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No he's not. There is no evidence there is any less smaller creative players in the NRL over the last ten years than the previous ten years. Wrestling in ruck, lack of spped of play of ball, safety first coaching, too many substitutes, these are the real issues. Thurston, DCE, Foran, slater, Barba, Tomkins, all equal or smaller than John's and Lockyer.

Half-backs need to be protected, not just in the junior ranks but in 1st grade too. Being tackled after kicking, tackled in the air, late hits, hits that might not be that late but after he's passed the ball, but have unnecessary roughness in them. A front-rower on a front-rower, fine almost anything goes, but not a front-rower on a half-back, there's bullying in that, I don't want over-protection ok, just protection.

Yet back in Gus's alleged golden hey day of skilful half backs they had to cope with elbows, late hits, punches and all manor of unsavoury treatment from forwards looking to take them out of the game.

Like most athletes, rugby league players are getting faster, stronger and bigger due to advances in sports science.

If you want to play top level rugby league these days, you have to be able to compete physically whether you are a front rower or a half back. The days of halves being little guys who got run over all the time in defence are long gone.

I've just tasted a little bit of sick in my mouth but for once I partially agree with Gould. There is too much emphasis on power in the modern game which stifles creativity.

Having said that, I also agree with JB's other points about his perceived 'real issues'.

Almost every aspect of the game is so controlled now. It resets itself at virtually every play the ball which means there is very little broken field for the creative players to exploit and creates the environment where power rather than creativity comes to the fore. The 10 metre rule along with JB's issues help create this scenario. We need to find a balance where power and creativity can go hand in hand so that both aspects of the game can have their place. The issues mentioned need reassessing.

As for back in Goulds day where halfbacks had to cope with everything that was thrown at them, there wasn't as many 'athletes' about who are as powerful and fit as they are today, collisions weren't as big and injuries less severe. Halfbacks these days have to take on a more structured, fitter defensive line and have less broken field to operate in. They also have bigger, fitter and stronger players closing them down when kicking the ball so being hit late by bigger, fitter and stronger players mean they will be hurt more seriously, more often.

I just rewatched Hullv Cas in the CC semi from 83, Dave Topliss gets ted time & time again by the Cas forwards and by the dirty barsteward Joyner. Most of them Billy Thompson just ignores, but despite him trying to to turn a blind eye to yet another toppo gets laid flat by a nasty late late deliberate head high (which made Matt Bowen's late hit on Grix last year look early) both touchies come on and he gives a penalty.. that was it. He continues to get the treatment and still manages to tackle the Cas forwards when they run at him. Now Toppo was pretty slight even for 60s/70s stand-off's, 11stone wet through.
My point is, refs and the RFL just didn't protect players like they do now, halves took much harder hits in the areas that does most damage..by todays stds even though fowrads and indeed backs are bigger/stronger and faster, yesteryears halves had it much tougher AND were much more inventive/skillful.
And yes that is down to the way the game has gone, aspects of the game are suffocating it and coaches are playing safe % rugby 99% of the time, tbh it gets dull as dishwater and so very predictable.

Removing the wrestling/holding down in the tackle, fewer interchanges and changing the deadball line kick out to a 30m restart (if kicked from in your own half) would be a start..but the best bits of the game from yesteryear are gone..we have to accept it and move on..that's not to say we can't improve what we have to remove th ridiculous awful bits that are ruining the game as a spectacle.

Don't always agree with Gus, who does. However he has more experience and knowledge than anyone on the VT ever will yet you arrogantly dismiss him. I did that the other day with Gary Schofield, after thinking about it I accept now that even in his beer addled current states he still knows way more than me or you - Gould is way way way above Schoey so I suggest you rethink, there is nothing "alleged" in what he say - he was there and he still is

As an ex-half back of dubious quality I can confirm that today's HBs don't know they are born. Getting properly flattened after releasing the ball or kick was expected.

As a Warrington fan I've seen Richie Myler ( considered small today ) standing next to Alex Murphy a few times and Murphy makes Myler look like a second-row forward!

He would do, Alex is a frail 75-plus now.