...or play a lot more touch football at junior level, removing the edge the big lads have altogether?
Anyway, DHM is right. Its laughable that the best halfback SL has produced over the past 20 years was a player who 9 times out of 10 folded completely against the Aussies, because he simply didn't have the sort of disciplined game required at that level despite having all the skills. Also laughable that a centre like Yeaman, who is one of the worst passers of the ball I've seen in that position, is somehow England standard. Or that our own Hardaker can continue to be picked at centre for over half a season inside one of Sl's top wingers, and yet have no more idea how to get him the ball after half a season than after one game.
From what I've seen of our U20s they seem to be pretty well drilled TBH, but I think that the sport as a whole is playing long-term catch-up to make up for years of absolute neglect of junior development.
The other issue I'd add is psychological. Hammerings do occur in the NRL, but they're far rarer than SL. Compare and contrast Leeds' reaction against Wigan and Wire - in one game we never ever looked like trying to claw back, in the other we at least tried to stem the flow. Then last night I watched two NRL games which exemplify the difference between SL and NRL attitudes. Canterbury were 18-0 up against St george after about 20 minutes, scored tries just before and after halftime, and yet only won 28-20. Why? Because St george, whilst well-beaten, simply didn't throw the towel in at any stage, despite probably the worst first 30 minutes I've seen from an NRL side this year. NRL sides are EXPECTED to do that, and it happens more often than not. Then the Bronocs got beaten 12-0 by the Cowboys, with the first try not coming until about 65 minutes in, on the back of huge defence by both sides throughout.
The issue is, even the likes of Widnes, Broncos - and ourselves recently - very rarely show any kind of bottle as a team when we start to lose. Heads drop, body language sucks, and fans and players alike seem to take this as acceptable. It shouldn't be.