Top five ways to improve rugby league

Great to see different ideas Chris! I think every foul is a bit much though and there is no need to change it to 5 minutes I just believe the refs need to start actually using it. I can't remember the last time I saw a sin bin, but I can remember all the sin binning offences every year that were "put on report" like that was some sort of punishment. I think they should get rid of the ref putting people on report : it's not his job and he shouldn't worry about the effects of the dangerous tackle/foul play beyond the effect that they have on the game he is currently refereeing e.g he should sent them for ten if it is a repeat or serious offence. The lack of respect for refs comes down to how much rubbish they let everyone get away with, they wouldnt even send Reynolds after had head higher someone then tripped another, I mean if you aren't gunna send someone off for that you never will.

From someone who grew up watching the Eels in the 80's and is now an A League fan the NRL can learn a few things if they can put their pride to one side. Having an away section will help the atmosphere, the first reply to that comment is always 'but we are mature enough to sit together' which is true but having an away section will create the atmosphere & get people more involved in their team. Trust me, just try it - I want a strong NRL in Sydney so my winters are covered & make it harder for the GWS Giants to stay in Western Sydney.

scrums. what happened to the contest ? they have become a running joke and needs to be fixed.

Interesting idea Chris and deserves consideration. Of course it would have to be as a result of illegal pay, but I see merit in it. Ice Hockey for example has a 'cooling off' period for players who commit dangerous actions.

Also we put a player on report every time a foul is committed. Why not punish them during the game so we can get on with it and not get these stupid grade one offence, enter early guilty plea, escape suspension only to later in the year miss a grand final due to carryover points from a prior similar minor (grade one) offence.

Hi Adam, why is it? We send players off the field for being on the receiving end of a head high tackle, a high shoulder charge or any other attack to the head due to the concussion rule whilst the offending player gets to stay on the field...... If you ask me that was the worst idea in a long time, not mine. I believe that you will see a much better game as there will be a lot less penalties and stoppages due to foul play. They will be put in a 5 minute sin bin, but may return to the field early if their team is scored against whilst they are off similar to a power play in ice hockey.

Sin bin a player every time a foul is committed? Worst idea I've read in a long time. The game would become a farce

Not sure where "Kogorah" is but Kogarah is a great ground. Unfortunately, like the other suburban grounds, it has become a liability with small crowds, making it hard to justify playing there. ANZ Stadium and Allianz are great grounds with exceptional facilities. The game needs to evolve to survive and suburban grounds just don't cut it anymore. They have a role to play for historical rounds like the Bulldogs' back to belmore thing, but big stadiums are the future of the game.

I'd would be watching too. Unfortunately though, it's still cricket season.

Yesterday I saw a reply of the 1972 Grand Final and apart from all the cheap shots, the game of rugby league was pretty good back then. It wasn't that different to rugby union. When the ball went into touch there was a scrum, not a tap. Markers could strike at the ball. If the marker wasn't set the man playing the ball could tap and run. The ball was moved along the back line more often than not, and possession seemed to change frequently and without the predictability of today's game. When players tapped the ball, it had to leave the hand and the scrums were fast and furious. If rugby league was played like that today, I would be watching.

Baracuda, if you had read what I said carefully you would have seen I was fully in favour of video refs and that the complaint is against those few instances where mistakes are made. The anger against video refs is to do with those few 'obvious' cases where errors have been made, and even the ref bosses at times indicate a mistake has been made. But having a video ref there is far far better in the TV age than not having them. All I was suggesting is that efforts need to be made to seek to reduce the potential of those few blunders being made. Perhaps that means having three video refs as a panel to ensure misinterpreted information is reduced. But I am quite aware that perfection is impossible and some decisions are virtually toss of the coin matters. As for saying it to their face, isnt that what the Rugby League public and the news media have been doing over and again. I'm merely reflecting what is already an issue for many supporters.

Don't mind the biff, as long as it's two players face to face, and not a cheap shot from behind.

Hi Baracuda, By highlight, I was talking about a try, a big line break or a great tackle. I just think that the game is what should be the spectacle not turn it into a soap opera and try to create controversy by showing replay after replay of a lost ball to determine whether or not they have lost the ball or had it stripped after the referee had already made a decision and it turns out to be incorrect.

I would rather go to Homebush ( and we get to about 8 - 9 games every season) than re-visit 2000 - 2001 when we were kicked out of the comp and had nowhere to go and watch at all.

As counter point to 5 I think a great improvement would be forcing any fan championing the shoulder charge to suffer repeated blows to the head.

"Replays for highlights only" What constitutes a highlight? About as grey as a concussion test.

And BRING BACK THE BIFF !!!

JH I still wake up screaming the vision of JWH and Sam Kasiano beech slapping each other over a twenty minute period last year . To me that was way more damaging for rugby league than a bit of a donnybrook . It was obvious Kasiano had been sent out to aggravate JWH in an attempt to initiate retaliation . Sure penalise the niggler but will they get it right or will that just see a more sinister form a niggle creep into the game . BRING BACK THE BIFF !!!!

I actually hate the biff mate. But my solution is to penalise the niggle - call it uneccesary contact or unsportsmanlike conduct. Which would in turn eradicate the biff, both of which I think would be good for the game's image.

As I said some clubs can't say no to the money. And thus we are stuck using the worst designed, most soulless stadium in the world. It's like that rich kid in class who nobody likes, but if you go to his house his parents will buy you rollerblades (hey they were once cool) or a bike. So you make the effort every couple of weeks to score a cool present. But don't enjoy the experience, and feel slightly ashamed being bought off like that.