Re: Losing Interest : Wed May 07, 2014 11:26 am  

NRL back on Friday morning thank fook and some decent RL to watch after none last weekend.

Re: Losing Interest : Wed May 07, 2014 3:46 pm  

This is my my first season in 10 without a pass. Not because of FC's performances in recent years but more to do with what is the regular season really worth. Some good and not so good games ending with a team in 5th being declared Champions whilst the team that finishes top through being the most consistant gets to be noted as a minor achievement.
To me the regular season has just become an extended 'pre-season' for a month long knockout tournament. I enjoy the play offs but struggle to find a reason to go to games that even the league places little emphasis on.

Re: Losing Interest : Thu May 08, 2014 1:27 am  

The Aussie coaches have basically stolen the skill out of RL over the last 20+ years, as Raggytash said earlier (& I alluded to this on the VT) wrestling/waiting for the ref to be told to get off, not playing the ball and various other aspects of the game have almost nullified the variety of the game.
When was the last time you saw a chip over the top on anything but the last tackle, (maybe Chase), when was the last time you saw a short kick-off when teams are already turning their backs and jogging back) other than when chasing the game, the game is completely and utterly boring at times, there's barely any thought outside the realms of drive/dummy runner & kick to corner or putting it up high.

Like others, I rarely come up these days as it's a fair old journey and not cheap (50% more for the travel than the ticket) but I'll keep coming when I can but I can't say I'm enjoying the sport that much..think I need to go watch some local amateur to get my juices back

Re: Losing Interest : Thu May 08, 2014 2:06 am  

knockersbumpMKII wrote:

The Aussie coaches have basically stolen the skill out of RL over the last 20+ years, as Raggytash said earlier (& I alluded to this on the VT) wrestling/waiting for the ref to be told to get off, not playing the ball and various other aspects of the game have almost nullified the variety of the game.
When was the last time you saw a chip over the top on anything but the last tackle, (maybe Chase), when was the last time you saw a short kick-off when teams are already turning their backs and jogging back) other than when chasing the game, the game is completely and utterly boring at times, there's barely any thought outside the realms of drive/dummy runner & kick to corner or putting it up high.

Like others, I rarely come up these days as it's a fair old journey and not cheap (50% more for the travel than the ticket) but I'll keep coming when I can but I can't say I'm enjoying the sport that much..think I need to go watch some local amateur to get my juices back

Chris Sandow does it almost every game.....

I watch most NRL games every weekend and aim to get to most live Roosters games. I'll tune into EuroSport to catch Hull FC when live on TV, however I hardly watch any other SL games. For me, the speed and aggression is light years behind that of NRL. I hate to say it, but without Hull FC, my SL interest is nonexistent.

And, please dont get me started on the commentators......

Re: Losing Interest : Thu May 08, 2014 6:59 am  

Eastbourne Warrior wrote:

A lot of interesting reads on this thread.

Subscribing to premier sports has rejuvenated my passion for the game. The sport as a whole is on a different level in Australia. I only watch the Wigan games and the odd big match on Sky now, instead i watch recordings of the NRL games. Superleague only becomes interesting come play off time.

The problem here is the overall standard of the league needs to improve. The top teams just go through the motions for most of the season looking to peak for the play offs. They know they will pick up enough points to put them in a position where they can challenge from. I think the problem lies with the standard of the coaching. As a Wigan fan i'll use Michael Maguire as an example. He learnt his trade under excellent coaches, spent many years coaching youth/reserve sides then as an assistant before he stepped up to Head Coach. When he did he was ready. As i'm on the Hull forum using Radford as an example. He was assistant for 1 or 2 years? I'm not sure but he hasn't learnt his trade before getting a big job. We made the same mistake with the likes of Betts. Leeds did with Powell who went away and learnt his trade in the Lower leagues before getting the Cas job. A damn good job he is doing too. As i sport we need to identify those who have the potential to be good coaches and give them a proper education before giving them a top job.

The RFL get a lot of criticism. A lot of it is justified but they have done a lot of good (and undone some of it). The non-fed rule going gradually down to 5 players was brilliant, then it is ruined by putting it back up to 7. The magic weekend is a great concept, if you haven't been you should, it's a great weekend.

The biggest disaster IMO is the abolition of the U21's which has removed the pathway to the 1st team and needs to be brought back asap (that i believe was the chairmen not the RFL though).

I honestly think the future has the potential to be bright. I was very skeptical about the new format but the idea has grown on me. It is effectively a 23 game season then the play offs start, firstly in a league format the into the semis. Clubs will have to aim for top 4 rather than top 8, There is now a pathway into the top division for teams to aim for and the potential of relegation so hopefully the weekly intensity will increase. There are a lot of exciting youngsters coming through at some clubs but not enough clubs have grasped the concept of youth development.

As a sport we need to concentrate on improving coaching standards and reintroducing the pathway for youngsters coming through. We also need to agree on a proper international calender, set in stone and stick to it!

RL is still IMO the best sport in the world, at its best it has everything. Intensity, skill, speed and excitement. Keep the faith!

a very interesting post.

Re: Losing Interest : Thu May 08, 2014 1:20 pm  

Really looking forward to tonights game should be a cracker.

Re: Losing Interest : Thu May 08, 2014 4:54 pm  

Some of the NRL games a few years back were terrible to watch , To defense orientated ,Wrestle & slow ptb . The two ref system has certainly helped to speed the game up over there now with less interference in the ruck .