Quote tristram="tristram"Did you actually read my post and the one that it was answering - you know, the one that stated that we'd miraculously broken up the top four? Yes, the one that I disagreed with. I.e. I'm all in favour of a BETTER competition, its what you define as better....
With regard to that then you have answered your own question and agreed with me: The net result has been a "reduction in overall standards" - a levelling based on dragging excellence down into mediocrity. Ok, the scores are much closer whoopydo!
As for your point about the Aussie league I don't see its relevance as they do not have the same problems and constraints as RL faces in this country, e.g. limited player pool, media coverage (in fact they've recently had rather too much for their liking!), a long season, etc.'"
We are coming from the same area of viewpoint on a few things but I can`t really agree that standards have dropped because some teams aren`t as strong, vis a vis the competiton, as they once used to be. The self same number of top quality players is still there. They`re just not all playing for the same four clubs.
Incidentally, much as you`ve highlighted a supposed "quote" from me that "overall standards had dropped" that isn`t what I said. I actually said that the standards of the top had been reduced and the standards of the bottom had been raised.
There is actually no such thing as levelling up or levelling down; you just level. What we have is the natural consequence of that levelling, and much as the Bulls have probably suffered more than most in the process, for me it is undeniable that the league is actually stronger for it, and this is entirely due to its more competitive nature brought about by a more even competition. The fact that supporters of ALL clubs now go to games feeling they have a good chance of winning is something to be celebrated not denigrated imo.
You have touched upon the things which need addressing if we are to improve the overall standard, the player pool, for instance and the RFL have taken the first steps towards spreading the game wider, but clearly this will take time and, of course, may never work anyway. To be honest I give up on the media over here, though the now, apparently thriving, university league may go some way to redressing the balance. As a bare minimum the next generation of reporters should now have no excuse for ignorance.
