It's gutter, cynical football.
Cleary's final try in The Game That Shall Not Be Named, I am convinced that the Panthers forwards were deliberately trying to block Walsh's view of Cleary. Cleary puts on a big burst right when the two forwards line up like an eclipse, which gives hit that crucial half second head start that he needs to go for the gap. It's not against the rules, of course, it's just... ugly.
If the NRL wants to continue to reward cynical football, this will continue for a long time. The issue as I see it is that fans from earlier periods will become more and more disillusioned, but it will be an entertainment product for a new generation who are willing to ignore the obvious cynicism and imbalances for the dopamine rush that 8 tries a match will bring.
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