I am not sure you realise it but you are giving reasons as to why the standard of competition here has gone down the pan. The fact is most of GB'S truly class players are in the NRL. That is why it a major reason why is a poorer competition. I don't need the finger of one hand to count the number of class players who chose to stay. At Wigan it is a grand total of one. Lockers. Others who have not gone to the NRL such as Faz have never been good enough.Nezza Faz wrote: ↑Tue Jun 18, 2019 11:00 amThe same standard that the NRL are pilloring our ranks for across the comp with a record number of SL players plying their trade over there ! And that's on top of some players who choose to stay here.fozzieskem wrote: ↑Tue Jun 18, 2019 10:50 amIs that down to the comp it’s self,I think the standard across the board has been abysmal,no beginnings? don’t make me laugh
A record number of League coaches being poached by the rival code, to spice up their game is not an indication our game is "abysmal".
I think some League fans really excel in decrying the very sport they are supposed to love; I've never heard union fans criticize or chastise their game like some on here do.
I took a friend, Liverpool supporter, to a game at the DW last season and he said he couldn't understand all the wingeing from people throughout the 80 !!
Just go with your mates/family, have a pint and enjoy it. It won't kill you.
On the other hand the list of players leaving is well known and it is probably only a matter of time before Gildart follows Williams. If that happens and our centres end up as Hankinson and Bibby the drop in quality there to just a few seasons ago is dramatic.
The poaching of players and coaches says our game can uncover talent but it can't keep hold of it. If we had several players running around in the league equal to Bateman it might not be an issue but we don't.
As to can we finish in the top five, while ever it is still mathematically possible the answer is yes.
It's not beyond the realms of possibility we could even do well in the play offs. I think to win it Saints and Wire would need to suffer an injury crisis and we'd have to have everyone fit but this has happened before. Bradford won it after a horrendous season with injury but became the first team from outside the top 2 to win a GF even though had Saints run away with the league but had injuries for the playoffs.