£ for £ those pre SL squads would have probably smashed the salary cap had it been around in those days and set at a sensible level.
It also shows how a pre professional Rugby Union was a good thing for Rugby League.
Exactly. I suspect standards of player have more levelled than dropped. How many of those Wigan and Leeds players wouldn't have got into more or less any other team in the league that year?
Every player in our squad could probably earn more money with another club. But they prefer to sacrifice a few extra quid in their back pocket to share special memories. And playing at a place like Old Trafford on a night like this makes it all worthwhile.
Infact looking at those teams, quite a few of the current Leeds side would struggle to get into the 94 - 95 Leeds sides.
Doesn't it just show you how the standards have dropped?
I think you're massively over-estimating the 1994-95 Leeds team.
Or you have an inflated opinion of Neil Harmon, Marcus vassikolpolous, Graham Holroyd, Mike O'Neill and even Francis Cummins.
In fact, of those Leeds teams only Fallon (because this team has no recognised right winger), one of Iro or Innes and Hanley would make the current Leeds team.
Standards may have dropped alarmingly at Wigan now they have to face a level playing field but let's not get carried away eh? Standards have not dropped throughout the league.
How was GB doing against the Aussies in 1994-1995? International results were comparative.
You're comparing one of the greatest from that era with the Current garbage Wigan team. Compare Standards at the league's current standard bearers, Leeds and St Helens, not with the poor relations, Wigan.
I think you're massively over-estimating the 1994-95 Leeds team.
Or you have an inflated opinion of Neil Harmon, Marcus vassikolpolous, Graham Holroyd, Mike O'Neill and even Francis Cummins.
In fact, of those Leeds teams only Fallon (because this team has no recognised right winger), one of Iro or Innes and Hanley would make the current Leeds team.
Standards may have dropped alarmingly at Wigan now they have to face a level playing field but let's not get carried away eh? Standards have not dropped throughout the league.
How was GB doing against the Aussies in 1994-1995? International results were comparative.
You're comparing one of the greatest from that era with the Current garbage Wigan team. Compare Standards at the league's current standard bearers, Leeds and St Helens, not with the poor relations, Wigan.
Probably true. I'd probably give Harvey Howard a place in the current team as well. Although in truth I'm not totally sure who he'd replace. I'm tempted to say Hanley would play too, although I think in truth the Hanley that played for Wigan in the early 90s would get in the team, the version that played in 1994 and 1995 was probably not as influential on that team as Sinfield is on the current one.
I reckon they were paid, if adjusted to reflect inflation, a lot more in 1994 and 1995. I wonder how much Richie Eyres, for example, was getting, compared to JJB, or how Hanley's wages compared to Sinfield's.
Every player in our squad could probably earn more money with another club. But they prefer to sacrifice a few extra quid in their back pocket to share special memories. And playing at a place like Old Trafford on a night like this makes it all worthwhile.
I reckon they were paid, if adjusted to reflect inflation, a lot more in 1994 and 1995. I wonder how much Richie Eyres, for example, was getting, compared to JJB, or how Hanley's wages compared to Sinfield's.
Whatever they were paid, it was too much.
Reading Tait and Schofield's books they candidly admit to accepting defeat in those cup finals against Wigan. I hate that. I despise it. I know, in reality, that might've always been the outcome as that was on of the true great Wigan teams but these guys were full time pro's. highly paid and they appeared happy with 2nd best.
I don't reckon a single one of this current Leeds team would accept 2nd best.
As I said above, Hanley was never quite the player for Leeds that he was for Wigan, good though he still was. Sinfield has captained the club to probably the most successful period in it's history, and while unspectacular is an absolutely pivotal player in that success.
Rogues Gallery wrote:
McGuire before Schofield,
Debatable, but for all his huge talents, Schofield never delivered on the big stage for Leeds. McGuire has scored tries at vital moments in more big games than you could shake a stick at. CCSF 2003, GFs 2004, 2005, 2008 to get the ball rolling. Sometimes attitude is as important as ability.
Rogues Gallery wrote:
also I'd have Iro and Innes before Senior.
That again could be the subject of long debate. I might well be persuaded take Innes over Senior, just, but not Iro. Again, look at what the respective players have actually achieved for the club, not for other clubs, for Leeds. It is after all, their spells at Leeds, and specifically 1994-95 that we are debating.
Rogues Gallery wrote:
How can you pick Boderus when he's manged only one game for Leeds?
Has anyone? I could pick our triple-title-winning hooker Matt Diskin though. Again, I remind you that we are comparing the 1994-95 Leeds version of James Lowes, not the one-man trophy machine he went on to become with Bradford.
Rogues Gallery wrote:
We never suffered the same humiliation as an International side then that we did in October / November.
Perhaps not to the same scoreline. Never won much though did we?
Every player in our squad could probably earn more money with another club. But they prefer to sacrifice a few extra quid in their back pocket to share special memories. And playing at a place like Old Trafford on a night like this makes it all worthwhile.