As predicted would happen, thanks to 2 refs cleaning up the ruck, the speed of the play the ball has increased. Anyone watching any of the trials so far may have noticed that.

So, from, now on, that department should be on a par with the UK.



Can't help but think that Manly will get pinged a lot on the penalty count early in the season as they haven't played any trials under the new conditions.

Nobody has told Jason Robinson though...
If last night showed one thing for me it was that it is that it is the NRL that needs to change and not Superleague. As far as entertainment is concerned, Superleague wins hands down.

The quality of SL is the levellest it's been for a long time, possibly ever, but it's more bringing people down to the lowest common denominator rather than progressing and developing. We're as far behind the Aussies as we were in 82, that was men against boys out there. The skills, attacking rugby and defense of Manly we a joy to watch at times.

We all love watching Wakefield stumble against Salford in a tin shed with 2,000 inbreds.......that's excitement!

So it sounds like people are enjoying the new 2 ref format then and the faster play the balls. Ironically it perhaps brings it more into line with an element of the English game.

Here are the official PTB stats. I'll just show fast on the left and then slow. A big change from last year.


Storm game 29 - 10

Bris 38 - 30

Bull 35 - 30

Sharks 38 - 24

Warriors 34 - 21

Roosters 36 - 16

Titans 32 - 25

I watched a couple of NRL games this weekend, and the PTB did seem much tidier than previously and therefore quicker. I suppose one of the risks now is that SL have clearly slowed theirs down, hopefully they are alligned enough for the 4 Nations.

I'd like to think that Cummings and the refs are watching games from here and the NRL to ensure that the games are as alligned as possible.