Quote bren2k="bren2k"The Aussies don't lay in the ruck per se - they do however seem to get away with a lot of wrestling and working over after the tackle is complete. They've also mastered the art of spoiling as they get up from a tackle, then standing with their knees/legs impeding the tackled player - Cameron Smith is one of the best/worst offenders, depending on your point of view.
I don't like to see it, but the players seem to have just adapted to it and for the most part, they just get on with it.
For those who believe that the NRL is a weekly whirlwind of intense and skillful games by the way - I've just watched the Sharks v Titans game from last weekend; that was an error-strewn bore-fest that Antipophiles will have you believe only happens in SL. The Knights v Raiders game wasn't much better.'"
To be fair last week's conditions for most matches in the NRL was shockingly poor.
Whilst I agree those games were not cracking, if you watch most weeks you see some sublime skills from all teams and the intensity is fantastic. Every team more or less has one often 2 or 3 real top class players, even the poorer teams, who can come up with some stunning plays.
The NRL is still the yardstick by which all other rugby competitions need to be compared against.
Origin yesterday was by no means a classic in relation to skills and eye catching plays, but again it was a very wet track and the defences were superb. NSW finally fronted up and showed some of the Queensland spirit in the last 10 Tim Grant really shook them up and the work rate by Robbie Farrah was sensational, they out Queenslanded Queensland.
Queensland halves had an off day and were too lateral/failed to control the game. I would doubt NSW will catch them on an off day again in game 3.
