Crowds are way higher than they were in the late 70s-mid 80s. The first year I watched Leeds (81-82) the average was something like 5.5k, and it had been around that mark for some time. Leeds were by no means the worst supported club either - Hull were about the only club pulling 'big' crowds (>10k).

and, iirc, over 14,000 for a second division game against hunslet circa 1979

The crowds were more evened out , your leigh's,Fax's,FevsWidnes,Keighleys were all getting much more then , more in some instances than current SL clubs

Overall it was probably similar

add professional cricket to the list - it would have died years ago - as it is,it's hanging on.....

GOODNIGHT VIENNA PRO RL

mind you,on the plus side that would be the last of Stevo & Dame Eddie............

What would happen if sky pulled out.

easy ESPN would take it on. Maybe at not the same money.

As for the rest of it you have to still remember that most full time pros are still not paid a great deal. But in most cases crowds have increased. You would be lucky on a non derby day to see a plus 4,500 crowd at warrington now its over 10,000. Even the Quins have increased pre super league they were in div 1 and getting a few hundered.

In pre super league games were shown on BSB and before that Granada use to show live games on a Saturday for a few years.

I think crowds were bigger in the 70's because there was less to do and less telly.

Very good point.

If Sky pulled out (not that they will as they get a good quality, well watched product dirt cheap) then the rights would go to another station, possibly for less money. Players wages would return to something more akin to the normal working wage and clubs would operate on a 0.7-1million pound salary cap.

Ah but cricket can barely be classified as a 'sport'

There aren't many sports where during the match players can pose for photos and sign autographs for the crowd

oops,dear old 'WG' will be turning in his grave !!!

I personally feel that Rugby League in general has better management in place than at any other time, but this also coincides with the lowest overal exposure of the sport since we are not on terrestrial tv much any more.

I often wonder if we should add more cup games in order to get the lower league teams playing against bigger opposition more often. Would this be a concept worth pitching to terrestrial channels? Maybe we limit the overseas players to make a shock more likely? Maybe we purposely make it a mid week only contest with limited pricing to encourage the crowds? I do realise that teams play a heck of a lot of games already, so it may not be a goer, but it is something I often wonder.

In answer to the original question, we dont need Earth in order to survive!

Having lower league teams playing SL clubs just doesn't work , unlike football you don't get a ' plucky 1-0 defeat or a draw in RL , they would be blow out games with massive scores in favour of the SL team

Plus playing midweek doesn't work at the moment in the Championships , especially being on TV , no reason to think it would work any better

Harlequins RL in crowd increase shocker

Maybe not, but what products could we create to go on terrestrial tv and involve the lower league teams?

Thats actually true.


Quins pulled in 127 spectators not so long ago.


I'm told it's because they were having a promotion on lager in the bar that day.

The price of a pint was reduced to £7.50... a saving of 36p on normal pub prices in the West End

' Products ' ?

Maybe Ricky Bibbey could sell hair gel for Loreal , " because he's worth it " ?

It is such a shame bazza doesn't post on here any more...he would have been full of jokes about the Stoop after that picture.
PHIPPS....I believe you would have liked Bazza....shame he stopped posting just before you started

Oh look it's Quins verses Widnes at the Stoop

Record crowd

well, nothing like maintaining the integrity of your space suit to get you avoiding tackles. incentive and all that


goal kicks are an issue though. they may well reach escape velocity.

.......good to see someone else misses bazza.....I really think he and PHIPPS would have got on

I would never get on with such a blatant troll.

B'stard.....

you owe me a new keyboard