So Aussie players not coming over is causing a drop in standard ?
If this were the case, ho come we haven't beaten the Aussies in a test series for quite so long.
Back in the glory days, when Wigan (and others) were signing overseas players at the top of their game, we still couldn't beat them and nobody was bemoaning the drop in quality down under. In fact, by having the British game "nurturing" so many overseas players, they just got stronger and stronger.
With the current situation, where we have a decent (probably a record number) of British players at top NRL clubs, we may actually have a chance of finally beating them in a meaningful test series, which would be a huge boost for the game over here.
Everyone is talking about a lack in quality over here but, just because Leeds and Saints are struggling doesn't mean the game is going down the pan,.it just gives their fans something else to moan about.
If Cas were playing under the Leeds name, everyone would be raving about their fast open style of rugby and Hull seem to be doing what Wigan have done, by bullying other teams with a power game plus, having some quality to score plenty.
Although we may not have one of the "big four" dominating the comp, this season is THE most open competition in years, the very thing that SL has craved since it's inception.
It would be a brave man that predicted the 4 clubs that will make the play offs and although Leeds and Huddersfield appear to be battling it out for the wooden spoon, there is no certainty in this and nobody would have place that wager at the beginning of the season.
Just because "your" club is struggling, it doesn't make the whole comp low grade or poor quality.
There have been plenty of great games, plenty of upsets and uncertainty over who will win the big prize, which seems like a decent situation.