Short memories for sure. When we won the double most fans noted that it was because the competition was so poor. Our run to the final in th CC in 2013 our average score was something like 48-4. And we were dreadful for most of last year but finished 2nd and won SL.

The drop in standards was predictable. Its been ongoing as we're continually downgrading the quality of overseas players and are losing many of our best to the NRL due to cap differences, and no longer have RU to draw on for talent - and we'll continue to lose a few players that way as well.

The only way to improve is to focus all efforts on youth development. Its a long, slow process but its also sustainable - being a parasite on another league (NRL) or even sport (RU) hid how dreadful our development efforts have been almost since the sport started if we're being honest.

One of the things I do miss since the inception of superleahue and the advent of summer RL.. is the opportunity for top players to guest with clubs at the other side of the world... as a trinity fan I loved seeing players like Geoff Gerard, Wally Lewis, Steve Ella, Ray Price... even Dave Topliss took his opportunity to guest with Penrith and Balmain to become s better player.

And that poor development was pre the X box revolution, something that has severely damaged the numbers of juniors entering many if not all sports.
I dont know how to bring about the change but, somehow, more kids have to want to be involved at school level, which hopefully leads on to them wanting to carry on at their local club.
Many amateur sports are struggling for numbers and without this, the quality at the top will diminish.

Let's be honest. We know what the answer is. It's just unpalatable to some

I actually agree the standard of SL has gone down but I think it's more entertaining now the league is closer.

Let's also be fair about this, who's to blame that the big clubs can no longer attract better quality imports or bring through the next gem ??? If Wigan/Saints/Leeds/Wire/Bradford have declined in quality who is to blame ??? If when you lose a player you replace them with similar quality then the standard should at minimum stay the same !!! Fans of Wigan and Leeds need to look at there own house to ask why they aren't bringing through players of the sufficient high standard or recruiting a top Aussie after all we have 2 marquee options available now which is more than we had ten years ago. Stevie Ward and Jimmy Keinhorst are never going to be Sinfield or Senior.

I dont think that you can blame the clubs.
It's more to do with the "draw" of RL in this country, compared to Union or NRL, both of which have substantially more money to throw at any player, if they wish to entice them into their game, we just haven't been able to keep pace with either of these.
Union has massive appeal on the international stage, which has seen interest shutter down to club level.
The numbers watching the Club sides continues to increase, whereas RL spectator numbers, particularly in SL, are in steady decline.

I agree that SL is far more interesting when any team can beat each other, apart from Cas
Whether this encourages more fans to watch the game, I dont know but, it would appear not and we are going backwards, in relation to many other sports.

Yes, but as i pointed out earlier, We (Leeds) won the treble two years ago with an inferior squad to any we had in the 00's imo. And this year sit joint second at the moment and well placed with easily the worst squad wev'e had since we won our first SL title in 2004 so where is the incentive for the club to chase all these star big names anyway if what we have is good enough to compete for the prizes?

You can probably partially blame the RFL for in real terms keeping the Salary Cap static and not fit for purpose to compete against the NRL and RU.
We,ve got less participitation at the grass roots level, only a handful of clubs are running reserve teams and the u/23s has been replaced with dual reg.
.
The quality players in the NRL has dropped off a bit and the players are carrying on a few more years before retiring, these means the pool of players coming over to Superleague are less World and International class.
.
If clubs manage to have a decent pair of half backs then that club has an advantage at the moment and that's what you are seeing in the top 4 this season. Wigan, Warrington, Saints have struggled in this department and are struggling with there attack structures.

I disagree about Ward, he will go on to be a fantastic player.

The point is that these players exist, they just dont play in SL. We have gone from a league which imported the likes of Lauitiiti, Lyon, Vianikolo, Barrett, Webb etc to an exporter of our best and the ones we recruit arent of the same level.

At Leeds it's because we are actually trying to get our house in order with us building 2 new stands that we aren't splashing the cash on players. Also with Leeds when you're talking about the best decade in a clubs history it's a bit unrealistic to expect the bar to remain at that level and we are still 2nd favourites with the bookies for the main two trophies so not exactly too bad. Lets see if Cas can keep this up year upon year upon year before criticising successful clubs for eventually having low periods.

Personally whilst the standard of players may not be as high I think the problem is exasperated by the style of play with the focus on the wrestling at the ruck and many more defenders in the tackle (just watch a full game for 10-15 years ago and see the difference), increased number of interchanges I think helps this style and a reduction of interchanges could help. Also the refereeing standard has really dropped and is really hurting the game. Too many of the refs are whistle happy and have a poor ability to let a game flow. If we had some of these refs in charge 10/15 years they've managed to spoil many a good game. Finally the constant lack of getting close to a first choice 17 out on the field really hurts. Nearly every team are having bad periods with 6-9 first teasers out and it simply like that a decade or so ago, you might have had 2/3 teams suffer at most. Can't recall Leeds having a injury hit 7/8 guys out at once period at any point from 2004-2009, I think we've had one every season since 2013 now.

So why are more players picking up injuries ?

Ive no idea because according to the BIG club fans the sport is weaker and less aggressive now.

Can't we have a debate on the VT without the massive chips on Cas and Wakey fans shoulders taking over?