I quite like the idea of this Band of Brothers routine and yes having a strong academy with a good hit rate of producing SL standard players from within with P&B coursing through their veins is worth striving for.

However. using hindsight and revisit our 2012 squad and tell me about all those players that couldn't give a monkeys.

That's the balance of squad I’d like to see here now and I didn't think any less or more of a player based on where they were from.

Effort and giving all for the cause and your team mates comes from within surely

In that same period, 12 different teams have won the NRL and that might become 13 next week.

Six different teams have lost the last six Grand Finals though. It definitely isn't the "same old teams in it" every year, it's just the same old teams winning it. The likes of Warrington with our above average budget and Hull with their above average support base are the clubs who should be changing that, but it isn't Saints', Leeds', or Wigan's responsibility to make it easier for us.

Dwindling crowds are down to a number of reasons, but the most successful clubs have the biggest fan bases. Leeds probably have the biggest fan base in Super League. Two "new" teams in the Grand Final, who don't have as big a support as Leeds or Saints, would be likely to attract a smaller crowd, not a bigger one.

Comparing to the NRL is pointless too. It's a far bigger game there than here. Even they don't get anywhere near the crowds of the AFL though. Over 100,000 at the MCG yesterday, and 90,000+ were there for a quarter final with only one Melbourne team in it two weeks ago.

I wasn't comparing crowds with the NRL. I was comparing the number of winners. I think there has only been one title retained in the NRL era. What makes it a much more open competition than Super League?

The teams have far greater revenue and potential player pool than ours do. All of them.

Yes this thing about having come through our Academy meaning you play with more pride in the shirt than others is just a myth.

I'd be interested to hear everyone's examples of Wire players from the last 30 years who had the most pride in the shirt and wonder what share of them came through our Academy.

Regularly developing home grown players who are good enough is obviously something to aspire to do. Home grown players having more pride in the jersey or whatever is fantasy nonsense though. They're paid professionals.

Maybe it's not the shirt, it's the people in the shirt.

Leeds of Sinfield, Burrow, JJB ilk
Wigan of Tomkins x2, Farrell, Charnley ilk
Saints of Cunningham, Wellens, Graham ilk

All I know is that most teams who have won it, have done so with a core of players associated with that club.

What is a myth is that, in the 21st Century, you can buy Super League. Hull, Salford (Koukash) and us are prime examples of that

Despite what people say, it IS the same old teams in the final. Yes with some new opposition but it's either Leeds, Saints or Wigan in the final....which isn't their fault they are just the best clubs. But if i see them in a final for me me, it's a forgone conclusion which i've never been wrong on so far So i've lost interest in the final completely. I haven't watched the last 2 finals.

The final involving Catalans didn't pique your interest then?

As a neutral, I find any game away from Catalans home ground a very difficult watch as the whole atmosphere of the game is so low-key.

That Grand Final just never felt like an occasion due to the low crowd and lack of 'buzz' in the ground.

Personally, it's one of the reasons why, and I know all the arguments for having French clubs involved in our league, I just don't feel comfortable with them in our competition.