Watching the games at home today as I could only get half day off work and couldnt go. Looking at the surroundings on TV it looks really bad. It barely looks as though anyone is there. I know the crowd will increase in the next half hour for England but can we really call this a success for Rugby League. If someone were to watch that who was new to the sport or wanted to get into it, it is not a good advert for the game. I really think its been a mistake and playing in a smaller stadium would have been a better a option and also created a better atmosphere as I imagine its hardly crackling at Wembley.

Not sure whether it is good editing by the TV but i'm actually pleasantly surprised by the crowd for a RL International. Closing the top 2 tiers has made all the difference. There would have been nothing worse than a scattered crowd all over the stadium.

There seems to be plenty of noise

It's a shame when the CL final sells out. We can talk about the administration not doing enough for the international game but the fans have to do their bit too.

I think you have to consider it as a growing process. Hopefully if we can have a permanent international fixture at Wembley over a number of years, we can market it on mass. Over the years awareness of the fixture should grow and hopefully that will see an increase in crowd figures as well. Looks about 40k to me there today so not a bad start, gutted I couldn't make it myself.

We have the fans to fill the stadium as proves year in year out for the CC final. For whatever reason we cannot get the interest. The RL need to look at that. The marketing of England, the marketing of the event and gradually build up. No point in booking at 80000 seater stadium and filling 30000. We may as well book a stadium to suit needs and build up to filling a national stadium for an international match. No point in doing what we have this year. We just look like a e sport. We have the young players coming through to be competitive. Create a cauldron, create the atmos, and compete on the field. Then build the crowds.

Maybe one year everyone from oop North will get off their s and get down and fill Wembley.

Indeed instead of moaning about empty seats.

Had a cracking day today. I thought the atmosphere was pretty good. It was noticable the lack of proper league fans there today. Plenty of Aussies and Union types could be bothered but supposed proper league fans would rather sit in their local pub and whine.

It's hard to market the game to league fans because the average league fan does not have that high expectations that Steve McNamara's mighty England army can give the Aussies a game.

It was an easier sell back in the days when Hanley, Schofield, Davies and Offiah were playing for Great Britain, even though people knew the Aussies were world beaters with Meninga and his mates, there was a sense of anticipation about seeing these great titans of British rugby league taking them on.

Nowadays the Aussies have the same calibre but we aren't even on the same page.

I am afraid we sat at home but having been to every game home and away apart from one and just payed for two season ticket renewals and Xmas coming up we decided to go to Hull next week when it was always going to be the decider.
It has been an expensive season if your are a Wigan fan, not complaining just a fact.

not a great idea posting a game on bonfire night which is traditionally a family night, the game is on tv and for those that work in emergency services like me is one of the busiest nights of the year. never gone get the crowds. Fans could have a great day having a few beers at home watchimg the rugby and then spend time with families for bonfire night. Another great idea by the RFL

Would we have got more than 42,000 in the north? Im not so sure, was a good crowd as far as im concerned.

I thought it was a decent turnout and looked okay on TV. I think internationals being back at Wembley has been great for the game and has created a lot more buzz and publicity than normal. A good performance from England only added to the occasion and the RFL must build on this by having at least one international at Wembley in future when Australia come across, like the early 90s.

Its a start and we need to keep the international RL momentum rolling. Keep the games coming and the crowds will grow imo. We need to keep our good young players like Sam Tomkins though. The guy is just awesome.

Mate that post isn't aimed at people like yourself.

People sat pi*sing 70-80 quid up the wall in the pub whilst moaning about the attendance are the ones that let the game today down and the tournament in general.

I was the original poster and hope it wasnt aimed at me. I work in the emergency services and its one of out busiest times of the year bonfire night. I couldnt get leave. But wembley looked poor tonight. Its not about individuals bitching and moaning its about getting the majority interested and willing to go which i dont think will happen at wembley.

No offence taken, just think the RFL were asking a lot for northern based fans to go, as for trying to get rugby league interest in London we all know that drum has been banging long enough.
Fair play to those who made the trip.

The post isn't directed at anyone inparticular and certainly not at people like yourself.

There are an elemant of rugby league fans though that seem to want to do the international game down whilst not realising it's them that makes the game struggle at that level.

Decent crowd today but a dire turnout from up north which is dissapointing considering there was some reasonable deals on.

Wembley was almost half full today, which is amazing given the effort people had to make to actually get there, the cost and the sure fire knowledge that the home nations wouldn't win!

I went and the atmosphere was great. It was relaxed and fun and whenever possible the crowd were behind the home nation team, bar some clumps of Aussies and Kiwis. For league in the south at an international, over 42,000 is good. Apparently that is about 2000 short of the 2000 final but is higher than the 1997 test match there.

The final touch would be for England to beat the Aussies. If that happened then a lot more people would find the time and the money to travel down there. It was a great day and I'd recommend it.

Incidentally, I was impressed by the number of southern English voices I heard today. That so many southerners came to watch can only be good news for the sport.

maybe next time lets put an incentive for all SL holders to get down there. I didnt go because of the proximity with christmas, maybe the rfl can strike some sort of deal with national rail next time we push the double header!

That would have been a bad move yesterday! www.bbc.co.uk/travelnews/virgintrains/ Imagine being stuck for hours on a Euston-bound train just outside Wembley!

That would have been a bad move yesterday! www.bbc.co.uk/travelnews/virgintrains/ Imagine being stuck for hours on a Euston-bound train just outside Wembley!

Quote ="martinbuckley"That would have been a bad move yesterday! www.bbc.co.uk/travelnews/virgintrains/ Imagine being stuck for hours on a Euston-bound train just outside Wembley!'" I was matey, no direction, no information. Evidentley this happens at least once a month. Luckily I was only going to Milton Keynes. 1 hour to Wembley 3 hours return.

Quote ="martinbuckley"That would have been a bad move yesterday! www.bbc.co.uk/travelnews/virgintrains/ Imagine being stuck for hours on a Euston-bound train just outside Wembley!'" I was matey, no direction, no information. Evidentley this happens at least once a month. Luckily I was only going to Milton Keynes. 1 hour to Wembley 3 hours return.

Amen.
Were you on the Mayfair coach (2)?

Speaking as someone who didn't use to miss an international (including the shambles of 2008 in Oz) I have just become disillusioned with "England" RL and can no longer get behind them with the same passion that I used to. I imagine I will still go to the odd game close to home but I wont be going watching them all over like I do with Wigan.

My disillusion started with the selection of Maurie Fa'asavalu and and now the selection of Rangi Chase. If Rangi Chase were to score the winning try in the final (an unlikely scenario I know) yes I would be delighted "we" won but I wouldn't help but feel it would be a hollow victory and we had cheated to do it.

I know other sports do it and the Aussies themselves constantly tap into the Fijian population but it was something I was always proud of as an RL fan that we didn't stoop to that level and I can't help feel but let down.

I think the only thing that would reignite my passion would be to stop these stupid selections and make it a truly international sport. I would love to see a return of Great Britain and an Ashes series and I think that would make me start going all over to watch them again.

I was mate.

Yourself? Some interesting characters on that coach and I always love getting 30 mins up the road to turn back round!

Good day though.

Really enjoyed the day. The crowd around me were very different to a normal league game - southern accents, mostly aged 20 - 30s, and refreshingly, plenty from the ethnic minorities. We really need to tap into these people rather than expect the week in week out crowds to be RL's only cash cow time and time again.