Don’t your points 3 & 4 already answer your own question about the quality of the squads or do you also need reminding that the 2022 side had Mybe, Mc Cullough, Mc Guire, Burns, Gosieweski, Woods, Burgess and Amone in its ranks?
If they are equal to the 2024 squad then who would you swap any of them for?
Liddle, Leilua certainly huge upgrades on what we had especially as they weren’t sin binned or constantly suspended like others.
Kyle Flanagan, Tom Eisenhuth were considered good signings or are you saying they aren’t?
3 byes and play the 2 premier teams in the comp during origin was certainly a softer draw and on top of that 2024 had the complete implosion of Souths, Broncos and Eels who have all sacked their coaches.
But somehow in your opinion it was like for like well I don’t agree and TBH I don’t think anyone with a fair mind would.