In his latest column, Sky Sports' Phil Clarke asks rugby league fans to have their say on whether the rules of the game are more important than entertainment...
For the last two weekends, I've binge-watched my favourite sport. I saw all six Magic Weekend games in Newcastle and managed to enjoy seven at the Summer Bash. The iPro Cup final between York and Keighley was a brilliant game, with arguably the most exciting finale of all 13 matches.
It appears on the surface that the game is in great shape - the action speaks for itself. Therefore, at this point, you may say that it would be wrong for me to point out a perceived negative.
I'm fully aware that every sport has its challenges. Nothing is perfect, but I'm slightly worried about the direction the game is heading in terms of the rules and their application in matches.
Maybe we have it about as good as we will get it, but I am not sure. In a condensed window, I've seen almost 10 hours of rugby and observed how the officials apply some of the rules and interpret some of the others.
But I don't want to go into detail yet - at least not until I hear, or should I say read, your thoughts. It may be that I'm alone with this worry. There were over 50 tries scored at St James' Park; one or two of them contenders for try of the season. They had skill, speed, strength and that element of risk which adds to the excitement and gets you out of your seat.
We had a one-point win in dramatic fashion when Jacob Miller succeeded with his long-range drop goal. We saw a Swinton fight back from 20-0 down to win by one point, demonstrating that the game enables and facilitates the unpredictable, so what am I on about when I say that we've got a few issues?
I've been going to Rugby League games since before I could walk, and aim to do so when I probably can't walk again at the end of my life. I love it and only wish to see it prosper. I understand that the game and its rules evolve and it's obvious to most viewers that the entertainment is as good as it has ever been. The sport has survived by adapting and maintaining its core principle of fast, flowing rugby, in which tries are the most important thing that people want to see. I get this.
However, in our search to entertain, I'm concerned that we're slightly drifting off course. My voice is only one of thousands, and the opinion of others is perhaps greater than mine, but I think that we need a slight deviation when it comes to refereeing a match.
As I've already said, no sport is perfect and I'm aware that all professional sports are in the entertainment business, so it needs to be fast, look like fun and provide an exciting ending if it can. But I still think that you need to play by the rules.
So I'd like to put the question to the fans - this is my attempt at some basic market research before I share my thoughts next week.
I am not looking for any comments about referees' mistakes; I think that they all work very hard to be the best that they can be, and cannot see how they can dramatically alter. I'm more interested in your thoughts on whether they should apply more of the rules, as it seems to me that we ignore several now in an attempt to keep the game flowing.
Is that the way the fans think we should do it? Or do you think the referee should apply all of the rules, even if it means that there will be more stoppages and a more fractured game?
A Super League coach once said to me that the standard of referees was the biggest problem in the game. I disagree - the biggest challenge in the game is participation numbers. After that, I think that it is the way that we are moving in the application of the rules that poses the biggest challenge, but you may disagree.
Do you think that the referee should coach and advise the players to try to prevent penalties? Should he let them have a second attempt if they tap the ball in the wrong place? Is it acceptable if he ignores some rules if it means that the game keeps flowing and we have a low penalty count at the end of the match?
Please let me know your thoughts as we are all responsible for how the game will look and be played in 10 years' time.
Share your thoughts with Phil by commenting below (website only) or Tweet us @SkySportsRL