Re: For the live of God,Allah or whoever-McDermott GO!!! : Tue Jun 05, 2018 10:41 am
BrisbaneRhino wrote:
I think the sport as a whole is suffering from too much focus on size and strength, and whilst in terms of the physics of passing most players are far better than they were twenty years ago, in terms of understanding what they are trying to do most are far worse.
Yes, the size and strength aspect is the same in union. I know a lad who got into Bath's under 16's based almost entirely on his shoe size - I am being serious. My son had his size stats recorded by Gloucester at 14 and they wanted mine and his Mum's height as well.
Don't know about the passing. I don't think things have progressed significantly for decades in that department in League - other than the balls are covered in glue these days. Even I looked like Wally Lewis with a new ball in my hands (fat and bearded). I am surprised that there isn't a pocket now sewn into shirts for sticking the ball up.
But I do agree that the main drive has been physical power and keeping the error count as low as possible. Add to that 4 subs and multiple interchanges and you get what you get. No space, no willingness to take risks to create it and lots and lots of brute force.