I think you need to look at how Rugby League was refereed in 2005 and look at how it is refereed in 2011.
In 2005, if I remember correctly, it was all about getting the tacklers off the tackled player in a hurry. In the previous seasons, the Roosters (and others copied it)had been using the gang-tackle to slow down the opposition in possession, so they could get back into their defensive pattern. Sheens had the Tigers playing an up-beat tempo game using quicker, more agile forwards and the bigger opposition could not slow down the play, because of the refereeing style of the time. This was a big part of our win!
In 2011, I am sick of watching five players hold down the tackled player, while each tackler slowly peels off the player, one after the other. I watched both games tonight and the slowness of the play-the-ball is killing a lot of the attacking play. In fact, I heard a commentator quoting that the average points scored in the games to date in 2011 IS THE LOWEST SINCE 1994.
I do not think the Tigers have altered their game plans to reflect this change in the refereeing of the play-the-ball and the ruck in 2011.
I wonder, if we have the players, who will excell in the game as it is played in 2011\. I think Farah's relatively poor season to date is in part due to the new game "style".
Rugby League is currently going through a boom. If the NRL do not get rid of Harrigan and (What's his offsiders name?) and get back to a refereeing style that promotes attacking, exciting football, the game will go back into the doldrums. I have turned off a lot of games this year, because it is becoming boring!