Gus Gould

[Chins]

The human race has stayed the same size for the last 60 years, except modern day rugby league players.

Props are 15-25kgs bigger while being faster. Its not hard to understand

 

[T-Boon]

Props are 15-25kgs bigger while being faster. Its not hard to understand

That has had a flow on effect to the rest of the game such that to be a good half now you have to be second rower size and their skills are not as important as their size. Worst group of halves in the history of the game in terms of skills.

 

[Trifili13]

Props are 15-25kgs bigger while being faster. Its not hard to understand

I understand that. What you don't seem to understand is that players of the 50s and 60s if they were born in the current day they would also be the size of the modern day player, not 5 foot 7 and 70 kg. The human race has increased in size over generations.

 

[Chins]

I understand that. What you don't seem to understand is that players of the 50s and 60s if they were born in the current day they would also be the size of the modern day player, not 5 foot 7 and 70 kg. The human race has increased in size over generations.

I know science is advancing rapidly but I'm not sure we have the technology to turn small white blokes into giant Islanders.

 

[dogslife]

Penrith.

 

[Det.Wojciehowicz]

Didn't you know. All sporting records more than 50 years old no longer count as all their opponents weren't as big or fast as they are nowadays.

 

[Wizardman]

Hmmm I'd back a Martin or Angus playing back then over the other way around.

Tough merkins but they weren't really athletes

100% agree.

In the 80's, the game was pretty vicious at times......but I agree with Chins in that as athletes, a lot of them would have scored low on beep tests and were not athletic. A lot of other sports killed rugby league players when it came to pure fitness.
It wasn't really till the mid to late-90s when the sport took fitness a whole lot more seriously.

I'd back Payne Hass in the 80s more than I would Blocker Roach today. No disrespect to Blocker at all as he was an incredible player. Fitness has changed the sport.

 

[Wizardman]

That has had a flow on effect to the rest of the game such that to be a good half now you have to be second rower size and their skills are not as important as their size. Worst group of halves in the history of the game in terms of skills.

I agree. Halfbacks are definitely as big as they have ever been in the games history. If you look at the 80s halves and compare them to today's crop, they are a lot bigger. On the whole, they are not backrower sized (Savala, Hutchinson exceptions)....but they are definitely bigger men than times gone by. A small halfback will do it very tough in todays game.
If you were to compare the skills of 80s halfbacks on the whole to today, I have the 80s blokes in front.

 

[Det.Wojciehowicz]

Why can't these Brainiacs understand that while your opponents are bigger and stronger today, so too are the guys playing them. Like for like. It took just as much to win a game back then as it does today.

 

[Fangs]

Preston Campbell would have been all time if he played in the 60s.

Would have got hammered no matter what protection he had but he was a tough bugger. He'd make up for it with his attacking output. Clive Churchill would have been in awe.

 

[dogslife]

Preston Campbell would have been all time if he played in the 60s.

Would have got hammered no matter what protection he had but he was a tough bugger. He'd make up for it with his attacking output. Clive Churchill would have been in awe.

They probably wouldn't have let him play...

 

[dogslife]

Bring back the labourers and garbos!

 

[Trifili13]

While I appreciate the athleticism of the players today, it has become so structured that it is played by athletes rather than footballers.

 

[Chins]

Who was the last first grader with minimal talent that just wanted to fight everyone? Luke O'Donnell I guess

 

[Cheese sandwich]

Who was the last first grader with minimal talent that just wanted to fight everyone? Luke O'Donnell I guess

Jack Hetherington

 

[dogslife]

Who was the last first grader with minimal talent that just wanted to fight everyone? Luke O'Donnell I guess

If someone told me Spencer Leniu spent his weekdays leaning on a council shovel and played first grade on the weekends for the joy of killing someone, I'd believe them

 

[Fangs]

They probably wouldn't have let him play...

Yes probably true.

It's my sanitised Hollywood version of history I'm referring to.

 

[Fangs]

Who was the last first grader with minimal talent that just wanted to fight everyone? Luke O'Donnell I guess

Paul Carter or Anthony Watts.

 

[T-Boon]

While I appreciate the athleticism of the players today, it has become so structured that it is played by athletes rather than footballers.

For sure. If the definition of a "good footballer" includes being able to play what is in front of you (this gets labeled "heads up football" now but wasn't even a term in the 80s or 90s as that was a bit part of every play) well then today's players/halves are a pretty low standard of footballer.

 

[Munky]

Paul Carter or Anthony Watts.

Travis Burns