Just remember there is like 3 different playing fields within the NRL, if it was even then we would be doing ok.
The NRL is now the WWF and decides every year who will win the GF, who will be successful, who will be made an example of and who will fail. I suspected this for some time before the GF between Us and Souths, after that day and every day since they prove the sport is now run by betting, corruption and fukwits.
They have the ability to shape the season with the draw, the refs, the fines, the bans, the TV games and many other decisions they make.