So, as I write this Leeds are currently holding NQ Cowboys 4-4 at HT and putting up a performance light years ahead of ours and St Helens'.

Led me to think....is the gulf as vast as we thought? Is it simply that Wigan & St Helens haven't performed to usual levels because the games meant nothing and so psychologically once got 12pts behind we through in the towel.

Nothing more highlights this than Broncos' last try IMO. Though I doubt it as possible, it actually made me think (for the first time since the sean long betting scandal) did some players have a bet on the scoreline and giving them free run to the line?

Watch it back - Sarge gets called into the pack and points out to the team (and Brisbane), we are short 4-2 on the blindside. Sarge then ponders going back, before accepting and moving into the scrum, leaving them with an easy procession to the line! My questions were;
1) Does this highlight either a cba attitude, or something more?
2) If not the above, this is the most amateur defensive error I have seen in 30 years of watching RL!
3) Then I question how can leeds be putting in a performance to match the aussies tonight, yet we and Saints rolled over.....is this part of an attempt to make these matches meaningful so we get a champions league style series and hopefully the other teams show the intensity leeds have tonight, rather than a meaningful game, proceeded by two micky mouse events which mean nothing!!!

I'd be interested to see if anyone else shares my thoughts?!

North Queensland look like the least prepared of the three Aussie teams imo. Maybe it's the conditions making them look a bit rough around the edges.

So the reason Brisbane put 40 on us was because we let them...


No I don't think that's the case. Yes the gulf in quality is that big.

Probably should have waited until the end of the game..

Leeds played well in the first half, and the Cowboys had to defend well, and did, in the teeth of foul conditions that they don't come across that often. And showed their class in the second half. Wigan fans who bemoan our lack of props can admire the best in the business in the Cowboys' roster. How we could do with just one of them!

Somebody like Hannant should be exactly what we're going for. He's 32 or so but could do another couple of seasons and would be a leader for our young props.

Sadly we'll probably just stick with what we have.

Brisbane beat previous WC champions South Sydney 44-12 away at the end of last season. They also beat current WC champions NQC 44-22. Does that mean that these teams are not able to compete in the NRL? No, it means that the very best teams can put anyone to the sword.

As all 3 matches have shown the gulf is huge and i suspect will get bigger as the years go by.

So did two of last years three matches prove that the gulf was minimal? Has so much really changed in a year? All three SL teams were in poor form this year, we were without quite a few players before the game and lost three during it, Leeds had significant players out too, not sure about Saints. I'm not saying they wouldn't have won anyway but IMO people are going OTT drawing such damning conclusions from this. If all three teams get hammered next year then fair enough.

All three SL teams were poor this year but do you not think a reason for that is simply they are actually weaker with poorer teams on the pitch (due to injury or players leaving/retiring)? We also make our own team weaker by having Lockers as a spectator for half the game now Wane plays him at prop.