I agree. Also Tom Briscoe would never have scored those 5 tries at Wembley if he wasn't good at running fast & zig-zaggy and let's be honest here.. Kevin Sinfield wouldn't have kicked half as many goals if he wasn't good at kicking goals.

Maybe Zak should take passing lessons from Billy Slater? Genius that guy.

Billy Slater plays a key role in many Storm attacking plays, including passing the ball.

Why so defensive? Are you suggesting that Burrow and Hardaker don't have those flaws and they aren't actually quite important in the roles they play?

They are examples of players who have had stellar careers in England but would be very different players if they were in the NRL. Burrow would have had to learn to kick and pass or simply not play NRL. Hardaker would need to pass to play full back. There's a direct comparison for Hardaker in Josh Hoffman, who had a very similar tendency to die with the ball far too often at the Broncos. His good defence and strong runnng got him a gig as NZ fullback. Wayne Bennett took one look at him and got rid in favour of a fullback who could pass. At the Titans he's been told he's a centre or nothing.

The point is that in SL these players not only survive but thrive. In the NRL they pretty soon get found out and either work hard on their game to get rid of their flaws or end up discarded.

I have to disagree. I dont think the cap would need to be 'astronomical' for us to compete. The fact is that had the cap kept pace with inflation from when it was introduced we would be looking at a cap of nearly a million more. If it had kept up with inflation from what wigan were spending in 2001 it would be 3.5m which is roughly what the aussies are spending.

Another thing is that the difference between NRL and SL sides isnt every player. Its the marginal talents. I dont agree that Hardaker would be back in the reserves. He is comfortably NRL quality. I think most leeds players are capable of being NRL players. The main difference between Leeds and NQC is that Leeds have 2 or 3 players who arent NRL quality at first team, and outside that probably none, and NQC have 2 or 3 players who are way above SL quality, and a squad access to 30 maybe 35 players who can do a job at NRL level.

There isnt a huge difference in my opinion between most players at Leeds, Wigan, Saints etc and those in the NRL. But their best is better and our worst are worse.

Burrow wouldn't be a halfback in the NRL with his current skill set. Hardaker's physical attributes would mean he'd play but probably on the wing, or centre at a push. Full back is a key playmaking role in virtually every NRL side. A player who dies with the ball too often simply won't last there.

Strength in depth I agree is a huge difference.

The point about the cap is that it hasn't kept pace. Its fallen a long way behind so from today it would need a big leap to even get close.

I think all things considered lilley was good. By that I mean taking into account age, experience, the opposition and injuries to the squad. That said he has a long way to go. Those saying he should be our 7 need to just slow down a touch. Let the kid develop at a sensible pace.

As for sutty, I remain on the fence. However, I did think this was his best game so it probably shows he has been a little under cooked since his injury. Hopefully this is the start of both his fitness and confidence coming back.

It will be interesting if Falloon is fit at the weekend.

The suggestion had been if the SL cap were raised to the same level as the NRL cap. In which case we could compete for the best players as I said. If SL wants to increase the standard of rugby and attract bigger attendances, sponsorship and TV fees it will have to attract some class from outside if it cannot produce the talent locally. It is a business decision really. Of course we have to invest and improve the development of junior rugby but that will take time before we start to see the results. In the meantime we face the risk of losing support from those that don't want to watch a second class product.

You can increase the salary cap but you cannot create a SOO which is a major driver for top Australian players wanting to remain in the NRL. You cannot get away from the gulf in standard and the desire of the very best players wanting to test themselves at the very highest level. Add to that the country - Sydney/Brisbane - Leeds/Wigan - its a no brainer. It isn't just about money - having more money to spend doesn't mean you will attract the correct type of player that will enhance the competition

If Zac turns out to as good as Billy Slater he will be the full back this country has produced for a very long time - the fact you are unable to acknowledge his short comings suggests you need to remove your blinkers.

As for Briscoe - you could have scored some of those trys - the weakness of the opposition that day was an embarrassment to one of the two show piece events in our calender. Leroy Rivett scored four in a similar game I would suggest scoring loads of trys at Wembley is hardly a pointer to greatness

Lighten up Sal FFS, it was a joke. You don't have to be a boring pessimistic old fart EVERY day, take a day off. It'll do you good.

Not defensive, just trying to point out how silly your post was. EVERY player has flaws and if you discard the skills that make most great players stand out (like Rob's ability to find a gab and break a game) then they end up not looking so great... Hardaker's passing ability will improve but regardless he's still the best in SL and despite what the Aussie fan boys think he would definitely hold his own in the NRL.

No I didn't. You missed his point and are now trying to put words into his mouth.

Sutcliffe's been back for 3 games Juan, give him a break FFS. I thought he did OK on Sunday, showed some glimpses. He'll get there over the coming weeks. Were you writing Stevie Ward off after 3 weeks back?

Lilley is in no way ready for SL but he looks like he's going to be very special indeed.

There is absolutely no reason we can not have a SOO if we get the comp right first. Increasing the cap is an absolute no brainer where we currently are. I don't think under any means we can go like the Aussies, as that is just not affordable, but a 2 million cap now along with the marquee player rule would enhance our competition massively going forward.

Once teams are spending this and on the right quality, then you look at some form of SOO. Remember the kiwis are still quality players and they don't do SOO. I would be more keen in attracting back our English star players who also don't play SOO.

We need first and foremost to get rid of magic weekend, and have a proper marketed nines competition like they do in Australia. It would generate so much more publicity than Magic weekend, and much more fun.

The money situation that you say it isn't all about, to a degree is correct, but because of the low cap, it reduces the motivation for players to stay in our game, and or stay in our competition.

In no way am I writing off Sutty who I regard as a good player with great potential and he deserves time to overcome his serious injury. I do though have reservations as to his future as a 6 which are not based on 3 games back! It is based on all his games so far at SL level. I have also said however that youngsters have to be given time to develop and this applies to Sutty too and I am happy that he continues his run in the first team.

I have to disagree with you regarding Lilley who I think is ready for SL and who I think would look even better playing alongside Mags.

I just don't see what difference an extra £200k will really make though I'm not particularly against a small increase like that. Though we always have to remember that as we'd probably only have around 7 or 8 teams able to spend that extra money is how that actually effects the spending. Does it go on higher quality players from the NRL or does it go on retaining current players who may have moved to another club in SL. Also we have to think, will that extra £200k to be taken from other operations in the clubs such as backroom staff, management, marketing etc?
I agree to a point on the SOO, I don't think it would ever be as big as SOO is in Australia though. But the principle of an intense, 3-game rep series I think is achievable.

As for the 9's, nah. It's never ever going to get any meaningful coverage or profile and the Magic Weekend has potential for being a useful expansion tool, it also got roughly twice as many people attending as the NRL nines did.
Personally I think we should use the 9's concept as an international comp like the 7's to help develop other nations rather than as a domestic club comp.