Where is the sport of rugby league heading in this country?
It’s a great question and one that the majority of the sport’s fraternity have answered with the word ‘backwards’.
And, Leeds boss Richard Agar was eager to highlight the increasing workload on players is affecting the quality of what is on show.
“It’s there for everyone to see, it did last year and it is doing this year and then when you take 36 of the best players out of the competition and throw them in a test match in the middle of a Super League round and then throw in three games in ten days off the back of it course it’s going to affect it.
With former Super League board member Shane Richardson slamming the ‘backwards’ nature of Super League and Huddersfield winger Jermaine McGillvary stressing that the quality is on the decline, there have been increasing concerns about the direction in which the sport is heading. And, Agar was keen to add to that argument.
“Shane Richardson knows what he’s talking about Jermaine McGillvary is an elite player in our competition and they echoed some fairly common sentiments within the game at the moment.
“There’s difficulties from all ends, particularly given what’s happened in the world and the game in the last 18 months.
“We totally understand the challenges the sport and clubs face but whether we’ve got this one right is up for debate.
“I think our game should be striving to get our strongest England team out at the end of the year, but the load on our players is a big one and the bulk of my press conferences have been what sort of team am I going to have out.
“It’s a difficult situation, I understand every point of view and angle, but we’re looking for some cohesive leadership.”
