To be fair I think some of that flair still exists. I was really impressed with Wigan last year with Field and French looking like they were playing touch rugby at times. I haven't seen as many Wigan games this year but the ones I have seen there has been a few times I have seen plays that I have been impressed with.

When a team is full of confidence that is when those plays happen. I will never forget Briers kicking cross field to Riley (I think it was Riley) in his own half in a challenge cup final. That was a team that had confidence in their ability to defend and in a team that looked like they enjoyed defending. If the play didn't come off then so be it.

We are miles away from that so maybe it looks like the rest of the league is the same but I am not sure it is. I reckon youngsters that are fans of Wigan and Catalan fans might have a similar view to the one had a naughton park.
And to add. As life wears you down you will never have the wide eyes innocent view of the world again. When I was growing up I only remember the good things like the odd Phil Blake try with only one boot but I forget the countless god awful matches at wilderspool on a Sunday afternoon when the most exciting thing was watching a train pull up in the corner so the train driver could watch the match.

Well it isn't yardage, holding down in the tackle, percentage plays for sure. Mind you I hear the home attendance is up 25% this year so maybe they do.

We have suddenly gone from "our weakest position" to why is rugby not as exciting. Well ... for me it is all about defences ... they are so much better. All full time now (for years). I reckon even our most creative players from the past would have found it hard to find space.
In all other sports (that can be measured without emotion) skills, pace, strength have improved.
Sad but ... our minds are playing tricks.
The Alex Murphy team would have to really adjust their game to play today ... mind you make 'em all full time & give them 6 months ... they might cope OK.

There's no 10 meters, there's an eternity of holding down in every tackle, our games now gone so mind numbingly slow and boring. I am enjoying NRL games more and more with each passing season compared with SL

Yep ... unless we get to grip with this, defences will hold sway. It is not just holding down as there is every trick in the book to slow down the player in possession playing the ball.

Noticed Saints leave a man in the ruck very often which makes for a messy ptb for attacking team, even Catalan were doing it in the semis

According to the Saddest one winger may well be our weakest spot. If anyone thinks this bloke is anything other than a one eyed snake this is his view on Thewlis (and his view of our view!)
“That was a bizarre award and shows how weak the competition is. A lot of Warrington fans don't like him. He's error prone, returns the ball really poorly and horrific defensively. There's potential there, but if he's the best young player in Super League, it's a worry.”

Sad Man speaks with forked tongue.

Must think we can’t see Redvee, comes on here all smiles with his objective views but spews crap back on their own board.

Lesad curry. A troll with many faces.

Which Warrington fans don't rate Thewlis?

Horrific defensively? I’ll say it again he’s an idiot.

I don't know why we give him so much attention. Clearly just a troll.

That "WarrrigntonWolve69" fellow. You know, the one who spends his time mostly trolling Wigan fans and talking about how great Saints are. Strange thing for a Warrington fan, but the user name never lies. I think.

Not seen him around in a long time, as he run out of e-mail accounts to keep making names on here.