Been to Salford once, took over an hour to get out of the car park, swore I'd never go back so wont be going.

Unless you're buying tickets direct from Leeds, make sure you get them prior to kick off. There is no cash accepted on the turnstiles and you will be required to visit the ticket office and purchase a ticket. You can do this online prior and print off your ticket, it is also cheaper to do so.

Until the new access road is built traffic is a nightmare, I'd suggest visiting the fan bar for a drink after the game to let the majority of the traffic go. Obviously the other option is to sit in your car in a massive jam.

SNAP....

My thoughts exactly - which I'm actually really disappointed about. There was a time when I wouldn't dream of missing a game, infact I used to go out of my way to make sure I could attend every game possible - whether that meant booking holiday from work, missing out on other events etc... Nowadays, with the lack of quality dished up on a regular basis, and the general meaninglessness of many games, I've got much better ways to spend my hard earned and my ever decreasing spare time. For certain games, it just isn't worth it anymore.

It's a sorry state of affairs really - maybe I'm just getting old and miserable... Or more likely, I've come to the conclusion that the entertainment offered isn't good enough anymore to justify being such a 'loyal supporter'.

I think it's a combination of both Superted. After many years of avid fan-ness you grow out of the habit. Shlepping accross the M62 becomes a chore not an adventure. It's not something I can be bothered with for a drubbing of Salford* or, even worse, a game of the "intensity" that these usually serve up.

Just not enough high quality intense matches. About one in ten raises the heckles these days.

*I mean no dis-respect to Salford but, lets face it, it's what we all expect. Of course, Salford may pull of a shock but it's the fact that it would be a shock that is the issue. If we all expected Friday to be a rock hard encounter, regardless of the result, I suspect the likes of Superted and I might roll back the years and brave the M62.

Even in the 90's, early 2000's when we were by no means great, I used to love a good away trip - because regardless of the opposition or gulf in class, you knew you were going to get a full bloodied game - those games are becoming rarer and rarer when both teams are putting in 100% intensity.

The worrying thing is, I consider myself an avid fan - and I am becoming less and less bothered as the seasons go on. Rugby league really is in my blood, and as sad as it is, my life has always kind of revolved around rugby league, with playing/training taking up a large part of the week, and with attending Leeds matches the highlight of the weekend. Now, I've not lost any love for the game itself, but with the way things are currently, there is nothing whatsoever that entices me to go to the likes of Salford this week. Now, if that's how I'm feeling as an avid supporter, how on earth is the sport going to attract new fans? Fancy dan marketing/cheap deals won't work in the long term - Even if I were offered a free ticket and travel to the game on Friday, I'd actually prefer to sit at home and watch the game on the box - thats a massive worry for me. Maybe the proposed changes to the league structure will help....

Sorry to mention it but Rugby Union does Ok and a large majority of people go for the occasion rather than the game itself. We need to make the match day experience better and more enticing .. as it is, a long trek to Salford on a friday night to stand in an almost empty stadium is understandably unappealing.

The problem is reality. Salford-Leeds is a very mis-able fixture. Doubt anyone who is not going, will be overly fussed. I'm not going this week and I may check in with the highlights at some stage.

Rugby Union need it to be an 'occasion' because the on-field entertainment isnt strong enough.

The thing that needs to change in Rugby League is more meaningful games. At the moment, Rugby League fans are being short changed. The top teams pick and choose which games to approach with high intensity - because they can afford to do this with the current structure.

I dont think your average fan wants or needs the razzmataz matchday entertainment or an 'Occasion' (although there is some need for these, particularly for familes and new fans). Rugby League fans just want a full bloodied match between 2 teams who are going to go at it 100%... A good, hard and honest game of rugby league between 2 teams who will put their bodies on the line with a win at all costs attitude - playing the game as if their life depends on it.... It's quite simply really...

Actually there does seem to be quite a good number of red haired Saints fans

Correct.i would echo what superted and G1 have said and also add that several years ago games like the one at salford on friday night would have been 3pm kick offs on sunday which always gave me more reason to go along as we had a set group that went to away games and the majority of away games used to be at this time on the sunday.more and more games have moved to the friday which are not the sky game and i think that is one of the reasons i go to less and less of the away games to the lower end teams.i dont get much enjoyment from rushing around after work to get to the game when you know what is being served up,simple as that for me.

I agree.
The Willows away on a Sunday was always a particular favourite - despite the parking issues.
I went to the Salford away game last year because it was our first visit to their new stadium.
I won't be bothering this year.
But the reason is that I'm going to the first day of the Ashes Test at Chester-le-Street. However, I only decided to do this when I saw that our game was away at Salford.

That's a great point. Although I used to love the old Friday night trips to Central Park and Knowsley Road...

Rushing round on a Friday evening after work is only worth it if you're going to get a decent game - and on recent history, games against your Salford/Widnes/London/ just arent that enjoyable to watch. At least on a Sunday afternoon, the game is almost an excuse for the day out. Sunday afternoon trips to the likes of the Salford/Hull KR/Widnes have always been great - but with the lack of quality on offer, even then its becoming harder to justify the spend/time.

There was a time when I'd go to every game, and I really do mean every game. Cardiff, Edinburgh, Paris, Bridgend, Perpignan, Jacksonville - you name it and we'd be there.

Now, the sh*te car parking facilities are enough for me to not to bother. As Superted and G1 mention, there are very few games that really get my juices flowing these days and the thought of sitting in my car for an hour after a dull game at Salford just doesn't do it any more.

Pff talk about meaningless games!

Whats with all the negative vibes !!!

I'll be off on Friday , went last year and had a good time in a new shinny stadium !! Have to agree tough that Sunday afternoon would have been better.

Can't believe that people would rather watch Wigan on TV than go see the loiners , what's all that about ??

Mediocre league

The only problem with the above analysis is saying that the problem of low intensity is down to the top sides. Its not - the problem is the general direness and simple lack of 80 minute effort by the 'lower placed' clubs in far too many games. IMO that in turn allows 'better' teams to coast too often, and even throw the towel in themselevs too early.

Its ridiculous that players and fans consider letting in even 30 points on a regular basis as somehow reasonable.

You get bigger scores in the NRL than we see in Super League each week. What's the reasoning for it over there?

Not sure that's correct - there are certainly more close high quality games here than SL. Part of the problem though is the same issue - e.g. the Eels this year have rolled over the minute they've gone behind in every game, and the Tigers have looked like they've been going through the motions as well (led by Marshall who seems completely unwilling to put his body on the line in attack or defence).

But I also have a feeling that ATM the entire game itself is slightly off kilter. Not sure exactly if I could put my finger on the reasons, but it seems to me that unless both teams are near equal in ability we see blowout scores which in the past could have been prevented by simple effort.

In general it seems that teams are rewarded far more for zero errors than taking a chance. If I was a coach I'd never want my players to try to charge down kicks or try a short kickoff or chip and chase unless desperate for example.

So I do think some rule changes are in order - given how good kickers are nowadays I think we should consider rewarding defences more for diffusing kicks in goal by giving the defending team possession for all kicks diffused in goal from within 20m, and possibly look more radically at issues like 5m instead of 10. I'd also definitely allow stealing in the tackle of all kinds to come back, allow defenders to strike for the ball at the PTB and treat charge-downs as not having been touched by the defender (i.e. if the attacking side gets the ball back the tackle count doesn't restart). I'd also lose the whole voluntary tackle cr*p.

Probably most of the above would be disasters, but I think a thorough review of the rules which really affect the flow of the game might be needed sooner rather than later. We tend to see individual rules tinkered with which have unexpected consequences some time after they are changed, rather than look at the game in its entirety and then properly test out rules over time.

@leedsrhinos 9m
Brian McDermott confirms to press that Brett Delaney and Joel Moon are both out for 2-3 weeks, Ryan Bailey ruled out for this week also

On a positive front, Danny McGuire could return inside a month after making great progress, JJB also about 4 weeks away

Mac says Elliot Minchella in with a chance of making his debut this week at Salford, 19 man squad announced at 2pm

In other words, with fourth place virtually assured and little chance of catching the top 3, this is a good time to rest anyone with a niggle or two ahead of the playoffs...

Or rest some bodies which have played alot of game time and games so far this year (Moon and Delaney fill the bill)

If Moon is out, that is a bit of a blow. Hope they put Ablett back there. He hasn't been performing with any great shakes in the back row lately, and other than switching Hardaker to centre there is no other option worthy.

So we should probably see most of our team back together for the final away game of the season at wigan as a warm up for the playoffs.

Sounds good to me.

Its slightly different for me, but I used to make the trip up from Nottingham on a Friday evening to watch a game at Headingley. It was always a hassle as the M1 is a mare on Fridays. These days though it doesn't even feature as an option. The 2+ hour drive with no tea, and late night return to Notts is not worth it for a game which offers low entertainment and intensity.