Tragic Round

[BenCumminsIsACheat]

The only magic we’ve seen this round is V’landys making thousands of NRL fans disappear

[NorfolkStreetKid]

The only magic we’ve seen this round is V’landys making thousands of NRL fans disappear

Dinosuar dribble.

[The Skeez]

Where did they go?

[NorfolkStreetKid]

Where did they go?

All watching UFC

[dice]

Refs have weaved some magic to avoid Panthers winning by a record margin.

[Grant Hedger]

I for one have switched off today as I’m over watching 50 point blow outs. It’s not that fans condone contact with the head, it’s the manner in which cleaning this up is achieved. And if they think that the
players will learn, they’re overestimating the smarts of the players or just how conscious a decision it is for a player to go high. In a few weeks time I guarantee we’ll see the exact same tackles for which players a being sin binned, go unpunished on the field. The NRL will work out that lopsided games are unattractive and turn fans off. So, all in all, this is a knee jerk reaction which ultimately achieves very little, if anything - other than fans disappearing. They’ll find something better to do. And yes, I wish that PVL would find something better to do and take the fools that think he’s doing a good job with him. Maybe the indiscriminate slaughter of horses?

[NorfolkStreetKid]

I for one have switched off today as I’m over watching 50 point blow outs. It’s not that fans condone contact with the head, it’s the manner in which cleaning this up is achieved. And if they think that the
players will learn, they’re overestimating the smarts of the players or just how conscious a decision it is for a player to go high. In a few weeks time I guarantee we’ll see the exact same tackles for which players a being sin binned, go unpunished on the field. The NRL will work out that lopsided games are unattractive and turn fans off. So, all in all, this is a knee jerk reaction which ultimately achieves very little, if anything - other than fans disappearing. They’ll find something better to do. And yes, I wish that PVL would find something better to do and take the fools that think he’s doing a good job with him. Maybe the indiscriminate slaughter of horses?

The COACHES will learn, and that will make the players change. I know it's not a perfect scenario, changing interpretation mid season, but what could they do? Better early that too late if they waited til end of season. The game will thrive with this return to the original concept of fair play, no contact with the head, or late. And if they continue to reduce the interchange, we might see the end of the monsters who can only play 20 minutes.... they were never meant to be part of the game, and a more athletic style of forward. Adapt or die, fulfil your duty of care to the players. Thats what they are trying to do. FINALLY.

[Easts75]

Most games this year are a shit spectacle.... a lot of similarities with Under 20's

[Bahrain Rooster]

This round in particular has made me miss defensive games even more than I was already. To me there’s nothing better than a hard fought defensive game (2013 QF vs Manly, 2018 PF vs Souths). With the 6 again these types of games are no longer a thing.

[RoosterFanNZ]

probably watched less footy this year than most others, just due to the constant blow outs.

soon as points starting getting put on the broncos the other night i switched it off.

i love seeing teams i dont like get smashed but it just becomes a bit dull every week.

Unless its south, i would be more than happy to watch them get smashed every week

[IRoosterManI]

Remember when winning by 40+ was a huge deal? Now it happens multiple times a week...

[zac]

i think the magic round concept was a success - the crowds were good. not sure how tv ratings were.

earlier changes to quicken the game up continue to mean blow outs. not sure what i think about that - i also liked the tough defensive games, but watching more space for attack isn't bad.

the crack down on contact with the head will take a while to settle down. players need to adjust. head injuries are an existential threat to league

[roostermcgregor]

I sense a bit of discontent with the way the game is played, amongst a few of the members of the Chookpen.
I bet the same view is held by the average punter that watches Rugby League
Does this mean Vlandy's has got it all wrong in trying to speed up the game, all in the name of entertainment?
Has the 6 again, together with all the scrutiny of hard tackles, now having their effects exaggerated with 10 minute sin bin offences (for just about anything) ruined rugby league as a spectacle?
Are all the tough guys (and I don't mean thugs, just those that play it hard) going to get weeded out of rugby league, and get replaced by speedsters?

[dice]

I sense a bit of discontent with the way the game is played, amongst a few of the members of the Chookpen.
I bet the same view is held by the average punter that watches Rugby League
Does this mean Vlandy's has got it all wrong in trying to speed up the game, all in the name of entertainment?
Has the 6 again, together with all the scrutiny of hard tackles, now having their effects exaggerated with 10 minute sin bin offences (for just about anything) ruined rugby league as a spectacle?
Are all the tough guys (and I don't mean thugs, just those that play it hard) going to get weeded out of rugby league, and get replaced by speedsters?

Regarding speed of play-the-ball, I believe V'landys has held a few too many focus groups with people who do not really give a toss about the game. It is the "I will watch the game if it becomes more like BBL" crowd. Much like BBL they will disappear after the high scoring novelty wears off.

Also, the extra speed and fatigue has contributed to defenders making mistakes with their tackling techniques. If V'landys was genuinely concerned about player welfare he would have backed off his big idea.

From that perspective, V'landys himself is "the games greatest challenge". F*ck him off already. Let him go to A-League and widen the goal posts and ban the header.

[Johnny Brass]

The biggest fear I had for it was the state of the ground but I thought they did a much better job and it didn't chop up as much as it did previously.
Looked like an awesome atmosphere and I'm sure it's here to stay.