Hi ladels and gentlespoons, I channel surfed across the last 20 mins of this game, and was interested to notice the following: It took 15 mins before the ref blew a whistle (75th min mark). 1 ref. No constant whining from the players about decisions. No captains running up to question the refs to slow down plays No diving No staying down once tackled to get a video replay penalty No cannonball tackles No storm/souths style of play (chicken wings, grapples, etc) No refs or touchies looking to blow penalties - rather looking to let the game flow. By the end, not only was I impressed with the game but I was kinda embarrassed about the state of the nrl in general. I think we all miss the game of rugby league as we knew it, but it seems to live...in the ESL.
^ That and I think everyone's willingness not to mull over every second of the game in slo-mo, and then having the media do a beat-up about any mistakes. And of course the game played in the correct spirit. We look like whiny bubs in comparisons (not us Manly fans...just everyone else.)
