by In all this lamentation about the performances of the European teams in the
WCC, let's just recognise how good the Australasian teams are. Cronulla
play fantastic RL, hard up front, mean in defence, and with breathtaking
speed and handling skills.
Hadfield in The Independent blames us for thinking that summer rugby had
changed everything. Yet things have improved. This is the first real season
of ESL. Just imagine what the scores would have been if this comp had been
run in 1992 or 93!
The results prove that there is nothing better than competition to raise
standards. The Bulls have lost - twice - but how do you prepare for Penrith
or Auckland by playing Oldham, Castleford, or Warrington? They also prove
that you get the best players at the top level by having competition to get
there, by having a broad-based pyramid of RL from nursery school up to
first grade.
For years now we in the UK have treated French RL with disdain, almost
embarassed by its existence. But why should the Aussies treat us any
different? The real threat to RL in the Northern Hemisphere is compromise
in Australia between ARL and SL. With Aussies concentrating on reviving a
single competition down there, why should they bother with us? And be
honest, after watching Brisbane-London, don't you want to watch SoO and
Manly-Cronulla again?
John