That's precisely the point I was alluding to; there are, at last count, 29 community rugby league clubs within the city boundaries of Leeds. Last week the Rhinos community team held a Year 8 nine-a-side tournament at Leeds Rugby Academy: 17 schools turned up. The Rhinos brand is ubiquitous and is far more visible than those of any of the other local sports teams.

This is why Leeds consistently get crowds; having a successful team simply maximises gates. The argument that a winning team is all it will take to flush out all of these supposedly lapsed fans is complely flawed.

Agreed

Relying on a winning team won't bring the crowds flourishing, it would definately increase gates but the club would have to get off it's backside for once and inject the Rugby League drug into all communities of Salford and South Manchester especially the deprived areas just as MM touched on. This is a must in my opinion regardless of whether we're successful or not and Salford have been ignorant towards these communities. If these two summaries are met in tandom BINGO, it's only then we'll match the likes of Wire and Co.

I agree to an extent, but it can't all fall on the club and, if it does, it simply wouldn't be sustainable.

The club is there to provide guidance and support but it needs committed local people to really bed roots.

There really should be flourishing junior rugby league clubs in Weaste, Ordsall, Broughton etc. But the reality is that, although coaching support etc from the local pro club is a massive help, it really needs local people to get from behind the keyboard, out of the pub etc and make it happen.

One further area where I have to disagree is that rugby league can only thrive in deprived areas; this simply isn't true and actually holds the game back when negotiating sponsorship/broadcasting deals (check out the advert breaks next time you watch boots n all).

Rugby league needs to spread in terms of geography and demographics if it's to have a viable long-term future. So although it's vital that we have flourishing junior clubs in Ordsall etc, it's just as important that we start making inroads in places like Worsley and Boothstown too.

I never said that Rugby League can only thrive in deprived areas, i feel the schools and youth clubs etc in communities of deprived areas such as Lower Broughton, Higher Broughton and Kersal haven't been reached or the message hasn't gone out to these areas from our club. I've work in the Fire industry for many years to which my job includes community and school visits in the all the Warrington vicinity deprived and affluent, and the amount of times i've bumped into their community Rugby League development staff over the years i'm on first name terms with them. So for me, if Warrington Wolves can put this much effort into their communities so can Salford.

Regarding the club getting involved in the local community.
A few years ago I was coaching in Bolton and needed some support in schools. Being a massive fan I contacted the club, attended a meeting with a plan and was told the club had loads of coaches and would be happy to help. I thought this would be a great opportunity for the club to spread the word in Bolton. We had one visit from the club to our training ground and that was the last time we saw them. I complained to Mr. Tarry but all he did was pass the letter to the person who was supposed to arrange the coaching in the first place.
An opportunity missed in an area that is crying out for development.
As I worked in schools in Bolton I also spoke to the clubs marketing department. I explained that I would be happy to publicise the club with their help. Posters, promo stuff, junior tickets. Once again got nothing.
Shame really as Bolton is untapped and is crying out for rugby league.