I watched the ARL grand final on the weekend between the Glenora Bears and the Pt Chevalier Pirates (rather late repeat showing). I haven’t kept up with the Auckland competition in recent years.
It was played on a wet surface so ball handling was always going to be an issue and plenty of ball was spilled. The fans were keen although not a huge crowd at Mt Smart #2 ground.
What struck me was how different it was from when I was a lad. Back yonder, there were big players and there were small ones, with some in between. In this match, they all seemed huge. It was like sumo wrestling meets RL. They smacked into each other all game with gusto but conditions and perhaps the size of the players meant going through the defence was the only tactic used. It seemed like there were too many players on the pitch.
In the end it was 6-0 but probably should have been 0-0. I can’t say the game was exciting but at least absorbing due to the close scoreline. I thought how a person like me and probably 98% of the population would never make it in Auckland RL now as being of a huge frame with copious kilograms was a minimum requirement.
If RL in Auckland is to return to a game that many can aspire to playing, then something needs to be done. A 5 metre defensive line may reduce the impact of huge players hitting said line with speed. That and a few other tweaks would do the trick. As it is, the game I saw was too predictable in style and very limiting as to what body sizes could play.
