its headed in the right direction.

a few years ago many RL people in our heartlands wanted them out of the competition and there was a lot of negativity towards them. they seemed to be on death row.

peopel wanted them to be relocated to the central coast.

since then theyve put in a new CEO from AFL and hes been pretty good (brian waldron).

our crowds arent as good as AFLs, but if the storm can get to 20,000 ill be happy.

winning GFs seems to do less for theri crowds than taking an origin to melbourne.

they are getting another origin this year.

i sat next to some storm fans for the WC game down there and they certainly know their RL.

the Non Super pool games were more fun to watch than the "big" games int he world cup as well.

the NRL is quite a bit ahead of SL.

you dont have much decoy running in SL, it seems to be a fairly basic type of attack and defence.

It obvious to anyone that it is miles ahead. I allowed myself to kind of be convinced that it wasn't but it is. We win one game in atrocious weather every year that is a friendly for them and a massive game for us and we think its better.

We'll never be as good in our current state but we'll have fun at least. Its like boxing, the best boxers fight each other and it goes 12 rounds with them barely getting a proper punch in but the best fights are the fighters who maybe not as good just go for it.

The rules at the moment promote this negative, pressure sustaining play.

theres more to RL than just pretty play.

but you are right.

theres too much wrestling in the nrl and thats whats made it less interesting.

you have every coach trying to find ways to bend the rules.

melbourne are the best at it at the moment.

its basically a form of cheating in a way.

they won their first competition by bending the rules as well.

there will be a big crack down this year on wrestling so hopefully it will get back to where it was in 2006 where it was fantastic.

last year was fairly boring.

manly, storm and cronulla are really boring teams.

A few? I saw three last minute thrillers at Knowsley Road last year alone, where The S came back from the dead to win.

Rubbish - Storm are a great side to watch - they have/had some of the games greatest attacking players - Slater, Folau, Inglis - and in Slater they have the finest attacking full back in world rugby - on their day they are superb to watch.

Agree re Manley they just have a big pack of forwards - Cronulla are a typical Stuart side dull - same can be said for the vast majority of the NRL sides they are a very disappointing much of a muchness without the skill to breakdown a solid defence - which is why the game is so dull

NRL crowd figures are normally written by J K Rowling and Agatha Christie.

Bear that in mind the next time you see any.

Are you suggesting a merger of Wakefield, Castleford and Featherstone?

Or perhaps a merger of Hull FC and Hull KR?

Or both?

A few things re NRL crowds:

1. EVERY game is on TV live or nearly live. That has an effect on people turning up for games
2. Most of the Sydney clubs play at stadiums that are either too big or too old. Many clubs no longer actually play in their regions. Imagine Leeds deciding to play at Huddersfiled as an example.
3. Sydney clubs have lived off pokies and never really worried about bums on seats until now
4. NRL doesn't have a membership mentality meaning that if teams are doing badly or it is bad weather fans are not inclined to turn up.

Q'land is clealry the home of RL in Australia. It just needs a 80,000 stadium now for big events.

wow.

did you enjoy all the numerous mistakes and poor skills your game produces as well?

its like watching the NRL from 5 or 10 years ago.

but im sure your idea of good RL is just for the halfbacks to pass the ball off along the backline and the winger to make a fine break.

oh that sounds so dandy.

RL 1908 vs 2008.