flippikat
First Grade
- Messages
- 5,631
Some of the difference now is travel - in the 1980s you wouldn't have Origin in Perth on Wednesday night, then your club playing the Warriors in Auckland the following weekend - which is what stopped Panthers rep players from backing up after Origin 2.I am sure when I used to watch the NRL in the 80's and maybe early 90's, you would have players playing for their Club sides a few days after playing in Origin, I know player welfare as it is now they wouldn't be allowed to do that. but sure it used to happen.
It's the price we pay for expansion of the game's footprint, and the logistics will only get MORE challenging with Perth, PNG & (possibly) Christchurch added - adding weight to the argument that a clear rep window is the way forward.