Everlovin' Antichrist said:
Mate, you're missing the point too.
League players, especially starters, play the majority of the game non-stop and in the case of backs, all the game. That's an 80 minute game in 90 or, for the pedantic, 95 minutes.
NFL players do not play anywhere near all the game and they certainly get the opportunity to re-charge the batteries through numerous breaks in play. The game takes four hours and it's not unusual for players to be sitting for 5 minutes at a time, 2 or 3 times a quarter.
NFL players have padding everywhere to cushion the contact, League players for the most part don't wear padding.
If you asked an NFL players to play without padding, he'd have you committed, yet League players do it week-in, week-out.
NRL players need and have more stamina, there's no doubt.
ah ok i see you've never taken a shot to the back with a helmet? or how about head on impact with another helmet..that sh!t hurts..the padding doesnt make the game soft..it makes every player a possible stuntman which in most cases is crazy..cause then you have guys trying to lay you out with some huge shot.
Yes i understand what you mean by saying league players are on the field longer and as you have also added the games run faster which means less breaks.. but the problem is its easy to take a few breaks during the play to regather your energy.
A Gridiron game can last from 3hours+ depending on how the teams try and play the game..if there are alot of incomplete passes then expect alot of time stopping , this doesnt mean you dont get tired..far from it..since the time stops then you will be spriniting more and more as game time isnt wasted by the play clock.
You also spend almost all your time on the field spriniting, as a corner back or any position in the secondray if a team converts on two 3rd downs you will be out on your feet as by the time you more then likely have already run around 120-150m within a few plays.
In league when runing back the 10 its easy the backs who are generally not involved for the first few plays..
just watch a game and tell me how often you see a team sprinting the 10m then sprinting up to make the tackle...if it did happen then id say league requires more stamina.
look at it this way,
Your defending, the ref has you 10m away..i get the ball run 7m then get tackled, you jog back 7m..its not really that exhausting..but then it changes after line breaks and etc which make the game alot more energy consuming.
Same thing goes with Gridiorn, you sprint 40m then if in position you make the tackle..if not you jog back and get ready to do it again until its either 4th down or a turn over occours...
The game is a start and stop game but when ur on the field you have to go 100% all out or you will be left behind, this is why i believe you require more fitness to play the sport cause unlike league when your on the field you cant go easy to catch your breath.
And yes im aware that Gridiorn has a defense, offense and special teams but having a a 5min break on the sideline doesnt do justice to how hard you have to run while on the field.
If you ever play a game of Gridiron then you'd understand what im trying to say.