Quote: P-J "The 'scootathon' rugby mentality was the reason we were getting smashed by the Aussies/Kiwis. All we were doing is producing scooting hookers. The hope is that now we start producing hookers and 3/4s that can actual control a game without relying on getting 10 cheap metres by running from dummy half every play.'"
Perhaps it was just a coincidence, but during the period between the inception of SL and around 2008, when the quick PTB rules and wider defensive lines were changed, British RL managed to develop some great halfbacks like Long & Deacon, who had all the skills.
I think your recollection of that period is skewed for some reason. Yes, Saints exploited the gaps from DH (I'd say revolutionised DH play in the UK) and were always waiting for that player slow to get back into defence, but our gameplan was much more varied than that, and few other teams consistently utilised the DH to any great effect.
I reckon because Saints had the standout hooker of the SL era in Cunningham (backed up first by Higham, then by Roby), quite a bit resentment built up amongst other fans for the Saints style.
