Quote ="Mr Hicks"We have to understand that for some reason league attracts a rougher crowd than Union.
My son has played both codes at every age group from U7s to U16s.
I have never once heared any swearing from a crowd at a junior union game,
but the language from parents and kids at league junior games is unbelievable.
Now im league through and through but Union seems to attract a better following.
Ever since Wigan played Bath and hamered them in a cross code challange that code have gone from strength to strength.
Turned fully profesional, formed some fantastic competitions IE Heiniken cup, Magners League, Top French competition, The Premiership, The Play offs and The World Cup.
We now have Super League, Challange Cup, Play Offs and The four nations.
Super League is not so Super as the play offs this week proved, 3 games won by over 40 points, Challange cup has died a death. Low crowds all the way through and half empty Wembley with 2 of our top teams playing in the final. No promotion from Championship to Super League which does not invite welthy people to invest in our sport as they can not take a team any further than league champions.
The four nations dominated by 2 teams, even NZ have come from a Union dominated sport to have a league team that are world champions.
When will the powers that be address the problem instead of trying to mirror the Australians. There systems works for them but its not working here.
The Challange cup was something the Australians dreamed about playing in but now weve put all our marketing into the play offs the Challange Cup has been forgoten.
Bring back promotion, give the Challange cup a face lift and lets stop putting good money into bad IE Welsh Rugby, French Rugby, London Rugby and promoting teams that used to be big names (Widnes) who dont deserve to go up, as a mid table Championship finish and hamered twice by 50 points by the league leaders dont really make for promotion in my eyes.'"
We also have the NRL which is the best rugby competition period and origin which is something Union wish they had.
Personally I want to see the sport grow and expand and have some life outside the M62. Expansion over here and expansion in Australia.
