ThePrinter - strictly speaking I'd have to have played both SL and NRL to make the comparison. Since I'm highly unlikely to change thaty position, I'll have to go with the views of players who have, and my own perspective of how physically soft SL backs look when they first play NRL.

From a viewing persepctive, I'd argue the WCC matches summed up how much more physical the NRL teams are, with Sts and Wigan getting absolutely battered, to the point that people were raving about how good Nikorima and Hastings were for the Roosters. Like Luke Gale against Leeds, any half back can look good when their forwards are mullering the opposition.

Quite!!

I can tell you for definite that Brisbane started their 2015 pre-season in mid-November 2014. That's four months before Round 1 of the NRL, and three months before their World Club Series game at Wigan.

So their pre-season lasted longer than most England players off-season.

spot on, for me it can't be argued the NRL sides are far more conditioned than SL teams.

England players represent a tiny proportion of the SL as a whole and a number of them play in the NRL - how is it the likes of Cooper, Widdop, Hodgson etc can still perform in the NRL at a high level with a shorter pre season

Lets not forget these are PROFESSIONAL sportsmen who are PAID MONEY to play the game.

These are not people who work full time in an office and train twice a week.

Its NO excuse for poor fitness nor playing too many games meaning they are crap.

This is NOT soccer.


PS - Roosters put 40 on Skints. Roosters are 2nd bottom of the NRL - go figure.

Played 50 minutes today, and scored a nice try in a good win against Brisbane.

Still not playing his best though, he should have tackled Roberts on his try (but so should Mansour to be fair) and could have had another had he drifted inside later in the game

No working full time in an office and training twice a week is far, far easier.

Soccer has exactly the same problems as RL. Poor amateur and youth coaching and too many games in too short a time period.

Very very few RL players aren't fit enough. We're talking less than 0.5%.
They might not be conditioned in the right way. They might be too big, or not big enough. But there's a tiny proportion who aren't fit enough.

These fellas are taking massive impacts that are far in excess of anything that happens on an amateur pitch and they're taking far, far more of them. It doesn't matter how well prepared you are for that there is a limit as to how quickly you can recover from it. We've all felt a bit sore the next morning after an amateur game. These lads are struggling to get down stairs and to walk the next morning and the effects last until about the Tuesday or Wednesday after a Friday night game.

No, these definitely aren't people who work in an office and train twice a week.

There was some shocking defence in that game.

Hardaker did ok, a few slip up's, isn't looking outstanding. Defo a personal pass mark. But can't see Penrith giving him a deal over one of their juniors.

Hardaker got to Roberts and should have brought him down. Its a shame he didn't because it was very good play for him to get across field to be in a position to make the tackle. He still looks a bit behind the general play, which is understandable, but looked far more comfortable in the centres.

I reckon he'll be in the NRL next year. He's playing off the bench because whilst he's not quite there he can cover 1-5 which is pretty handy. An off-season would give him the chance to bulk up and train at fullback, which is still where I think he'll end up.