The current state of the game

[milanja]

Everyone that I know that has watched league their whole lives, still watches it as much as always now, they all still have a whinge or blame the new rules if their team loses, but over 30-40 odd years of watching it, every supporter loses a bit of interest when their team isn’t doing well.

when we got the spoon in 09, I still watched all our games, but didn’t pay much attention to the rest of the games because it didn’t really matter other than wanting Souths,manly and raiders to lose.

[player 1]

Everyone that I know that has watched league their whole lives, still watches it as much as always now, they all still have a whinge or blame the new rules if their team loses, but over 30-40 odd years of watching it, every supporter loses a bit of interest when their team isn’t doing well.

when we got the spoon in 09, I still watched all our games, but didn’t pay much attention to the rest of the games because it didn’t really matter other than wanting Souths,manly and raiders to lose.

You're right, at least for us old die hards. I've cancelled my Kayo sub a couple of times only to reactivate it. Even with the Vlandys rules, it's still better to watch a game and zone out than to tune into the Covid BS, identity politics and hate-mongering that takes up most of the media.

[Mickie Lane]

Everyone that I know that has watched league their whole lives, still watches it as much as always now, they all still have a whinge or blame the new rules if their team loses, but over 30-40 odd years of watching it, every supporter loses a bit of interest when their team isn’t doing well.

when we got the spoon in 09, I still watched all our games, but didn’t pay much attention to the rest of the games because it didn’t really matter other than wanting Souths,manly and raiders to lose.

I was actually glad when the Chooks got the spoon in 09 because it enabled me to achieve seeing my Chooks get every available award on offer in my lifetime of following them. Ive seen them win Premierships, minor premireships, WCC, Amco cups, Foundation cup, Craven Mild Cup & the Wills Cup. I have also been fortune enough to see a Roosters player become an Immortal another get the Clive Churchill medal, another win the Dally M player of the year & another win the Golden boot award so the spoon was the final piece to the puzzle.

[milanja]

i was actually glad when the chooks got the spoon in 09 because it enabled me to achieve seeing my chooks get every available award on offer in my lifetime of following them. Ive seen them win premierships, minor premireships, wcc, amco cups, foundation cup, craven mild cup & the wills cup. I have also been fortune enough to see a roosters player become an immortal another get the clive churchill medal, another win the dally m player of the year & another win the golden boot award so the spoon was the final piece to the puzzle.

lol.

[Spirit of 66]

Yes, the blow outs scores are a bore, but don't despair. I'm sure that the NRL will keep the masses amused next week by giving the Dogs a million six agains and sending off Victor and JWH for cynicism.

[SupermanSupportsEasts4Eva]

Other than Easts games, I haven't watched a full 80mins of another NRL game for the past 2 seasons. I'll start watching them, than either get bored of the blowouts or frustrated but the inconsistent rulings. I mainly check the full time score. The reason is simply because the product isn't as good as it used to be, say back in the early 2000s.

I can name at least 20 other mates who support other teams passionately, who also have gone from watching the majority of games to now only tuning in for their respective teams games.

PVL did wonders to get the game re-started last year but the credit he built up at the time is now long gone. He and Abbo (and Paul Kent for that matter) seem to have forgotten that defence is half the game.

Over the years I never liked watching Melbourne pushing the boundaries when it came to dominating the ruck in defence, but that was the only think that really needed to change IMHO.

All PVL needed to do was make a slight change to eliminate teams manipulating certain defensive styles. Unfortunately his actions (which where probably well intended) have changed the fabric of the game for the worse.

While the game is still better than ALF, Union or Soccer its fast losing ground

[Andrew Walker]

LOL the irony of it all. It seems most would much rather we go back to the days where many on here were complaining about the referees using their influence to manufacture close games to keep the viewers interested

[King Salvo]

The game is going in the right direction and it's a case of teams having to catch up with others and change the way they play - the robotic structured footy days are long gone but some teams and especially coaches haven't realised that -it's play what's in front of you now- let the ball do the talking - move it- teams need to change their defence too - straight line and increase line speed.

Chooks need to get back to playing what I call Chooks footy - moving the ball with players in motion . in support and offloading not this robotic structured footy of multiple hit ups and out the back with decoys and kick on the 5th as that wont cut the mustard anymore.

Again I say the Chooks need an attacking coach and change in the way they play

[dice]

PVL did wonders to get the game re-started last year but the credit he built up at the time is now long gone.

The thing is he didn't. It was Wayne Pearce. PVL is a narcissist who will take credit for the good things, and blame everyone else for the bad things like blaming teams for having a poor roster, "just tackle lower" etc.

Anyone with half a brain knows that PVL and his band of useful idiots like Kenty are doing the Rugby League equivalent of victim blaming.

[BraveTheWorld]

I think anyone who doubts that these blowouts are largely due to the new sets of rules is absolutely insane. Even the Newcastle side of 2016 wasn't getting torched like teams are this year. The Bulldogs with the side they fielded you'd expect to get drubbed, by the Raiders and Cowboys (and us) conceding so many points is very telling. There is basically no way to slow the game down. Dominating possession is too easy and there is basically no down-time (aside from when the losing team prepares for their 10th consecutive kick-off).

The game is incredibly boring. There is hardly ever any contest, and most of the tries aren't really "earnt" either. I only watch the Roosters games and check the scores to see who has put on 60 this week.

I'm pretty pessimistic that they'll make any changes to combat this in the near future. Hopefully during the off-season they pull back on this unquenchable desire for more and more speed in the game.

[Grant Hedger]

The game is going in the right direction and it's a case of teams having to catch up with others and change the way they play - the robotic structured footy days are long gone but some teams and especially coaches haven't realised that -it's play what's in front of you now- let the ball do the talking - move it- teams need to change their defence too - straight line and increase line speed.

Chooks need to get back to playing what I call Chooks footy - moving the ball with players in motion . in support and offloading not this robotic structured footy of multiple hit ups and out the back with decoys and kick on the 5th as that wont cut the mustard anymore.

Again I say the Chooks need an attacking coach and change in the way they play

Again I say I hope you’re mum cuts off your internet allowance so we don’t have to see your dribble.

[Jacks Fur Coat]

The game is going in the right direction and it's a case of teams having to catch up with others and change the way they play - the robotic structured footy days are long gone but some teams and especially coaches haven't realised that -it's play what's in front of you now- let the ball do the talking - move it- teams need to change their defence too - straight line and increase line speed.

Chooks need to get back to playing what I call Chooks footy - moving the ball with players in motion . in support and offloading not this robotic structured footy of multiple hit ups and out the back with decoys and kick on the 5th as that wont cut the mustard anymore.

Again I say the Chooks need an attacking coach and change in the way they play

I agree with your last 2 paras King...we play way too structured and unimaginative for this game at present.

[Headless Chook]

I was worried about the outcome of the rule changes when they were made last year. I still can't work out what constitutes a set restart. I think I have it, the opposition get a restart because we were slow off the tackled player. But, when we finally get the ball that no longer results in a set restart.

[King Salvo]

I think anyone who doubts that these blowouts are largely due to the new sets of rules is absolutely insane. Even the Newcastle side of 2016 wasn't getting torched like teams are this year. The Bulldogs with the side they fielded you'd expect to get drubbed, by the Raiders and Cowboys (and us) conceding so many points is very telling. There is basically no way to slow the game down. Dominating possession is too easy and there is basically no down-time (aside from when the losing team prepares for their 10th consecutive kick-off).

The game is incredibly boring. There is hardly ever any contest, and most of the tries aren't really "earnt" either. I only watch the Roosters games and check the scores to see who has put on 60 this week.

I'm pretty pessimistic that they'll make any changes to combat this in the near future. Hopefully during the off-season they pull back on this unquenchable desire for more and more speed in the game.

There is a way to stop the blowouts though - A thing called defence i.e tackling the player with the ball would help i understand - too many excuses oh it's the set restarts/ the ref or whatver other excuse is being used.

It's the blinkered coaches still clinging onto the robotic structured way of playing and now that the better teams are moving the ball in attack the defence/style of defence hasn't adjusted to the increased ball movement as they have only been trained to defend one way - the catch and hold method used for the robotic structured play of multiple hits ups, out the back with decoys and kick on the last.

Most teams don't seem to have any idea on how to defend against teams that move the ball as a result of what I mentioned above - The Chooks being one

If your not defending with a straight line and your line speed is average or poor then your going to concede points and lot of them as their attack with increased ball movement and players in motion , support and offloading will pick holes in your defence all game.

The Defence needs to work as a unit instead of like 13 individuals i.e players rushing out of the line or hanging back and flat footed or not engaged or anticipating especially when the ball comes back their side

There is no way you are going to beat the better teams by playing robotic structured footy anymore as the opposition will be all over you like a cheap suit - you need to move the ball -players in motion , in support and offloads etc and have the defence as I mentioned above.

The better teams don't have 15 game plans for each of the teams they play - they play the same way so there is no surprises - coaches should have done more than enough video on their opposition to implement a game plan for each opponent to practice at training in preparing for the game.

Attack 101 - don't engage the Storm in attack with multiple hit ups and a 5th tackle kick as your only attacking plan - a few hit ups not always every set and then move the ball and run their defence around to limit their wrestling/judo/jui-jitsu defence and slowing down the play the ball tactics. Play whats in front of you

[easts4eva]

Watched only 30 mins of rugby league the last 2 weeks. Down from a 4-5 game habit at the start of the season....I'll bet I'm not alone.