RFL referees department had a meeting with clubs two weeks ago

It also neatly coincides with record crowds and record TV deals.

I'll happily admit the quick ptb's are hampering creative play, but there's a trade off with the speed of the game that makes it such an attractive alternative to RU.

Perhaps the fast play has attacted a fair number of new support. It eaiser to watch a 20 - 30 match with many simple tries then a 6 - 12 match with only one or two creative scores.

20-20 cricket is perhaps more popular then the tradition 5 day test series but it's certainly not the most skilful.

Agree totally, and I personally back slowing the ptbs down.

But we have to be careful about how much slower we allow the game to become.

The problem is Potter wants teams to let Saints play the ball quickly but be allowed to slow the opponents down and set their own line at 8/9 metres - if he wants a game with quick PTB then he must instruct his defenders not to slow the PTB down!!!

Its not difficult to see where he is coming from, Saints are probably the strongest side around the ruck area. The problem is that I think most British RL supporters are fed up with the way the game in Britain is now so lacking in skill level. I'd hope we want to go back to seeing skillful play set up tries through creative halves and proper threequarters. Right now it isn't about that, its about easy, quick yards through the middle and then give it to your quickest man to sprint at a gap due to an unset defence and its a pretty poor level of rugby. We get shown time and again by the Aussies and Kiwis how the game must be played to succeed at the highest level.

I am quite prepared to watch Saints struggle more if it gives me the chance to GB/England beat the Australians in a series,WC, whatever.