I've been away for the last 10 days and missed some of this.
The point about new players receiving high marks isn't surprising as their "wells of ideas" are brimming at that stage. Case point: the Titans. We have an in-house challenge to not repeat the same theme and so far over two seasons and various other matches we have been able to stick to that (with the exception of bgdc who has her own wrestle with English as her second language). This keeps us "fresh".
But when you then consider the players who have rolled out excellent articles over a long period of time... there is your real benchmark. Those guys and gals deserve the real accolades.
F7's, as novel as the concept is, is much more than a journalistic-style report on the happenings and controversies within the Rugby League world. It is the Disneyland of sports hobbies:
"Each week, as you enter this timeless land, one of these many worlds will open to you: Frontierland, tall tales and true from the legendary past; Tomorrowland, promise of things to come; Adventureland, the wonder world of nature's own realm; Fantasyland, the happiest kingdom of them all."