I wouldn't like to say exactly why because I would be guessing but for me the biggest difference for many, many years has been the basic skill levels being so much higher in the NRL across all levels. The OP is correct but it goes further than that - in all aspects such as positioning in the line , support play and play making decisions the NRL has been ahead (we have layers who can match but not across the whole game). I suspect coaching at junior levels is probably a major factor.

It was interesting in that Saints improved so much under the last coach (and looked more like a NRL team) so obviously the impact of coaching is huge but I suspect there are cultural differences as well in how the game is played between the two.

The reason it looks better and faster is because the Referee's in the NRL, ignore many of the things which our Referees blow up for and allow the game to flow!

Most NRL players in high pressure situations just look more comfortable with the ball, everything looks slick and refined, kind of like what they are doing is second nature to them whilst many SL players look rushed, clumsy and rigid.

Its interesting that Wayne Bennett once said, many English players dont even know how to pick up a RL ball correctly. Im not sure what he meant and im no big fan of Bennett, i think he is good coach but over-rated but obviously he knows what he is talking about.

For me, i just dont think SL players spend enough time with the balls in hand and perfecting skills. It would be interesting to hear an honest opinion of players that have played in both hemispheres recently to find out if there are big differences in the training regimes.

Saw this on Canterbury Bulldogs' Twitter this morning of ball handling training: https://twitter.com/NRL_Bulldogs/status ... 4719114242 Would be good to see content like this coming from SL clubs.

Saw this on Canterbury Bulldogs' Twitter this morning of ball handling training: https://twitter.com/NRL_Bulldogs/status ... 4719114242 Would be good to see content like this coming from SL clubs.

The Australians brought that tactic over here, wrestling and getting man on his back on the floor. Nathan Brown was a big leader over here in that followed by Madge. Sound daft but they have mastered it the other way now in that the attackers now technically getting on there front more meaning quicker play the balls. Having a ref in the ruck has also improved this. Quicker play the balls will return to these shores at some point.

Saints did improve a lot thats for certain but do you remember how bad they were under Cunningham? There was room for plenty improvement that was for sure.

fitness, fitness and fitness, we saw it when Madge came over how much a difference it made

No argument there, but look how much they improved compared to other teams in the league at the time. Saints looked head and shoulders better than everyone else and that was not because they had players who are so much better than anyone else......

That fitness leads to better composure, which leads to better ball handling and discipline.

true, fitness is key

Surely it comes down to numbers first and foremost. I think I remember the stat being there are five times as many active RL players in Australia as in the UK.

It's like comparing junior players coming through Wigan against those coming through at Warrington. Why are the Wiganers usually better....is it something in the pies or down to the differences in number of active players in local junior clubs to find talent.

From what I've seen of them in the last couple of seasons, I don't think I'd be taking any lessons in skilful handling from Canterbury!

I also think another reason the game flows better in the NRL is that their players are more disciplined than SL players, and work better with the refs, givings them (the refs) an easier time. Tackling players remaining in the ruck area are often unpenalised as dummy-halves play to the spirit of the laws and just get on with it, rather than trying to milk a penalty. Dissent seems rarer, and when it does happen over there, it is punished with an extra 10. And I think all these factors lead into why the transition to one ref has worked well for them. It will be interesting to see how SL compares.

I think thats a massive difference, how many times do you see NRL players throw themselves on the floor like superleague players have started doing