Attack

Quote: 100% Warrior "It is the same game in essence only and I disagree with your whole point. The game has evolved from 80’s/90’s/00’s - like all sports have. Our players are all full time (in SL and NRL anyway) which means they’re training anywhere from 6-8 times a week, possibly more. That means fitness levels will naturally increase in both cardiovascular and muscular fitness. That in its own evolved the game from a “few pints and pick of smokes after a game” to diet control and fitness control to try and ensure that when the 17 takes the field they are doing so in prime physical condition.

Moving away from fitness, the other side effect of training as often as they do is that tackle technique and offensive drills are developed into more complex and skilful aspects of the game. The tackle wrestle you rightly refer to has bits from RU and wrestling and is designed to slow down the oppositions play by controlling the ruck. Control the ruck, you control the speed of the game. Control the speed of the game and you put yourself in a position that it’s very difficult to be beaten. It may look simple but I assure you it’s far deeper that a tackle technique.

I get the yearning for yesteryear. Nostxx xalgia is a fantastic feeling but the game has changed and moved on from 30/40yrs ago. If the sport wants to move forward globally and nationally we need to look forward, not look back constantly saying “back in my day” or words to that effect.'"

I think that the biggest change has been that all teams are over coached to the point that players are robotic with little if any room for individual play which leads to dour games.
Also for the number of interchanges has led to forward dominated thinking with again resulting poor quality games. For me once a player goes off he shouldn't be allowed to return which would rid the game of 15 minute "impact" players who more often than not are players who are way above their natural weight and find long minutes almost impossible.