What's the biggest upgrade in RL history?

[The Hallucinating Goose]

It's a week since I started the opposing thread to this so today we have, what is the one thing, small or large, that you think is the biggest upgrade in RL history?

[The Hallucinating Goose]

So I'll get us started with, erm... err... how about- nah not that... err... 

...just thinking... erm... hmm...

 

 

I'll get back to you on that one!

[gingerjon]

State of Origin over the interstate games that preceded it.

[Stanley30]

Coffee instead of bovril

[Archie Gordon]

HIA instead of smelling salts.

[dufftown1]

Corner flag now being in play is a huge improvement

[welshmagpie]

Belle Vue

 

[The Phantom Horseman]

Having watched a fair amount of footage from the mid-1960s and earlier, the introduction of the tackle count which specifically (I believe) meant it was no longer smart for the marker to try and kick the ball at the PTB was a huge step forward. The PTB area is of course still a long way from being perfect, but it was an abject mess when it was a free-for-all.

[M j M]

Abolishing the ruck and maul in 1899 and, after faffing around with scrums to restart play for a while, replacing them with the play-the-ball in 1906.

Easily the most important and defining change made to upgrade Rugby League from the appalling mess that remains the sport of rugby union.

[doc]

40-20 . If only it had been around when Jonathan Davies was playing, he'd have had a field day.

[Douglas]

The slow expansion and amalgamation of  RL competitions in Australia into the NSWRL competition to become today’s behemoth NRL competition.

[Martyn Sadler]

Melbourne Storm, which demonstrated that the NRL could succeed deep in AFL territory and despite the total lack of support by the AFL-obsessed media.

It demonstrated (or should have) that with the right organisation, the right people, the right promotion and the right financial support, Rugby League should be able to succeed anywhere.

[The Hallucinating Goose]

1 hour ago, M j M said:

Abolishing the ruck and maul in 1899 and, after faffing around with scrums to restart play for a while, replacing them with the play-the-ball in 1906.

Easily the most important and defining change made to upgrade Rugby League from the appalling mess that remains the sport of rugby union.

When were lineouts abolished? Or did we just not have them to start with?

[M j M]

10 minutes ago, The Hallucinating Goose said:

When were lineouts abolished? Or did we just not have them to start with?

1897. Replaced by the absolute chaos of the punt-out (or an optional scrum). Basically you kicked the ball back into play, you could kick it in any direction.

[Just Browny]

Bogs at a Warrington home game, from 2003 to 2004

[Douglas]

30 minutes ago, Martyn Sadler said:

Melbourne Storm, which demonstrated that the NRL could succeed deep in AFL territory and despite the total lack of support by the AFL-obsessed media.

It demonstrated (or should have) that with the right organisation, the right people, the right promotion and the right financial support, Rugby League should be able to succeed anywhere.

Totally agree but it also showed what was needed to succeed like very deep pockets in the form of nearly $100 million by news limited and timing with players signed up from culled clubs like the hunter mariners and western reds.

[The Blues Ox]

The 6 again rule.

[JohnM]

Without doubt, unequivocally, the involvement of Sky.

Edited May 4 by JohnM

[The Hallucinating Goose]

2 hours ago, M j M said:

1897. Replaced by the absolute chaos of the punt-out (or an optional scrum). Basically you kicked the ball back into play, you could kick it in any direction.

Sounds like fun!!

[The Hallucinating Goose]

2 hours ago, Just Browny said:

Bogs at a Warrington home game, from 2003 to 2004

I'm gonna need further details on this.

[gingerjon]

12 minutes ago, The Hallucinating Goose said:

I'm gonna need further details on this.

Wilderspool to Halliwell Jones, at a guess?

[The Hallucinating Goose]

1 hour ago, gingerjon said:

Wilderspool to Halliwell Jones, at a guess?

I want a detailed description of what the bogs were like at Wilderspool though.

Edited May 4 by The Hallucinating Goose

[Douglas]

12 minutes ago, The Hallucinating Goose said:

I want a detailed description of what the bogs were like at Wilderspool though.

I’d rather we didn’t hear about it.

[The Hallucinating Goose]

38 minutes ago, Douglas said:

I’d rather we didn’t hear about it.

I'm a caretaker in a gym. I know what bad bogs look like.

[Just Browny]

1 hour ago, The Hallucinating Goose said:

I want a detailed description of what the bogs were like at Wilderspool though.

Imagine a concrete room, I'd guess about 4m x 3m, no roof, with a half pipe gully running around on three sides to a hole in the ground. With a brick randomly located in the gully to act as a target.