Was the game more interesting to watch in the 80 and 90s then now?

[broncos2010]

Having watched some classic matches recently of the 80s and early 90s got me thinking how much more interesting and fun watching football back then would have been, none of this wrestling on the ground stuff slowing down the play the ball and all this other rubbish in the modern game,it looks so much more free flowing as well back in those days.

Back in those days it used to be the skilled players that used to rule now these days the game is dominated by the big boopers like G Burgess etc, players just trying to get bigger and bigger and there is no more space for the little skilful guys I think.


Would love to hear some thoughts of the old fellas on here...

 

[LOYAL DRAGON]

It was much a triba war.

 

[typicalfan]

Not enough attrition in the modern game. Slowing tactics have always existed but wrestling is a blight on the game. Reduce interchange to 8 or 6.

 

[LineBall]

I think most people would say that today's players are fitter, stronger and faster than ever before, but not better footballers.

Two of my favourites to watch from the 80's are the 86 Grand final and 85 Challenge Cup Final.

 

[Walt Flanigan]

Not enough attrition in the modern game. Slowing tactics have always existed but wrestling is a blight on the game. Reduce interchange to 8 or 6.

Pretty much this.

Taking out the shoulder charge and the knee-jerk reactions towards the odd fight, aren't helping either.

Oh and not having a video ref was pretty good too.

 

[Bobby DIGital]

In a word, yes.

The only downside back then was there were even more Sydney clubs.

 

[PARRA_FAN]

Did anyone catch NRL 360 last week?

Paul Kent made a comparison to a match in 1993, to a match a few weeks ago.

It was interesting to see the difference in time when players play the ball, set for a scrum or a penalty kick. Today's match was slower.

Not saying the speed of the game was quicker in 1993, but there were less wrestling techniques in the play the ball, not too many play the ball infridgements.

There are so many tackling techniques in today's game that try and slow the play the ball down. Not sure whether referee's should penalise this more, but then again we are sick of seeing the constant penalties in the play the ball.

Also I watched a game in 1989 that was replayed on Fox the other night. Good game to watch.

The games between 1989, 1993 and 2013 were very different.

In 1989 they had the 5 metre rule, a bit harder to gain metres, forwards barging up the middle, scrums were a contest, and you had key players that had good vision, like the Sterling's, Langer's, Stuart's, a deep kick into the corner, or a chip and chase, grubber kick. I feel we dont see enough halfbacks doing those sort of tactics today.

1993, the game wasnt too different, the one major rule change, the 10m was just brought in. The game was a bit faster and more open to the outside backs. The scrums did lose a bit of contest, but it didnt surprise to a lot people that you would see the odd differential penalty, or one against the head. Nowadays, people would fall off their chair if they saw that.

Prop forwards didnt just barge up the middle, they had decent passing and kicking skills. People would be shocked to see Matthew Scott or George Rose, throw a cut out pass to a winger.

Also fair dinkum high tackle to the head was an automatic send off, or a punch up would result in a sin bin, but only the blokes that started it.

Now the other night when Ennis was talking to the referee, back in 1989 and also 1993, you'd get sent to the sin bin. The referee's would not tolerate the way Ennis spoke the referees, especially Bill Harrigan.

I guess today, blokes are more athletic, there are skills involved, hence the game is quicker, but a lot of times you dont see players with a good football brian. Like I mentioned with the Sterling's and Langer's back then, not too many today have that vision. Although IMO Cameron Smith is a smart footballer.

I like to see some tactics from the late 80s early 90s brought back in today's game to make it more interesting.

 

[MSIH]

Spot the people whose teams are getting prepped for Mad Monday.

 

[allsportdvd]

The game in the 80's was so different & I love it.

Where else can you see contested scrums, fights, striking in the play the ball, passes that go miles backwards & intentional kicking for touch?????

 

[betcats]

Spot the people whose teams are getting prepped for Mad Monday.

Are you saying the game is played the same today as it was 20 years ago?

There is a massive difference, so why is it so hard to believe people genuinely prefer it how it was 20years ago to now?

Funnily enough I think Manly are one of the better teams to watch, your comment is stupid though.

 

[TheDalek079]

early 80s is the best. receive the kick off, then kick it straight back to the other team. we need more of that nowadays

 

[magpie4ever]

A big fat YES

 

[Perth Red]

Yes in the 90's but that might just be nostalgia!

The game really needs to speed up the play of the ball, reduce the interchange bench to 3 and substitutions down to 4 a game. That would open it right up and bring the small skillful players back tot he forefront of the game.

I don't get the sense any less tries are being scroed these days but majority of them are after a penalty and involve 5 runs and a kick to the corner.

 

[DC_fan]

I would have to say it was.

While we have some great athletes playing today, we don't have a whole lot of great football players.

 

[gUt]

The game has only gotten more interesting to me as I've gotten older, so no.

 

[magpie4ever]

The game has only gotten more interesting to me as I've gotten older, so no.

So you only got interested in the game when you turned 70; in your 50s and 60s you were to busy partying.:lol:

 

[gUt]

how dare you sir

 

[magpie4ever]

how dare you sir

:lol:

 

[Springs]

Did anyone catch NRL 360 last week?

Paul Kent made a comparison to a match in 1993, to a match a few weeks ago.

It was interesting to see the difference in time when players play the ball, set for a scrum or a penalty kick. Today's match was slower.

Not saying the speed of the game was quicker in 1993, but there were less wrestling techniques in the play the ball, not too many play the ball infridgements.

There are so many tackling techniques in today's game that try and slow the play the ball down. Not sure whether referee's should penalise this more, but then again we are sick of seeing the constant penalties in the play the ball.

Also I watched a game in 1989 that was replayed on Fox the other night. Good game to watch.

The games between 1989, 1993 and 2013 were very different.

In 1989 they had the 5 metre rule, a bit harder to gain metres, forwards barging up the middle, scrums were a contest, and you had key players that had good vision, like the Sterling's, Langer's, Stuart's, a deep kick into the corner, or a chip and chase, grubber kick. I feel we dont see enough halfbacks doing those sort of tactics today.

1993, the game wasnt too different, the one major rule change, the 10m was just brought in. The game was a bit faster and more open to the outside backs. The scrums did lose a bit of contest, but it didnt surprise to a lot people that you would see the odd differential penalty, or one against the head. Nowadays, people would fall off their chair if they saw that.

Prop forwards didnt just barge up the middle, they had decent passing and kicking skills. People would be shocked to see Matthew Scott or George Rose, throw a cut out pass to a winger.

Also fair dinkum high tackle to the head was an automatic send off, or a punch up would result in a sin bin, but only the blokes that started it.

Now the other night when Ennis was talking to the referee, back in 1989 and also 1993, you'd get sent to the sin bin. The referee's would not tolerate the way Ennis spoke the referees, especially Bill Harrigan.

I guess today, blokes are more athletic, there are skills involved, hence the game is quicker, but a lot of times you dont see players with a good football brian. Like I mentioned with the Sterling's and Langer's back then, not too many today have that vision. Although IMO Cameron Smith is a smart footballer.

I like to see some tactics from the late 80s early 90s brought back in today's game to make it more interesting.

The game just ten years ago was very different. It's pretty much between now and then all the bullshit rules and tactics have been introduced. 2005 was the peak for me, since then only a few teams have had the attacking flair like they did back then.

The tackling techniques used today are the major problem in my opinion, along with wrestling. Teams are coached to have two players take the ball carrier up high and hold him for several seconds until he stops moving, then have another player take the legs and then hold him down for several more seconds. Since holding the player up doesn't count as a holding down penalty the refs are powerless to stop it. I heard Mark Geyer once say they were lucky if they got 3 or 4 seconds to hold down the player. Now tackles can last for 10 seconds.
This has been influenced by those stupid dominant/surrender calls, plus the fact that a good low tackle isn't rewarded at all. You aren't allowed to hold onto the legs for more than a second it seems and if a player flops on to slow it down it's an automatic penalty.

And then of course that leads to bigger=better. With big players able to bust through high tackles being clubs' best assets. Little guys who get bumped off when they go high aren't as valuable now, despite the fact they could be excellent legs tacklers. Plus with the much slower play-the-balls the little guys have a lot less effect on big slow props, since the big guys are always set and ready and rarely out of steam.
See George Burgess now. It's rare he gets slowed down in the play-the-ball as most players have to go low on him. That leads to a quick play-the-ball that itself has led to something like 15 Souths tries this season.

 

[MSIH]

Are you saying the game is played the same today as it was 20 years ago?

There is a massive difference, so why is it so hard to believe people genuinely prefer it how it was 20years ago to now?

Funnily enough I think Manly are one of the better teams to watch, your comment is stupid though.

It probably is a valid question, but it's no coincidence it's always posed at the arse end of each season by fans of clubs who are out of the running.