I know where you're coming from but wouldn't that suggest that the part time leagues should provide a more exciting product?

Are the likes of John Woods and Kelly Shelford playing in the part time leagues?

Perhaps they are selling insurance or sumert.

I'm not convinced Kelly Shelford was in the same league as John Woods. Much as I enjoyed watching KS being part time was no excuse for his state of (un)fitness

That is exactly my point though. I don't disagree the Wood was better either.
Both were renowned for not training and one for his social habits.
But my point was that these two guys had thr skill levels that we don't see anymore.
Once the fitness roles took over from pure skill the role changed and instead of the skillful stand off we got athletic forwards playing the role instead...
Sculthorpe Farrell etc.

I didn't know that JW didn't train, KS on the other hand looked like he only had to walk past Greggs to put on a stone...the calories he actually consumed in a liquid form probably didn't help!
It also seems that players in the traditional Stand Off mould are now being played at full back.

Sadly you are correct.

It is all about completion rates, and 'dominating the ruck and the arm wrestle'. Maverick players and plays are out of the window and just not fit for purpose in the modern game.

To reduce the number of tries from kicks in the air, how about incentivising running tries by awarding 5 points and say 3 points for a try where there has been a kick during that particular tackle. I for one am bored with kicks on the last tackle and the eternity taken by the VR deciding if it was/wasn't a try.

Create a new line thats 5m out from the try line, then if the defending side catches a kick (without the ball bouncing) behind said line (in the air or stood on the ground), they get a penalty on the half way line.

Seeing as a lot of kicks are necessary because a team are running out of options would a complete overhaul of the system be in order as so....1. Do away with 6 tackles altogether & have say 10 tackles to allow a team to do more with the ball in hand,2. reduce the ten metres at the ruck to suit something more like Saints,Wigan ,Leeds distances, 3.allow striking by the marker at ptb & 4. encouraging more aggressive defence to get the ball back. 5.disallow kicks intended to turn a team round to getting possession further back than their last tackle play which currently allows an attacking team to punish defensive effort.

For me, the low quality games are due to fewer juniors playing the game at grass roots, leading to lower quality players coming through to SL. So rather than change the rules I would suggest that all SL clubs should be forced to spend 5% of their income in promoting / supporting local clubs in their area. If they can't afford it, then they drop into the Championship.

Unless we turn around the decline in playing numbers we will eventually cease to exist.

i'd welcome striking at the ptb returning, it would encourage tackles to get up and off and not mess about as much in the ruck, and it would make ppl in possession play the ball properly with the foot, because of the danger of losing possession