Essentially Warrington won on Saturday as they were not as bad as Wigan. They did try their best to hit the suicide button, but Wigan were simply not clinical enough to exploit it. Two very average sides. Or at least that was the hypothesis.

After the disappointment of Saturday I have been watching some old Wigan games, not to cheer me up, but to answer a question that came into my head repeatedly throughout the game- what on earth has happened to the standard of play/player in RL in the UK?

The harsh reality is that in the last 15 years the only area in which the game has moved on is fitness/strength.

In almost every other area it has gone backwards. There are fewer superstars, less entertaining football (maybe connected to the first one, maybe not), and certainly less "memorable" games.

I asked myself "Surely the CC cannot be responsible for ALL of this". Sadly I found myself time and time again coming to the conclusion that it has.

The CC is a very powerful weapon in RL in the UK, it effectively drags down teams to the lowest average level (it has to mathematically, and thus by it's very nature breeds mediocrity).

"But they have a CC in Austrailia and that works". Well yes and no. They do have one, but the level of media attention ensures that a top players earnings outside his direct salary in Oz will earn far more than one over here.

"They have one in American Football" - yes, however, that is in a country where there is no viable alternative to playing Gridiron (if you are cut out for that type of game), oh and there is also the massive absolute difference in the cap, not to mention sponsorship/other earnings opportunities.

The difference in the UK is that the CC is really hurting the product on display. Few people notice this as the process has been a gradual one over time. Watching video's of how RL used to be played rams home this blunt fact.

Not surprising when we lose players such as:

www.swinglow.net/news/viewarticle.asp?id=21584


Which brings us back to the display on Saturday. We can't blame the players (on both sides) for not being up to it. They did their best. The truth is they are simply not as talented as those who would have competed in the same game 15 years ago.


Yet who is really to blame for the continued acceptance of this mediocrity? Well people like me. In just over 2 weeks time I will trudge down to Wembley, as I have done for 20 odd years and watch the game. I now realise I am giving tacit approval to the CC in principle, and more importantly to it's effect on the game.

Well this will be the last time I do it. Enough is enough. I am no longer prepared to accept a second rate spectacle. If I had wanted to see "competitive" or "level playing field" games, I would go and watch Amateur RL.

In 10 years in order to see true talent I believe RU will be my only option.

Essentially Warrington won on Saturday as they were not as bad as Wigan. They did try their best to hit the suicide button, but Wigan were simply not clinical enough to exploit it. Two very average sides. Or at least that was the hypothesis.

After the disappointment of Saturday I have been watching some old Wigan games, not to cheer me up, but to answer a question that came into my head repeatedly throughout the game- what on earth has happened to the standard of play/player in RL in the UK?

The harsh reality is that in the last 15 years the only area in which the game has moved on is fitness/strength.

In almost every other area it has gone backwards. There are fewer superstars, less entertaining football (maybe connected to the first one, maybe not), and certainly less "memorable" games.

I asked myself "Surely the CC cannot be responsible for ALL of this". Sadly I found myself time and time again coming to the conclusion that it has.

The CC is a very powerful weapon in RL in the UK, it effectively drags down teams to the lowest average level (it has to mathematically, and thus by it's very nature breeds mediocrity).

"But they have a CC in Austrailia and that works". Well yes and no. They do have one, but the level of media attention ensures that a top players earnings outside his direct salary in Oz will earn far more than one over here.

"They have one in American Football" - yes, however, that is in a country where there is no viable alternative to playing Gridiron (if you are cut out for that type of game), oh and there is also the massive absolute difference in the cap, not to mention sponsorship/other earnings opportunities.

The difference in the UK is that the CC is really hurting the product on display. Few people notice this as the process has been a gradual one over time. Watching video's of how RL used to be played rams home this blunt fact.

Not surprising when we lose players such as:

www.swinglow.net/news/viewarticle.asp?id=21584


Which brings us back to the display on Saturday. We can't blame the players (on both sides) for not being up to it. They did their best. The truth is they are simply not as talented as those who would have competed in the same game 15 years ago.


Yet who is really to blame for the continued acceptance of this mediocrity? Well people like me. In just over 2 weeks time I will trudge down to Wembley, as I have done for 20 odd years and watch the game. I now realise I am giving tacit approval to the CC in principle, and more importantly to it's effect on the game.

Well this will be the last time I do it. Enough is enough. I am no longer prepared to accept a second rate spectacle. If I had wanted to see "competitive" or "level playing field" games, I would go and watch Amateur RL.

In 10 years in order to see true talent I believe RU will be my only option.