Jusf watched, on Vimeo, the Widnes v Saints game 1990. Reminded me just how tough the game was in those days. Rules were applied fairly loosely but the physical contact, phew.
Couldn't help but wonder how some of today's players would cope.
Jusf watched, on Vimeo, the Widnes v Saints game 1990. Reminded me just how tough the game was in those days. Rules were applied fairly loosely but the physical contact, phew. Couldn’t help but wonder how some of today’s players would cope.
Absolutely, 100% tougher. Today’s Referee’s are too rigid, not allowing any “proper bif action”, players should be allowed to “rough” players up around the PLB as I think that is what creates the intensity and the needle that is needed in the game.
Now, any foul no matter how insignificant it is, results in an immediate penalty.
In the older days players were playing a full 80 minutes. No subs, or limited subs, and not the changeovers you see now. When I think of players like Mills, Hogan, Ramsey, Grima, Sorenson, Gorley. Those were hard players who never gave an inch. And backs like Mick George and Eric Hughes took no prisoners either.
If you want an example, check out the full match highlights of the 1984 Challenge Cup Final on YouTube.
It was a different game 30 years ago.
There is absolutely no comparison in terms of physical fitness and an average team today (using i day’s rules) would absolutely massacre teams from 30 years ago.
that said if they met in the car park and fisticuffs ensued pound got pound In bet on the lads from the 89’s
Worth a watch, loads of Widnes connections. Tougher.....maybe, better skills..... I'll let you decide.
Watching a load of old games during lockdown, whilst I don't doubt that the average modern player is fitter, faster, stronger and more enduring than his bygone counterparts, I'd argue till I'm blue in the face that the modern rugby skillset does not stand up to comparison. The current crop of SL players are nowhere near the same level of footballers that a lot of older generation players were. And whilst you could pick up the best players from yesteryear, drop them in 2020 and they'd adapt, I don't think you could do the reverse in a lot of cases.
The Widnes teams of the 70s/80s were successful for a number of reasons, including fitness and strength. Were they tougher - definitely. Did they play a more open style of rugby - definitely. Would the players fit into the modern game - no reason why not.
Today's game is more predictable, with coached game plays. Those past Widnes teams played a more attractive flowing game. Commentators now rave over an offload or a pin point pass or a hard bone shaking tackle. All of this was standard for Widnes teams at the time. We also had forwards who could bust a tackle and backs with flair and speed. The kicking game was not too bad either.
Perhaps looking through rose tinted glasses, but I would be interested in the views of players of that era, comparing the game of the 60s/70s/80s to the current game.
My recollections of the 70s teams was that they could play rugby. But if any team wanted to try to rough us up and break our rhythm, and there were some, then we could certainly accomodate them.
The first live game I watched was 1996.
Being 31, I don't remember early 90s and of course anything before that.
The game now is played noticeably different to those eras. Looks a lot more off the cuff, less structured, players happy to take more risks and more entertaining back then.