I was watching some footage of the 1990/92 Lions sides the other day and I'm afraid we have gone backwards. Fitter and stronger maybe but nowhere near the skill, awareness and understanding of the game they had. It was only fitness that stopped us winning one of those IMO, now we are obsessed with fitness over all else whilst the Aussies have moved on.

Haven't we had our fingers burned enough from down under? We should be aiming for 1 or 2 quality imports if we are in SL next year with the emphasis very much on quality. Dipping into the reserve/junior divisions to beef up the squad should be a thing of the past.

1 or 2 big marquee signings to catch the imagination and increase the quality of the side should be the limit and the likes of Korkidas, Henderson, Tony, Smith etc shouldn't be replaced with more of the same.

Absolutely right, we ales used to give the Aussies at least one good game, and as often as not beat the new zealanders.
Now NZ have caught the Aussies up and we're heading backwards, in twenty years, we will be struggling against PNG and France!!
Good old Super League, an abject failure.
Bring back the premierships, stones bitter, northern pride and watching little lads and fat lads on scrumdown!!!!

I think it is clear that New Zealand have not only caught us up but are now streets a head of us again. The fact that they have won the World Cup and the 4 nations confirms this for me.

Many of the skills of yesteryear disappeared with the 10 metre rule (as opposed to 6 yards).
The modern game is more of a power game, having said that there are plenty of quality players about, its jusat that most of them dont have an English accent.

I didn't want to be the one to say it!

I'd like to know though.

Players like Pat Richards might not even get in the 5th string side.

I'm not sure if it's the skill factor with NZ all the fact they have a vastly superior mentality to us.

We aren't that far off the pace against them usually but they can take Oz any time they want, something we can only dream of doing.

franchising has seemed to make on field things less important as say stadia, so it really doesn't matter how you play so why bother about it ?

the sharks/ storm alliance have just announced their second string team for this week...

this team WOULD win any game in SL this week, even the sharks fans are amazed at its depth and quality!

1 Ryan Tongia
2 Isac Gordon
3 Dean Collis
4 Beau Champion
5 Anthony Quinn
6 Jason McGrady
7 Tim Smith
8 Siosaia Vave
9 Paul Aiton
10 Johnny Mannah
11 Jarred Farlow
12 Atelea Vea
13 Broderick Wright

INTERCHANGE
14 Andrew Clayton
15 Robbie Rochow
16 Jake Hawkins
17 Kose Lelei
21 Ricky Leutele

Is that the Vave we were linked to at the end of last season? Would be nice to have Champion, Quinn and Smith in our side. Paul Aiton ain't bad either

That is a scarily good 'second string' side; I agree, it would probably beat any of the top 8 with ease.

Just watched Newcastle and they had a 7 on debut and he was awesome, he had tried at the cowboys and had a couple of goes and I think he was 24 and suddenly it clicked at Newcastle on his debut, good kicking, fast and crazy step. Looked completely at home. Stigg he was called.

There is also some very average players in that team, i watch them every week because my nephew is in that team. To suggest they would win any SL game is just rubbish. I think a lot of you English RL fans are totally obsessed with Australian players, they're not all superhuman.

I agree, very good looking side but saying it would beat any of our top 8 is a big call.

my comment was not intended to suggest that thesee people are superhuman... but I do contest that if that team were substituted for any superleague team this weekend, they would very likely win the game...

I watchd SL live for the first decade (some of that as a lifelong Trinity fan), and have been involved in the game as a player and coach in the uk for 30+ years... during that time and since, I have consulted with world leading sports and performance coaches across a diversity of sports and across the world... I am currently a 2011 member (and have been a member now for 3 years - since moving to Australia) at Cronulla Sharks and have a young teenage son playing in the lower cronulla sutherland leagues... I have seen the majority of the players in that cronulla team play live on many occasions this season and watched this team also play a few times... my comparison is based on team performance, preparation, fitness, tactics and skill... and I stand by my comparison, and is also based on what I have seen produced in superleague this year. ..

I would challenge your definition of 'average' as there are international and other rep players contained in ths squad, alongside some very talented young players, a combination the majority of SL teams can only dream about!

would be interested in who your nephew is (and whether you consider him also to be 'average')... I might know him!

ps FWIW I think Trinity should make efforts to sign Tongia and Gorden for next season.

incredibly... I just read a post on the Sharks rumour mill that Wakefield are trying to sign Ryan Tongia!!!!

how fast does the rumour mill work??

So do i mate.

That could be RT then

Not another FB

Tim smith was awesome last season

The depth of tallent in aus is endless. Australia could but a 4th, 5th or 6th choice team out and still beat England, thats not a dig at our boys it just high lighting how strong the tallent pool out there is

Its so good to watch too, the aussie spectators are very lucky to see it all live, although i do love the premiere sport coverage, Rabs Warren, Peter Stirling and co put Eddie and Stevo to shame

Have to say that is a massive issue - they are both poor especially Stevo who is way past it on all levels. There is no middle ground with these two, they are either gushing like teenage girls or like bitter old men where the Coach is always furious for the most minor of errors.

My problem with them is the constant use of a small amount of stock phrases, over and over again.

The coach will always, for example be 'furious' and will have to 'get the message out there.' The game is always between two 'outfits', both of which are full of 'big fellas' and 'little halfbacks'. When they score a try, they'll say 'thank you very much' and when there's a big hit, they 'won't miss'. At some point, it'll be time to 'try something different', usually a 'chip over the top' or to 'utilise the skill factor'. It will always be the 'second stanza' and the 'merry whistle blower' will have some infuence on the outcome.

It's like listening to a fricking computer game - I agree, time for a change; Mr Carney to replace Wiggy, with a bunfight between Barry Mac, Jon Wells and JD for the Stevo job.

Don't forget, they've got to get the link going and WELLENS BACK ON THE INSIDE

Yep thats guy!!

Ha ! Excellent. I left the UK in 2002 and was already fed up with Stevo and his "chip over the top". Clearly he is still recommending it some 9 years later. There is some good commentary on games in the NRL (Peter Sterling is particularly good) but, inevitably, you still hear the same old phrases over again like -

How important the "first six after points" is
Both sides getting through their sets
Anything of poor quality being "a bit ordinary"
A team being "led around the paddock" by a certain player
etc

I guess if you have been commentating for years about games where essentially the same things happen every week its easy to start repeating yourself.