we can use this as a positive, look at gareth thomas i know its a one off but i think he may have put at least 8-900 poeple in the racecourse ground on his debut last year who have returned. he had mickey rourke and joe calzaghe watching him at MM and both enjoyed the game and the physicality involved, i imagine joe has watched union before

I think the gap can be reduced a little bit with our help as well, i am currently in my first year of university at northumbria, all of my flat mates are big union fans i made them watch the wire saints game on friday as a warm up to my birthday night out, they all said that league is far more entertaining, explosive and dynamic than union and we now have 3 more wire fans. i know it wont make much of a difference but if they go back home praising league to their family and friends it could increase TV ratings for SL.

I also think both codes are starting to appreciate each other more than ever in the press, maybe not behind closed doors but if the union crowd hear that johnson wanted the england team at the WCC then they may choose to check it out themselves, and if they did it was a brilliant advert for the game.

i think we can use our prowess in the backs over unions backs to establish a little bit bigger of a fanbase, im not saying union fans will see the light but they may start to become interested in our code and watch it on a fairly regular basis, maybe getting to a couple of games. every extra viewer on sky or fan in a crowd is a small win IMO

Their marketing team must work miracles as the product is absolute e. I can't sit through 5 minutes of kick and clap without falling asleep.

We've also given them Ricky Sheriffe who is currently at Tynedale up in deepest Northumbria before joining the Falcons next year. He'll be OK until someone realises that he can't catch, then the high balls will start and he'll be wrecked.