Although I'm a new poster on here, I've been trolling this forum for a few months now, and I'm fascinated by the level of knowledge you guys have of this great sport. In the 70's I was an ever present at Wilderspool in the days of John Bevan, Derek Whitehead, Parry gordon, Alex Murphy etc; but although my interest in RL diminished somewhat, I never really lost the love of the game. It's only in the past 5 years or so that I'm back to fanaticism levels, and a regular again at the HJ. My question for you all is (and forgive me, as this as probably been asked many times before), how do you see the game from the days of my youth in the 70's to where we are at now, and indeed where we are going to end up? I am genuinly interested in your thoughts, as I have my own, and wonder if my thoughts put me in a minority?

Can't comment on what it was like in the 70s, I enjoy RL today, especially as Warrington are strong, but I don't enjoy it as much as I did 20 years ago. For me rugby league was at its peak between about 1992 and 1995.

Parry Gordon was a god, we only have demi-gods now, although I suppose Ryan Bailey is practically a superstar. And I can't watch the trains on the shunting line, or smell the beer from the wooden floor boards anymore.

The play was much dirtier, the injuries far worse (Jacky Edwards spear tackle ended his career), the game had more characters and we seemed to have more naturally gifted footballers than today. The fights were a lot better and more regular, and Wire always seemed to lose to Saints and Wigan. Happy days.

I think what's obvious in this discussion, is that it will all depend on when you were first introduced to the sport, because for me, those years that Sally quotes as his favourite are, in my opinion, years which were pretty dire for the sport, because they were a time of complete dominance from one side, which ruined the sport as a competition.

The obvious difference nowadays is the speed of the game, which isn't neccessarily a good thing....Too much emphasis on attack has led to ridiculous basketball-style games, where the act of scoring a try as become devalued.

Much prefered the days of tight defence, when mavericks like John Woods and Brett Kenny could turn a game with a piece of individual magic....Nowadays, players are like robots, with little flair - Whilst they are a lot fitter, they lack any individuality...Its what makes a player like Lee Briers so special that he can do things that others can't, yet if Briers was starting out today, he'd probably have that flair coached out of him.

Some are pretty obvious
We now have nice shiny stadiums (most of the time), and not waiding through "piddle" underneath the scoreboard
No more biff (alas)
Much better pitches (summer rugby)
Very few fatties, nowadays


Dita's,we do still have mavericks. Tomkins, McGuire, Burrow, but I do agree with the robotic element

You missed out on some belters Trisprint, in the P&B
Drummond
both Gregorys
Davies
Johnson
Roberts
Boyd/Tamati/Jackson
young Harris and Sculthorpe
Langer
and a fleeting glimpse of someone called Johns

Back in the mid/late 80s, I used to remember bellowing at players to move the ball around more (i.e 'offload' in today's parlance). On Saturday, the amount of offloading that Warrington were doing was giving me palpitations at times, and I was yearning for the safety first, stick it up your jumper, one man rugby I remembered from those days at Wilderspool.

Which surprised me, as I often think that the game today is more sterile, players are more 'robotic', etc, as mentioned above. There were doubtless more 'characters' back in those days, but it was probably easier to get away with being a character in a less professional environment.

When I first started going we were allowed to celebrate tries properly without some monotonous drivel immediately blasting out of the PA, we didn't have the word "Wolves" needlessly tagged on to our team's name, and kids (ie me at the time) could get a season ticket for a tenner.

On the flip side Wigan routinely won every trophy.

Swings and roundabouts, but if I could mix the first scenario I mentioned with Warrington's current success that would be my ideal.

As the rest have said it's completely different these days, worse thing is that the tours seem to have bit the dust, used to be
cracking nights playing the Aussies & New Zealand. Never will forgot 1978 v Aussie, but never thought we would be in position we are
now with winning cup 3 times in 4 years, winning league leaders shield & also being in top 3 for last three years.

No doubting this current team is on the verge of being one if not the best teams in the clubs history but what i wouldn't give just to see the team of Boyd,Tamati,Jackson + Drummond in action one final time.I used to wake up on a Sunday morning as a little kid eager to get in Wilderspool to see my heros.For a bit of biff that team will take some beating even by today's standards.

In the 1960s -70s when I first started watching the Wire there was much more individualism on show. The players were of different shapes and sizes and their natural talent generally wasn’t coached out of them or fully neutralised by the opposition. There were fewer or no substitutes and the forwards tended to fade after a few pantomime punch-ups, consequently the nimble backs could then show off their skills.
I’ve no doubt that today’s teams of athletes would easily beat the teams of that time.. but I'm not sure that they entertain or arouse the emotions as much.

Some great points there lads, most, if not all I agree with. Do you not feel the powers that be are flogging a dead horse trying to spread the gospel far and wide? I know Catalan have started to come good, but I think this is still going to be an exception rather than a rule, and that, unfortunately our game will always be seen as a 'bib and braces' sport. I think Sky and thier Superleague have been both a blessing and a curse to RL, the money is/was develped the game into a more professional sport, but do the RL lords and ladies now kowtow too much to Sky, and is it hurting our game?

One of the things that sticks in my mind about the 70's and is a far cry from todays game was the amount of silverware on offer!! All were highly prized as well, in part due to the prize money that came along with the winning of this silverware in those semi professional days!
The massive attraction of the Locker Cup to open up the season, The Lancashire cup which saw many a blood and thunder tussle, The Players/John Player Trophy was highly prized and indeed for me holds some magic memories, The BBC floodlit Trophy, the Challenge Cup of course, the end of season play offs, and one year even the Captain Morgan Trophy thrown in as well! Add to that The League Leaders Shield after about 36 league games and its a far cry from todays supposed "overcrowded calender"
Of course the full time professional and summer era has brought us a quicker game full of athletes and supermen compared to those days of barrell stomached props and Rob Burrow-esque style half backs but if you ever get chance to take a look back at some of the old games of the 70's, I think you'll be surprised at the fitness and skill levels and the speed at which the game was played!
Its difficult to compare when, who, which, or what was best. All I know from a personal level is I've always enjoyed my Rugby League and hope that will always be the case!!

Considering ,as you say, all the cup competitions of yesteryear ,anything up to 34 league games a season ,training twice a week & players holding down full time jobs it is remarkable how fit the players must have been. It was still a spectacle then even without super fit players & scripted moves on the pitch.

For some reason i have quoted trisprint instead of Albino ,sorry