A simple question, from a simple fan. Is it me, or is the standard of rugby league in England shocking this year?

It's been robotic and lacking genuine world class talent for a while now.

Not brilliant thats for sure, though I did enjoy the saints v wire match tonight

I did my weekly online Tesco shop while half watching/listening to it, really exciting stuff

I don't think the conditions at this time of the season are conducive to the quality served up in the 2nd half of last season.
Isn't it always like this, we hit the start of a new season after watching the end of last, and its like watching a different game.
The ground is soft, non of the players are hitting their straps yet, teams are feeling out the refereeing boundries, coaching staff are fine tuning tactics and implementation, everybody is gearing up for the second half of SL whilst trying not to drop too many points.

You've been watching Wigan too much recently, Saints were class last night, two assistant coaches as well, both played at the top level also.

Just look back at your own team if the point of this thread eludes you. Long, Sculthorpe, Lyon, etc. Way better than what you have now and it's the same at many other clubs. We might have a competitive league but it's down on quality IMHO.

It’s exactly what clubs like Wakey and Cas wanted when the salary cap was voted in and increases voted out. I’ve praised both sides to the hilt for the way they’ve played these past couple of years but without wanting to be controversial, they are where they are because the standards being levelled off in a downwards sense. We used to have 3 or 4 top class club sides in this country along with a few average ones and a few very poor ones. We now have about 8 average ones and 4 poor ones.

I’m not sure any sport should be aiming to manufacture a level playing field by bringing some clubs levels down but this is rugby league.

Nail...... on....... head!!

I watched St George and Brisbane last week, and that was more boring than any SL game i've watched this season. Every penalty, kick for 2. Wrestling in the ruck, kicking to touch - it was absolutely dire. I turned off after 55 minutes.

What happened to the biff? The off the cuff rugby? The Webckes, Tallis, Lyons and co of the world? I'm genuinely disillusioned with rugby league and I dont think i'm the only one.

We must have been watching a different game. Apart from a bit of rustiness in a first run-out of the season, I thought it was a pretty good contest.