I was referring to the ESL not the EPL ( that’s a different game ).
Let’s look at the last 10 winners
Apart from the top 3 or 4 you have some one offs , and I well remember in those years discussing on this very forum how things were being “ geared and greased “ to get these sides to win.
South’s in 2014 , the “ Pride of the League “ back so let’s make sure they get there.
Cowboys in 2015, Thurston had done everything ( except won a GF)
Sharks in 2016 , after being busted for drug cheating ( or was that after , if so how convenient) , Gallen, again had done everything and Sharks had never won , so time for a fairytale.
So 30% were “ unexpected “ , 70% from what I now call “ the big 4”.
Next 10 years will ONLY be the big 4 , it’s just geared that way , we, along with the rest are largely cannon fodder.
The only thing that would change is if a Saudi mega billionaire suddenly decided to take an interest in Rugby League and bought a club ( Manly as an example ) and said “ rightio I’m throwing 500 million in to this , you get the best coaches , the best players , the best facilities , and we’ll create a dynasty”.
The NRL have it all covered with the big 4, Queensland , Victoria , western Sydney , and Sydney.
They all rate on TV, they all have excellent facilities , they can all get the best players , they are all superbly funded.
Get used to it I think , and occasionally they’ll allow a non top 4 side to win as it’ll just get plain boring otherwise.
Almost to a tee , identical to the English Super League.
This is how Super League was always meant to be , the ARL lost , the past is the past.