Whats going on? 13thousand for Warrington is awful. Any reasons for this? I think:
1) Weather, obviously
2) The game been on Sky.
3) Sky's continual moving of fixtures away from Fridays putting fans off!
A few reasons there, any more? We need to get behind the team at this stage of the year, rather than sit at home and watch it on TV.

Of course it could be because we are playing so poorly that the "part time pound" just isn't interested any more?

True, though if we dont support the team we will probably remain poor

My tickets were free but even I felt cheated other than the last 2 mins!!

You see here is the thing, if people keep turning up in their thousands then that compounds the problem as the money keeps rolling in and mediocrity of performance is "accepted". So should we "accept" this level of performance, or show our displeasure in the only way we can, by not going in such numbers?

We've won the championship a few times now so for me (at least) it's not really about that any more, it's about being entertained by a high quality performance, which in turn will lead to a more competitive International game.

I would rather see us put in a top notch performance and lose a tigh game of very high quality, than be average for 80 mins and win by 20+ points.

This current squad IMO, whilst light on numbers, is certainly good enough to put in much better performances than it has done so far this year.

How about loads of people are on holiday!

There is probably a combination of factors.

I was suprised at the number of Warrington fans, they usually bring much more. So I dont think you can entirely say its because of fickle Leeds fans not showing up.

A £64 matchday ticket price for a family of four is not that attractive a proposition either, add drinks, sweets, hot dogs etc and you're close to £100 before you've had a chance to even think about it - all for two hours entertainment at an outdoors venue on a day when its been lashing it down all day.

You can disregard the argument about season family tickets, I'm speaking of the family groups who are looking for an attraction to attend but who don't want to commit themselves to several hundred pounds in the run-up to christmas but who wouldn't mind attending several hand-picked games throughout the season.

To the best of my knowledge and despite suggesting the same to the club for chirst knows how many years now, these "floating voter family groups" have never been targeted as a market by the people who apparently market the club.

Its strange because I know from experience that a family group with two young children will spend a huge amount of money at a game, anyone with children will know that it is impossible to visit any venue without spending money in the food and drink outlets and the venue souvineer shop - hook the kids (they will already be hooked by peer presure at school) and you're guaranteed a hefty spend on replica kits and other such high-priced tat - just try and get into the club shop an hour before kickoff and see how many parents and kids are in there.

A family ticket, dedicated family turnstiles (absolutely necessary but completely baffling to the staff at the last "supporters forum" that I went to several years ago) and a gentle nod towards the North Stand Paddock with a vague promise that you "may" be under cover (s) is what is needed, and on the front page of the web site - check the web site and see if you can see any family concessions like most visitor attractions hold - there are none.

Until there are we will simply lose a whole tranche of valuable customers, customers who will spend more per head than any 18-25 year old but a tranche who are completely ignored, if not discouraged.

Only one match this season has seen a greater attendance than the corresponding fixture last season and thats Huddersfield (+195) maybe because of their form? (Castleford not included)

Hull KR gate........ down 2,275
Catalans .............down 658
Quins .................down 645
Bradford .............down 1,472
Wigan .................down 1,092
Wakefield ............down 2,004
Hull .....................down 957
Saints .................down 674 (used cup game - on season ticket)
Warrington ..........down 2,941
Huddersfield ........up 195

Holidays, and it being a Saturday night game (along with the weather for most of the day) were probably the biggest factors.

The southstand reduced capacity would be a large % of that though.

Still plenty of space elsewhere

I agree that's why i put "large" and not all.

Pricing has become a bit too high lately too. RL is supposedto be the cheap option, most value for money and all that. £20+ to get s wet through on an open end is not very appealing

try and stay awake next time.................

The date of the game being changed, people make plan etc and because of Sky dates get altered. Poor weather, poor turnout of wire supporters, the credit crunch, high cost of tickets and also Leeds are playing poor. Just look what can happen Wigan cut the price to £10, gate up by six thousand

Before last Friday we'd won 6 on the bounce and you barely posted.

We lost one, wone one and we're playing so poorly.

Attendances are down, possibly throughout the league. There's a recession on.

Personally, last night was pretty fine value for money in terms of entertainment.

You are right, I did barely post, but not because I wasn't interested. I rarely get time to post through the week these days, and frankly most of the time I have better things to do with my family on a weekend.

The reason I have posted after last night is more down to frustration at the lack of quality of performance on display these days given the quality in the squad. I feel we are nowhere near fulfilling our potential, and that disappoints me as I'm sure it does you too.

We are both long enough in the tooth to appreciate what has happened over the last few years, and hopefully will continue to do so, but I'm getting a bit hacked off with the "league games don't matter, we'll turn it on for the playoffs attitude". Do people pay any less of their hard earned cash to watch league games? I don't think so, but I do think they are being short changed by the attitude being shown by the club.

Good for you. PS the weekend isn't over yet. I just get the impression you like to have a whinge and re-appear when there's something you think is worth whinging about.

You've posted elsewhere that our quality is diminishing and we're heading back to the pack. Make your mind up. BTW, it doesn't frustrate me in the slightest. I enjoy my rugby and love to see Leeds win but I have the perfect balance of family, work and play so Rugby results are kept firmly in perspective.


How nice of you to worry about the people who pay to watch because its' many years since you did.



I didn't feel in the slightest bit short changed last night and really enjoyed it. Thanks for your concern though.

Our overall quality of performance is diminishing. The potential quality of the players is still generally high.

I guess, like most people, there are times when I feel the need to express my opinion, now is one of those times. IMO Leeds (and Saints) are slipping back into the pack (see the number of defeats for each club this year) and this is down to a reduction in the quality of our performances rather than the improvement in most of the other teams. This is not good for the game, no matter how much you enjoy average performances like last night.

So two teams dominating the game is good then?

Why are attendances down?

Mainly because the way we're playing under McClennan simply isn't that attractive. There's been absolutely none of the champagne stuff we sometimes played under Smith.

Atmospheres at games now are flat, even taking into account the smaller crowds.

....in your opinion of course.

Leeds lost at home to Salford this year for the first time in a life-time. How can you say that is no an improvement for Salford? Had they beaten the worst Leeds team in 30+ years then fair enough but they've beaten a Leeds team that are back to back champions and 2nd in the league.

Leeds have won 2 successive Grand Finals and played in4 of the last 5 GF's. Saints have finished top four years in a row and won 4(?) successive CC'ss. There's every likelihood both teams will add to the impressive tally. If they don't then surely they're entitled to slip back a little.

Unless, of course, you think a team should be winning the title 3 years in a row or should be finishing top6 years in a row or should be winning7 successive CC's.

Only Wigan fans in the 1980's and 1990's had the right to expect that and class anything else as failure but luckily this is a different era and a different playing field.

And if you can't enjoy a game like last night then frankly I wonder what you get out of the game.

I think the weather, and the changing date of the fixture is a large part of it.

Also £20 adult price and £12 junior is very steep.

When I started going in 98, it was £10 adult and £5 junior. Over 10 years that is a massive increase, and in a recession many people can't afford it.

Performances won't make much of a difference, as Leeds have a good win ratio at Headingley this year, so few will stay away because of a performance that they weren't there to see in the first place

I'm not sure thats totally down to McClennan. Smith had a much larger squad, including alot more strength in depth in the forwards.

All champagne rugby comes off the back of the forwards setting the platform. Our squad is to weak, the salary cap will play a major part in this but i was under the impression we haven't reached the cap limit, nor have previously.