The "State of the Union" Series' massive passion, some brutal games. Compare to the "professional games now and the level of skill on display is comparatively rubbish.
I'd chalk it up to some of this lack of passion due to the loss of characters in the game. No side has heroes to cheer for or villians to scream at because the game (not just Rugby, but every sport) has become so monetised that clubs are worried about bad press costing them lucrative sponsorship money.
Hate them or love them, the likes of Wendell Sailor and Tom Carter were great ambassadors for our game. I still remember booing Sailor every time a high ball came his way when he first turned up to Suncorp in a light blue jersey.
Now, if a player says something that can be twisted in a way that's controversy, he'll face fines and time on the pine. So there's not incentive for characters to develop in our game.