My personal opinion is that the problem has come about due to the Nrl clubs insistence of defense wins games. Cronk for instance doesn’t do anything amazing but what he does do is perfection. Short passes and cross kicks, percentage plays. He has been the half back clone that everyone has been trying to copy. Teams run there plays at the halfves to wear them out, put pressure on them and make tackles. On top of that the more trickier plays are more high risk and the game is now being played with a lot more structured, disciplined, wear-down, you’ll get you chance mindset.
The SJ, S Prince, Benji of the Nrl all have amazing individual brilliance born from a touch background which should be promoted. Have you seen how good some of the players are that play touch are? The balls they throw and lines they run are freakish. However their good games and bad games very quiet significantly, which is the issue.
Not sure of the answer but touch is a game that would help improve playmakers passing, stepping and decision making skills but at the same time the game needs to allow these players space and freedom to do there thing.