We are talking about the elite here.

These are players that are always wanted, they are the commodity in demand and they are the ones that others want. They are also the ones we are losing. Paying them what they are worth isnt just a temporary solution it is the only permanent solution. There isnt going to be a time when the best rugby players in the world arent wanted elsewhere, there isnt ever going to be a time when we are producing so many that we are ok losing the best.

Some in RL seem to believe that if we play it safe long enough, if we keep this austere program of spending as little as possible, if we 'cut our cloth accordingly' we will somehow stumble in to a world where our time has come and RU will fall apart, the NRL will do likewise and we will be left with a clear run. Its not going to happen. What will happen is what is happening. We will be left behind.

The top 5 or 6 would be beyond the others for a reason. In actual terms Wigan are paying out about 50% of the wages they were when the cap was introduced, in real terms accounting for inflation its a fraction of that.

16 years of no rises and real term falls hasnt seen the others catch up either on or off the pitch. At what stage do we accept the SC isnt just not working, its hugely damaging?

we supposedly did, but its clear we didnt. I have never in RL heard Richard Silverwood give a penalty for 'repositioning in the tackle' i dont think we will hear that call again this year. Im not getting in to whether the refereeing in this series was good, bad or indifferent, but it wasnt SL interpretations.

I suppose that is one way of looking at it. To me atm it seems like the top of SL is attainable to most teams in SL with hard graft. Without a SC it would be the richest would prosper and the rest would fold trying to compete pretty much like in the early nineties when Wigan were flashing the cash.

ATEOTD the best way to solve this conundrum would be if we got a TV deal like the EPL. However we'd still probably make a mess of our sport

On a brighter note, At least the corner stone of this great side, the Burgess Twins, wear our international jersey.

this.
saints weren't particularly poor they tried hard, never gave up but were just slaughtered by a far superior team with class all over the field.
i doubt any team northern or southern hemisphere could have got close to souths!

My sentiments exactly, and also Widdop who also had a great game on Friday too.

Cricket is the National sport.
AFL had far more coverage in Australia.
Rugby League is strong in two States only.
This Souths team is good but not the all time best you are making out.
They came third in the NRL premiership in 2014.
The Roosters are every bit as good.

I don't agree!

With which part?
Cricket is indeed the National Sport of Australia,
AFL does get more coverage than NRL across Australia,
Rugby League is only strong in 2 Australian States,
The current Bunnies side is good, but not the best in the last 10 years, let alone all time,
they did finish 3rd in 2014 and won only 3 more games than 10th Placed Parramatta Eels. They lost more games in 2014 than 2013 and 2012.......
and the chooks are as good if not better, but were defeated in the one-off final in 2014 after winning one and losing one in the regular season.

What Buggo said ^^^

Though there is no official national sport, cricket is the only sport that every state seems to agree on.

An Australian Tourism website specifically for New Zealand.

Now who was it on here that lives in New Zealand? I can't remember.

/things-to-do/australian-sport.html

I thought Saints were very poor actually. Plenty of effort but that's a given in the Pennine League never mind the SL champions. Saints looked slow and lethargic from the start and never really got into their stride. Their timing of both running and passing was off all game and the forwards didn't really show up bar a couple of notable exceptions.

Obviously I don't know this for certain but it appeared the occasion got to Saints and they looked a bit overawed and as if they'd wasted their energy pre-match. I also think they're lacking a bit of leadership. Wilkin, whilst trying manfully, isn't a halfback and seemed to be the only leader on the pitch for Saints. They needed some more and definitely some leadership in the pack. They've some good players in their pack but not really any leaders, though the likes of Amor might become them in the future.

I think if Saints had played to their best they'd have run Souths close

Not sure. Gutterfax lives in Wellington NZ, but he doesn't post here any more, so maybe you're thinking of someone else