gus goulds subtle stab at the super league

[nqcowboy87]

during the commentary for the aus v eng match gus said that england should be sending their best players over to the nrl because the sl is not a strong comp as the nrl its pretty petty stab in my opinion

 

[God-King Dean]

A Stab of Truth.

 

[JasonE]

I still think they need to limit the overseas players by half, i'm not sure what the current figure is but someone said there is 100 overseas players.

That is a disgrace, cut that to 50 and automatically there is 50 more players exposed to fulltime professionalism.

More players means more depth, clubs should be looking to develop the next Kyle Eastmond not looking to sign more imports.

 

[The 18th Man]

Phil Gould spoke some home truths re: Super League and of the English game improving. As opposed to denying there is a problem, I'd like to think this Four Nations will see to it that the ERL will meet to identify how they are going to bring the game up to the standard seen here in the Southern Hemisphere.

 

[Joker's Wild]

It it painfully obvious that the English backs are not up to scratch and when guys like George Carmont are superstars over in the ESL it should ring massive alarm bells about that comps ability to produce them.

The truth sometimes hurts

 

[JasonE]

I don't think they will ever reduce the number of imports because the fans and the clubs themselves seem reluctant to do so.
They keep finding ways of getting players off quota, teams like Wakefield and HKR for example have over 10 overseas players.
Whoever is in charge, Lewis or Wood ? need to really start showing some leadership and put an end to this nonsense.

 

[Billythekid]

Phil Gould spoke some home truths re: Super League and of the English game improving. As opposed to denying there is a problem, I'd like to think this Four Nations will see to it that the ERL will meet to identify how they are going to bring the game up to the standard seen here in the Southern Hemisphere.

We all know that the ESL needs to improve but what Gould is suggesting would do the opposite. Taking away all of Engalnds best players and putting them in the NRL would destroy the ESL and end up leading to even less juniors.

They need to lessen the amount of overseas imports and focus on improving their own juniors.

I also think that one of the biggest problems is coaching. It's clear that players in the ESL just aren't coached as well PARTICULARLY in defense.

This is an area where they really can get help from the NRL.

 

[Apey]

Subtle?

I'm guessing this is the first time you've heard it from him then, lol.

 

[The 18th Man]

We all know that the ESL needs to improve but what Gould is suggesting would do the opposite. Taking away all of Engalnds best players and putting them in the NRL would destroy the ESL and end up leading to even less juniors.

They need to lessen the amount of overseas imports and focus on improving their own juniors.

I also think that one of the biggest problems is coaching . It's clear that players in the ESL just aren't coached as well PARTICULARLY in defense.

This is an area where they really can get help from the NRL.

I've covered those two points in another thread, 100% agree.

As for Gould, I was more talking the idea of 30 of their best youngsters and putting them in our system for two years, sending them back to the UK and sending another 30 of their best here for two years.

I am not for sending ALL of their best players to the NRL. That is to the detriment of their compeition and ours as we hold our young talent back. I do believe players like Burgess, Ellis etc do improve their games here and I'd encourage more of their top players to challenge themselves here at least for a season or two. Not all, just some their elite. This would force the hand of clubs to replace a Burgess, a Ellis with a home grown product and thus the cycle continues. In a perfect world perhaps....

 

[Chook Norris]

definitely far from subtle lol; his rant went on for about 25 minutes at the very least.

 

[Didgi]

Teams should look at loaning one of their best or better players out to an NRL club for a year. They play in the NRL for a year, then take that intensity back to the ESL. If every year we have, say 3 internationals, 3 fringe internationals and 8 of the better players come over. One per club, develop their games massively. Imagine having Roby, Tomkins, Sinfield etc over here for a year. Obviously no ESL club would want to lose an international for a season, but even if a solid, young player came over.

 

[nqcowboy87]

It it painfully obvious that the English backs are not up to scratch and when guys like George Carmont are superstars over in the ESL it should ring massive alarm bells about that comps ability to produce them.

The truth sometimes hurts

also and having to pull a player out of the nsw cup, and thats not taking a stab at widdop, but they should be picking players who have experience

 

[ParraFan09]

I think more English players need to come down here. having juniors come through isnt gunna help because at the end of the day they arent playing against the best of the best on a weekly basis, The only way the English game will improve is for some of the youngsters to play in the NRL for a few years. as was mentioned earlier. the first 3 guys i would be bringing down are. S. Tomkins, K. Eastmond & J. Graham.

 

[Evil Homer]

There's nothing new or subtle about Gould's contempt for the Super League.

Super League isn't a park competition. The players are already playing at a high level and at most clubs being coached at a high level, and standards should only improve. In fact the worst Super League coach is now the England coach. The fact is that Australia have a far bigger playing pool, and among that are a far greater set of athletes of which RL has the pick, hence freaks like Inglis are continually produced. More than anything, England needs to expand the playing pool.

 

[Kurt Angle]

No, England more than anything needs coaching.

Take their players away, there will be no marquee talent to draw crowds and sponsorship. MacGuire showed with Wigan how coaching can turn around a team there.

While it won't turn around the current generation, they will at least be able to put in respectful performances, and stop the cowering fear England teams have had once they play Australia.

The best thing Gould could do is go over there and become the national director of coaching and development.

 

[1 Eyed TEZZA]

Yeah I don't think their issues are that bad. The import rule is not necessarily bad. Think of it here in the NRL. Would banning half of Queenslands' players from the NRL help improve the development of NSW players? No. Most of these players rise to challenges. Its the challenges and how they deal with them that makes them great.

Coaching at lower level will help a lot, its clear that their best players can stand along side our best players, we just have more of them. NZ are producing some real talent too. Its no surprise either with the amount of Kiwis coming through. But its in the lower grades that players aren't getting the push they need. It just appears that the coaches in Europe are happy with just playing the game rather then trying to revolutionize the game with new techniques and philosophies.

Another thing I think should be pointed out, the NRL is a unique competition. Iv heard followers of both codes say its the toughest Rugby comp in the world of both codes. Whether or not it is true is a matter of opinion and I dont know, but I do know that the NRL is bloody tough.

 

[Johns Magic]

Yeah I don't think their issues are that bad. The import rule is not necessarily bad. Think of it here in the NRL. Would banning half of Queenslands' players from the NRL help improve the development of NSW players? No. Most of these players rise to challenges. Its the challenges and how they deal with them that makes them great.

I think this would probably be a better argument if you took into account who actually goes over to the ESL.

The vast majority of the time its fringe NRL players or guys who are past their best. They are not the yardstick of the NRL that the ESL has to aspire to, and they take up spots that local English players could have.

 

[1 Eyed TEZZA]

I think this would probably be a better argument if you took into account who actually goes over to the ESL.

The vast majority of the time its fringe NRL players or guys who are past their best. They are not the yardstick of the NRL that the ESL has to aspire to, and they take up spots that local English players could have.

Mostly yes, but there are alot of players over there who would still walk into an NRL side. Hodgeson, Buderus, King, Monahaghn, Orford. Past their best yes, but still able to crack it and be competitive in the NRL.

 

[Evil Homer]

I think this would probably be a better argument if you took into account who actually goes over to the ESL.

The vast majority of the time its fringe NRL players or guys who are past their best. They are not the yardstick of the NRL that the ESL has to aspire to, and they take up spots that local English players could have.

No its not, only in a few cases are there fringe NRL players. Usually at poor clubs such as Harlequins and Bradford. The vast majority would still easily walk into NRL sides and often do once their SL careers are over.

 

[fred95]

It it painfully obvious that the English backs are not up to scratch and when guys like George Carmont are superstars over in the ESL it should ring massive alarm bells about that comps ability to produce them.

The truth sometimes hurts

The truth as I see it is that the poms were shafted by officials all game long. I thought we were better than the touring team but, until we beat them fair and square, I am mortified at the undeserved criticism, the blatent and sarcastic attack by the Sydney media and commentators at the ground.