This really sits alongside the thread about Academies for people really interested in the long term future of the game. The success Penrith are on the verge of now was created 8 or 10 years ago when Gus Gould and others put the Penrith Academy system in place. Not only has this led to this current squad of players, many of whom have been playing together since their early teens or earlier, but a growing number of Penrith produced players playing across the NRL. If we're serious about the game's future we have to have this 10 year outlook; not just the "throw money and get promoted / avoid relegation" issue we have as we live from TV deal to TV deal dwindling away.

IMO it's a two horse race between Penrith and Melbourne. Penrith look superb at the moment but they're bound to have a blip or a few injuries at some point.

While there is a lot of depth in the comp compared with SL there is still quite a disparity between bottom and top. Canterbury have been absolutely awful this year.

They're very good. Potentially too good in that their individual value as players is now way, way in excess of their cap room. I'd say that side gets broken apart spectacularly over the next couple of seasons.

If I were them I'd be looking to lose a game soon. They look unbeatable and you really don't want to go into the play offs with an unbeaten record, it'll just add so much pressure. Imagine going all season unbeaten and losing to Melbourne in the final. Ouch.

The competition this year is really exciting. Penrith are a joy to watch and Luai and Cleary are a great pairing. I don't think any SL team would make the 8 in the NRL at the moment. Our game looks laboured and slow in comparison unfortunately.

Not as good as the Halifax Panthers

This. 5 years ago I would say the top teams in SL could compete but not now.

Watching the NRL now the first thing which becomes so apparent is the speed of the game compared to SL. It looks like a different sport.

The 6 again rule has made a difference but SL has that rule and SL still looks very slow in comparison.

I think it's just really about they have better players. They are better athletes and the skill level of the players is just better.

The amount of unforced errors in SL doesn't help at all.

One difference between the two administrations is the NRL are always looking at what can be done to keep the game quick and secondly they are intent now on making sure the game is entertaining and not allowed to go back to the arm wrestle style which made the game a battle of attrition. During this period the NRL was a better competition for actual competitiveness but it could be argued SL was a better product in terms of entertainment value and excitement. That can't be said anymore!!!

SL will usually then piggy back on a rule the NRL brings in but when has SL ever talked about the speed of the game? When has SL ever talked about the importance of the game being entertaining and exciting?

It just carries on as normal every year with no real appraisal of how the game is at the elite level is being played. SL should be looking at the NRL and asking some serious questions about the difference between the two competitions.

I can certainly see why the NRL fans Aussie/NZ community in the UK are not really interested in Super League.