Quote: Barrie's Glass Eye "While I agree with the general sentiment, the lack of creativity is something the Aussies also seem to be struggling with because as good as Penrith lead by Moylan and the excellent Cleary where, the doggies were turgid and have been for the last month. Forwards making metres all day (Klemmer had over 200 I think) but little strike and end product produced by their pivots, granted Morris was on one leg for most of it.
I think as a game we are seeing less skill or flamboyance or whatever you want to call it, and it's not all due to better defences.'"
The Doggies are stuck in a time warp - they haven't changed the style of play in years - huge over-reliance on the 'mean machine' and they have a pair of halves that are simply not fit for purpose - put Thurston or Milford on the end of that forward pack and you would see a huge difference. Hassler like McDermott has reached the end of the line - he is a dinosaur and his teams play like they are stuck in the stone age.
The game in Australia is in transition - some of the attacking play this year has been extraordinary. The emergence of teams like the Raiders, Sharks Broncos and Panthers who play a more expansive style is the future and it no surprise the likes of South Sydney are nowhere to be seen. The lead boots they wear to help the wrestle only stops them falling over when they are grasping thin air when the more agile sides just run past them.
Melbourne are the only rigid format team still left in the comp. they have the best coach and the best technical players who play to a system that accommodates everybody - they
On the Panthers they played without half backs today - one pass apart Cleary did nothing in open play and Cartwright plays as a back row forward. Moylem and Mansour ran the show both were superb