I guess this means then the Crown Jewels such as Williams and Percival must be e then?

That's you opinion and I respect it... I just think it's a little tinted by a nostalgic haze...

In my nostalgic opinion there haven't been quality props since players like jimmy Thompson, Trevor Skerrett and Jim Mills ... and Kevin Ward has never been surpassed!

Which says more about the period, in which I first started watching the game...

That said I'm really enjoying Superleague this year as my team is doing well... funny that isn't it?

If you think it's tinted by nostalgia fine...ehafs your argument against. Which SL props are in that class?

As for it being about how my team is doing, you couldn't be.more wrong. My team is joint 2nd in the league. They are doing fine. It's not a great team. 2 years ago we won the treble, I don't think the 201t treble winning side were a patch on the 04 side the 05 side or the 08 side.

yep that points difference the giants have is like and extra point...

widnes and leigh to come at home too, certainly in the giants hands at the moment a top 8 finish which was the aim for 2017 after finishing bottom last year.

Not poop just not as good as the top players 10-15 years ago.

Is Percival better than Jamie Lyon?
Is George Williams better than Adrian Lam?

I dont think that the Giants have anything to worry about, they seemed to have turned the corner.
It's going to be a tough ask for KR (or any of the Championship clubs) to compete with the current bottom 4 in SL and the prospect of a French derby plus, some of the other games, the middle 8's again promises to be more enthralling than the top 8, where Cas look nailed on for the LLS.

Certainly wont be easy but it never will, the inclusion of 2 french sides will make it a lot more interesting as a side that has to go to France twice vs a side that gets them both in the uk will be a big factor.

The middle 8's is always more likely to be the better entertainment due to the points total being scrubbed, from a KR POV I hope one team runs away with it and wins all 7 and that will give us a better opportunity to get up and avoid the MPG (can't see it though)

We had some great centres...King,Lyon,Gleeson,Hape,Senior,McKenna,Gidley,Connelly etc..

We had some great halves.. Long, Briers, Sinfield, Lam, Deacon, Paul brothers, Barrett, Johns, Stacey Jones, Harris, Martyn..i could go on in all positions thats just off the top of my head.

I agree its good that the competition seems to have leveled up, but it has certainly been the big clubs dropping down in standards than a general rise for the usual lower down clubs.the star quality is thin on the ground in comparison to a few years ago and before, it's blatant and you are in denial if you think otherwise imo.

Thing is this has reared it's head because the big clubs aren't doing so well. When (or if) they get back to where they 'belong', I'm sure we won't hear a peep about player quality.

TBH there is an element of truth in it. I've seen a lot of SL games on Sky that aren't much better than what i've seen in the championship this year.

Maybe there is, but like I said whose going to be bothered about it when Wigan or Saints are back at the top.

Are we pretending that people haven't highlighted a quality issue for the last 3/4years?

Agreed.I very rarely watch SL unless it is Leeds these days. Maybe watch Cas but there is a lot of poop on show.

And the big club jealousy is nonsense. Agree with Smokey, my club sit second and may well win the double this year after the treble 18 months ago, still held this opinion for a few years.

Of course we won't. The 'big clubs' aren't doing so cracking, which must mean the whole comp is at their standard - as soon as that tide changes we'll see 'Super League back at it's best'. That's how it works after being in those lofty towers for so long.

Firstly, I agree that it's typical to overlook the actual quality of your side as long as it's winning. I'm as guilty as anyone of this.

Secondly, I do agree that our current crop of players is inferior to those of a decade ago. Some exceptions but as an average I believe it to be true.

What I would say though is that those bygone players would find playing the current game, with its better-organised defences, wrestling, holding down and synchronised tackles a much bigger ask than in their day. And I don't for a minute believe that all of them would excel.