Compare Super League and NRL

[catman]

At the start of the year when we beat Penrith and played the early rounds of superleague the standard of Wigan and some of our opponents was really high. The standard of superleague and NRL was comparable of course the NRL had more physicality but Superleague had a higher skill level and was played in patches at an higher pace.
However as the season has gone on the level of superleague has plummeted due to players becoming fatigued and injuries depleting the ranks of most teams. The standard of today’s game v Hull was dreadful and over the past few weeks we have seen games where players lack basic skills, consistency and concentration.
I think it is clear that a lot of this is due to the lack of a strong reserve of alliance grade. The young players coming into superleague are simply not prepared or ready for an elite competition. A loan stint at a championship team is not sufficient to bridge the gap between academy and first team level. Then don’t get me started on the standard of some of the academy teams we play. When I watch some of Wigan’s opponents at academy level you do wonder if they have ever played together before and then we get a massive cricket score.
When you watch the NRL you often get new young players coming through, who you have never heard of but they set the game on fire and within a few months they are often ready for representative level. This is not the case in this country new young players take a couple of seasons to reach their potential if ever.
It is vital for rugby league in this country that the levels below first team are sorted out. All superleague teams should be compelled to run reserve grade, academy sides, reserve academy and junior academy and have a minimum number of players that they should have on their books.
I know this will be expensive but before the rugby league spends money on grandiose expansion schemes and publicity stunts this is a fundamental we need to get right.

[moto748]

Agree with much of that, but it's also fair to point out that some NRL teams have been decimated by injuries at this time of the season too, it's in the nature of the sport. But yeah, you see these teenagers walk into first grade in the NRL and light the place up; how do they do it? As you say, they have come through a better comp than the Jack Farrimonds of this world. And I think that's the main reason. We still produce plenty of talent in England, and a better road-map for them is needed.

[BriH]

At the start of the year when we beat Penrith and played the early rounds of superleague the standard of Wigan and some of our opponents was really high. The standard of superleague and NRL was comparable of course the NRL had more physicality but Superleague had a higher skill level and was played in patches at an higher pace.
However as the season has gone on the level of superleague has plummeted due to players becoming fatigued and injuries depleting the ranks of most teams. The standard of today’s game v Hull was dreadful and over the past few weeks we have seen games where players lack basic skills, consistency and concentration.
I think it is clear that a lot of this is due to the lack of a strong reserve of alliance grade. The young players coming into superleague are simply not prepared or ready for an elite competition. A loan stint at a championship team is not sufficient to bridge the gap between academy and first team level. Then don’t get me started on the standard of some of the academy teams we play. When I watch some of Wigan’s opponents at academy level you do wonder if they have ever played together before and then we get a massive cricket score.
When you watch the NRL you often get new young players coming through, who you have never heard of but they set the game on fire and within a few months they are often ready for representative level. This is not the case in this country new young players take a couple of seasons to reach their potential if ever.
It is vital for rugby league in this country that the levels below first team are sorted out. All superleague teams should be compelled to run reserve grade, academy sides, reserve academy and junior academy and have a minimum number of players that they should have on their books.
I know this will be expensive but before the rugby league spends money on grandiose expansion schemes and publicity stunts this is a fundamental we need to get right.

We watch a fair number of NRL games through the season and I agree with most of what you are saying.
In fact, I think towards the back end of the season, the top NRL teams get better!

[Charriots Offiah]

No comparison.