That's quite common in modern grass pitches. The fantastic pitch at the Etihad Stadium has a plastic thread woven into the turf to stop it breaking up. I don't know how deep it is but it would have to be fairly shallow for it to work.

We'll see what effect that has on rugby in May.

To be honest it doesn't matter what type of pitch you have whether it's Headingley Beach or Widnes iPitch 3G it's all about performances on the field and it's undoubted the benchmark for SL is Leeds/Saints and possibly Wigan. Warrington have started their ascendency, but don't know how long/if it will last.

Why is everyone arguing about pitches anyways?

How can Saints and Leeds be the benchmark? 3rd and 5th last season!! and don't give me that post season cup nonsense! Being a good team and being a good cup team are 2 different things!

Ah a sidetrack into a reminder of the failure of other teams to display the hallmarks of champions when it matters.

Maybe Leeds are hampered early season by their disastrous pitch? Hardly fair that a team of flair and skill has to play on a pitch better suited to teams who do not display such qualities. You Pie Eaters are right: this DOES make me embarrassed for it simply plays into the hands of those teams able to grunt, wrestle and chopper tackle their way to a position of strength through the regular season

However, these are not the characteristics of champions and it is a relief to all that Rugby League does not recognise the regular season as anything other than preparation for an altogether bigger stage - a stage on which the chokers choke and teams with real skill and real depth of character get to the Grand Final.

Easy.

In a competition that gives the top 8 a chance of getting to the GF & being crowned SL champions,

The current SL champions Leeds Rhinos, 5x winners from last 8 seasons, and the team to have made last 6 consecutive GF's, Saints will be the benchmark that all the other teams should be aspiring to!