealand.
5. The rich history of international RL (pre-Sooper Dooper League obviously) has been flushed down the toilet with the loss of GB and the loss of proper tours, to be replaced by some entity called England which has little to no historical international RL relevance.
HTH'"
This is massively untrue. There are many many more international sides, playing many many more international games. It is a disservice to a lot of what is happening in the game outside of the NRL and SL to dismiss their growth since the advent of SL.
