Monday Buzz: Nothing super about the standard of English competition
THE Super League has become nothing more than a retirement village for washed-up NRL players, writes PHIL ROTHFIELD.
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THE Super League has become nothing more than a retirement village for washed-up NRL players.
As shown over the weekend, the standard is about the equivalent of NSW Cup.
The Roosters and the Broncos put on a combined 80 points against St Helens and Wigan, allegedly two of the strongest clubs in the northern hemisphere.
That the Roosters won 38-12 without $3 million from last year’s salary cap best illustrates the enormous gap that now exists between the NRL and Super League.
Mitchell Pearce, James Maloney, Boyd Cordner, Jared Waerea- Hargreaves, Roger Tuivasa-Sheck and Michael Jennings were all missing from last year’s Roosters outfit. Yet they still won with ease.
It was a wonderful effort by the Roosters, highlighted by the form of youngsters Jayden Nikorima at five-eighth and Latrell Mitchell at right-side centre.
Anyone wanting to write off the Roosters this year should watch a replay of their victory, even allowing for the standard of the opposition.
The TAB reacted on Saturday morning by tightening their premiership quote from $17 to $15.
It would have been more but for the poor quality of St Helens.
The English teams have a huge advantage playing on their home ground against jetlagged Aussies who are still well below their best at this time of the year.
This competition just does nothing for international rugby league.
I know the Poms beat New Zealand in the Test series last summer.
But without the Burgess boys, Gareth Widdop, James Graham and co, their domestic competition has little to offer apart from being a superannuation nest egg for old NRL players.
Guys like Kurt Gidley, Keith Galloway, Chris Houston, Glenn Stewart and Willie Mason who can’t get a start in the NRL anymore.
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