Rugby league has always been about speed and flair.

The teams that have these, benefit with the new rules. The teams that dont have these, don't get any benefit.

There are more lopsided games as a result of this but as you say, it provides for a better spectacle overall.

Now more than ever, we need to change the way we play

Marki, I can't agree that RL has ALWAYS been about speed and flair, it ebbs and flows. I have witnessed extended periods of slugfest footy and Canterbury were no exception.
SLUGFEST: Late 80's and 90's: Dogs of War. 
SPEED AND FLAIR: Early 80's: The Entertainers.

ODF, I understand what you mean..... but I think its a case of exception to the rule rather than the norm

Like basketball, you will always have afew shorties (guys around 1.75-1.85m tall) but by and large most are pushing 2m or more

The period you mention made it worthwhile pursuing a forward dominated slugfest type game, but that doesn't mean you couldn't be competitive with speed and flair either.

Nowdays with the rules geared to a free flowing spectacle, you'd have to be absolutely perfect to pull off consecutive wins and even win a premiership with a slugfest gameplan

We need to get with the times

What about Brisbane....surely they have speed and flair

With the new rules, defence and execution are just as important as speed and flair..

For our side, execution, in particular bad passing cost us earlier in the season, defence has cost us recently,  even though passing and execution are better.

Our completions are fairly good, but the few errors we make are highlighted because we can't defend them..

For the Bronocs the biggest problem seem so to be execution, and a lack of fitness, hence resolve in defence.

So to win with the new rules teams need to be good in all areas..

Blow out scorelines are simply that superiority is amplified by the new rules, so the better team will always win and in many cases win big..

I don;t think that means the well beaten team is hopeless, they just need to address their deficiencies, our biggest problem is defence.  

I will not be surprised if the Broncos get their act together against us and kick on,their main problem is young players lacking patience and making dumb mistakes..  but on their day, they have the talent to beat any side..

The six again rule is not being applied with any semblance of consistency.  It varies considerably by referee , position of the game and is predominantly used in the early tackles in the count.  This may be because the refs are consciosly or subconsciously aware of the impact it has.  It also allows the referee to become the defacto team captain.  He gets to make the decision whether you take two points, gain distance from a kick etc.  Six again on tackle one may not be preferable to two points.
A suggestion, call advantage, play out the six, then revert to the penalty.  Still a similar deterrent, but allows the non offending team to decide what's better for them.
I've always believed referees should indicate advantage and not pulling out of their rear end as they see fit.

The way I see things, if the current trend continues, I can only see three genuine contenders emerging under these new rules and that's Melbourne, rorters and Parrascum. On a pinch if they improve a bit more you could add Penriff, manly and the kerniggits to that list as an outside chance. Any other teams that make the 8 will be cannon fodder, but I wont write any team off yet because they just might adapt and go on a run. As far as the Dogs go, on present form we will be trying our best to lift off the bottom of the table, so, with this in mind I cannot see why Pay continually fails to at least give a Katoa a run just to see what the bloke has got. We have nothing to lose and let's face it JMK is not showing any improvement in the position.

Mdog, I agree and I think that the six again should only apply when the markers are not square or the defence jumps too quickly. After a tackle is made, if the ref calls held or to release when on the ground, and the defence is not clear within say 3 seconds, OR during a scrum, if the defending team jumps before the ball is called out by the ref, then a penalty should be awarded instead of six again.

I think the refs want to be consistent and what they are really looking at is winning the collision or a dominant tackle, in that case as always the defence gets to linger.

The refs normally ask the players t move before calling 6 again, and a lot  of the calls are obvious..  

Teams like Parra and the Roosters are winning the collision, teams like the Storm are masters at moving just fast enough to keep the ref happy.

The rule is fine, weaker teams just need to improve their game and adapt.. mostly what is costing them is a lack of fitness, line speed, organisation and ability to hit hard in tackles. the rules reward good defence and attack..

It is harder to push the boundaries in defence and get an advantage... that doesn't mean every well drilled teams like the Storm can't do it... but it does mean less wrestle less chat between the players and the ref, more getting on with the game... and more action.. 

You are right in that Broncos are simply down on execution. They are also quite depleted with a big name up front (Fifita) and big name in backs (Staggs) missing. 

We on the other hand, don't have an execution problem. Our problem is we play wrongly. Our execution is in fact one of the highest in the league and we get more set restart piggy backs ot seems. 

In other words, there isn't much improvement left in the way we play. But Broncos just need to execute their plays better and all of a sudden they are easily a top 8 team. If they get Blake Green - watch out.

The set restart was brought in for the same reason the many penalties were called a couple of years ago which the NRL had to backflip after round 10......backlash.

What the six again rule does is try to eradicate the wrestle and clean up the ruck but without the backlash.

I think going forward (maybe after this season or next) I'd like to see the 6 again scraped and return to penalties.

You'd think by then, teams would have learnt to not wrestle and clear the ruck and so refs shouldn't have to blow too many penalties to keep it under control. Of course those like Melb will try to go back but if it's only them teams getting penalised heaps,  then do be it. I doubt there would be much backlash. 

The game is far better now than it has been for the last decade or so. 

It's the inconsistency of the application of the rule and the taking away of the options for the non offending team which may prove crucial.

Completed sets and time in possession is ranked only in front of Tits and Broncs... We’re last for tries scored...

How can execute when we cant create?
Trust me. We are playing as good as we can for the skill level we have and the shit gameplan.

Thinking we just need 1 or 2 players or thinking we just need to tweak our play is wishful and incorrect thinking. 

Improving our 90% execution of 3 possible tries per game to 98% isnt going to win you many games.

I'd rather we executed at 60% on the possibility of 10 tries a game. 

That’s a fair point... 
Weve only made 6 more errors with ball than your Rorters this year... Theyve had 33 line break assists to our 7.... 
Their mistakes are most likely made putting something on while ours are made bombing a try or making a hit up...

And not to let it slide; execution for us is a problem despite your claims... no matter how it’s happening... 

If it was as simple as the game plan, it would be easy to fix, coaches and players know how to play.

Braindead football eas mainly from the Des era and was a lack of quality in key positions.

Now the main problem is a general lack of quality in the side and a lack of punch in the forwards.

Your opinion that you know more sbout football than the coach and players is wrong, you don't know enough to know how wrong you are.

Lol at mitchell pearce....
Ref gave Manly a penalty for Knights being offside at the play the ball and Pearce claiming to ref they are borking the play the ball.

How about your fekking teammates dont jump or pre empt the gun and only move forward AFTER the ball is played by the tackled player.

Same goes for Roosters...and afew other teams

Does anyone else wonder if the guys in the bunker listen to the Nine or Fox commentators before they make their decisions?

On afew ocassions now, I have heard them use the same words as the commentators.

They just copied what Andrew Johns said on that last Manly disallowed try. 

Go Dogs...

A win is much better than a loss...

Not the start we were after ... bugger...

Great start.... Johnson breezes past Crichton & DWZ effort was horrendous to score

And how many BDP have been saying DWZ is NOT a fullback... Take that Dean Pay!!!!

#SackTheFarkingSkillsCoach

These guys have no idea how to catch n pass ffs

We are not playing that bad... agree DWZ at fullback is a mistake.

Our this defence is short every time Latrell appears.  Bigger problem than DWZ.  Similar instance Crichton steps Latrell,. Difference, cover coming across smothers him.

We deserved that try, playing well this game...

If we can fix that right edge defence we are a chance in this game, Souths are clunky and drop a few balls.

Apart from the disappointment of Souffs try, we have looked pretty good. Should Meaney be back at No.1 and DWZ on the wing.

That might be a good switch to  make for the second half.

We are playing a good style of footy, we need to stick with it.

Why should the ref call the ball out of the scrum. Not his role.  Holding the ball in is a legitimate tactic.  The doubt in the defense could lead to more attacking play from the scrum.