hes looked very average since being back at newcastle. he doesn't get to steal cheap meters like he did in superleague and defences are tighter. i think hes just moaning about the speed of the ruck in the nrl so he will look better again.

Wayne Bennett would disagree with you
So well is hooker Danny Buderus playing for the Knights - having returned to the club after three years playing for Leeds in the Super League - the mastercoach had no choice but to declare the 34-year-old ready for selection. Already.

"I just don't know where we'd be without him," Bennett said after his side's 20-6 victory over competition leaders Canterbury at ANZ Stadium yesterday. "He's been absolutely outstanding to the club. I hope age is not an issue for Origin, because if his form dictates that he should be there, I'd love to see him play there.

"I can't give him a big enough rap. He's a 10-out-of-10 bloke on and off the field. He is what you'd call a real deal. He really is."[/i

He's absolutely right - a lot of NRL games look like two sides performing tackle drills; they're allowed so much time to lay on and climb all over each other that the defensive line is virtually always perfectly set and the players seem happy to settle in to 'the grind' and just cart it up with high percentage plays.

It's a very efficient brand of rugby but can be very dull to watch.

Indeed, it's always dull watching Australians play rugby league against one other, apart from when they play us of course when they are richly entertaining... I wonder why?

North Queensland put 50 past the Rooster, NZ vs Souths was 44-22, Wests beat Penrith 30-0 and Brisbane beat Canberra 30-6.

Mind you I thought the Storm-Dogs game was Dull considering they're the top 2 teams at the minute. Canterbury's half backs didn't have a clue.

Fantastic game and great defence from the Storm on show. How they kept the Bulldogs out in that 2nd half when they had repeat set after set was amazing stuff. You've been watching too much low-intensity, namby pamby, high scoring, scoot scoot Super League games. But if games like Widnes 38 Saints 40 are more your go, feel free to fill yer "I feel so entertained" boots.

I agree re the Storm - pity that Canterbury didn't really ask them enough questions to really challenge their defence. Their half backs are not the most inventive tbf.

Was the same last week vs the Bunnies. Struggled to open up the defense and never looked like scoring tries.

Also didnt Joel Monaghan and Brett Finch both say that Super League was more attractive to watch also.

Just watched NZ Warriors vs South Sydney and this was a great game to watch!

The Bulldogs are missing their half back, when he was fit they did alright.

The Panthers-Tigers game was awful. ks may not like it, but a fair few people around the NRL are concerned with the quality of the entertainment. I agree with Brian Smith that a big fix isn't required, but refs could do more to tilt the balance away from defences being used to slow the game down. Calling 'held' earlier when massed defenders are in the tackle is one thing (the Storm use this tactic a lot to slow down the attack), as is simply enforcing the rules about defenders getting up and out of the way as quickly as possible.

Penrith's attack was terrible. With two refs I cant believe they allow players to be held for so long, the refs need to clamp down on this.

Definitely agree that the refs are way to lax around the ruck in the nrl. Need to tell them to move earlier and start penalising.

Entertainment value I personally prefer the nrl just cos there are enough very entertaining games and like it or not the defences are better. I don't want the sport to be defence orientated however I do think over here we have too many sides who give away so many easy tries its ridiculous.

The good thing about this is the nrl will listen if players, coaches, commentator's and most important the fans start to voice there disapproval.

Aussies moaning, give over

sadly entertaining doesn't win you games when playing against a very structured side.