: Thu Mar 19, 2009 1:41 pm  

The Games were better because IMO the players were more skillful - the modern RL player is all about size and strength - how many rob burrow type players werr around in the 70's/80's/90's compared to today ? they were exciting players - a lot more than todays 16 stone muscle freaks !

: Thu Mar 19, 2009 1:49 pm  

GIANT DAZ wrote:

The Games were better because IMO the players were more skillful - the modern RL player is all about size and strength - how many rob burrow type players werr around in the 70's/80's/90's compared to today ? they were exciting players - a lot more than todays 16 stone muscle freaks !

You also have to remember that some of those better players were actually full-time rugby players playing in competitions dominated by part-time rugby players.

They may have appeared more skillful playing against slower opposition, but put them into the modern game and the pressure they'd be under would probably nulify a lot of that skill.

Besides Rob Burrow is probably a bad example, his game is based on speed, agility and strength, rather than outright skill.

: Thu Mar 19, 2009 1:53 pm  

Kelvin's Ferret wrote:

You also have to remember that some of those better players were actually full-time rugby players playing in competitions dominated by part-time rugby players.

They may have appeared more skillful playing against slower opposition, but put them into the modern game and the pressure they'd be under would probably nulify a lot of that skill.

Besides Rob Burrow is probably a bad example, his game is based on speed, agility and strength, rather than outright skill.

fair do's and as for the Burrow comment i was meaning his size really more than his skill - when i was a lad most half backs were little scampering toe rags like him !

: Thu Mar 19, 2009 2:20 pm  

what happened tot he Regal Trophy? and who was the last team to win it?

: Thu Mar 19, 2009 2:27 pm  

The Yorks / Lancs Cups would be great and SL reserve sides dont have enough games anyway so its a possibility. I doubt the RFL agenda would support it tho, its too parocial when they are aiming to spread the game from the Yorks/Lancs stereotype.

As for the Regal Trophy, definately the need for a second KO cup, maybe midweek? Some clubs would field weakened sides like the big 4 in football do but someone like my club would really have a go for a chance of silverware.

Here's a thought, why not give the winner a wildcard into the SL playoffs? So we have a top 7 + the cup winner. If the cup winner is from the top 7 then its a top 8, but it might create more interest in the cup.

Interest in the CC should of course be the prestige and Wembley visit.

: Thu Mar 19, 2009 2:38 pm  

forever_trinity wrote:

what happened tot he Regal Trophy? and who was the last team to win it?

they scrapped it in 1996 to coincide with the move to summer rugby !

wigan beat saints 25-16 in the last final at the Mcalpine Stadium

: Thu Mar 19, 2009 2:49 pm  

I dont agree that modern players are less skilfull, i think they are more skilfull. Increased fitness, bigger collisions and greater athleticism as a whole means that finding ways to score requires qreater levels of skill, slight of hand, ability to swerve the body, free up hands for offloads etc

Back in the 70's and 80's an offload was barge into someone, turn round and give it. look at solomona style offloads now, they require far more skill and ability.

: Thu Mar 19, 2009 3:20 pm  

Not for me thanks.

The whole "RL is a M62 corridor / Yorks-Lancs" thing is a perception that the game is trying to distance itself from. Let's not start going backwards again.

: Thu Mar 19, 2009 3:53 pm  

Irregs #16 wrote:

I dont agree that modern players are less skilfull, i think they are more skilfull. Increased fitness, bigger collisions and greater athleticism as a whole means that finding ways to score requires qreater levels of skill, slight of hand, ability to swerve the body, free up hands for offloads etc

Back in the 70's and 80's an offload was barge into someone, turn round and give it. look at solomona style offloads now, they require far more skill and ability.

Couldn't disagree more. In my long experience of watching TGG, every era has a high proportion of competent journeymen, a smaller proportion of classy players with above average skills, and a small elite of exceptional ability. I don't think anything has changed in that respect at all. Try this: pick a modern team and split its first 17 into those three categories. Then pick a team from some decades ago, when the team was in a reasonably similar league position, and do the same.

You might be surprised.

Obviously 21c RL players are supremely fitter than their counterparts of say the 60s - but there is no reason why 60s players, beamed to today, shouldn't reach similar levels of fitness, not that I can think of, anyway.

Given similar fitness I'm certain the greats of any era would be greats in any other era too.

: Thu Mar 19, 2009 3:55 pm  

maybe it was the game in general then that was a lot quicker years ago and not really the players - it just seemed a lot more exciting 20 years ago , maybe they didnt stop the game every 2 minutes like now