Good post.

Although correct where was the hard marketing around the heartlands? Yes most rugby league fans knew the game was on but several of the younger end may have been playing or playing today.

My point is about trying to attract new fans not just the die hard league fans like people on here.

Last year I was approached by Doncaster rovers football club about sponsorship. This is the package I got:

16ft x 2ft board on the halfway line
Crowd facing (my choice as it was the side if the VIP boxes)
A box for any game I wanted
12 ground tickets to be used at any games I want
A signed team shirt

Upon arriving for the box game against barnsley we were greeted by champagne, escorted to our box. The club commercial director came to meet us. After the game we were asked to attend the players lounge and watch the man I the match presentation.

Now I hate football but I could not turn that package down and I still go and continue to go with clients who are football fans.

All for £900 + vat

After this I get constant offers, promotions for all events at the club.

What I am trying to say is we will have our die hard fans at club ad international level but promote from the grass roots up and attract more die hard fans. We are becoming a feeder sport for union so let the rfl help stop this. As I said in a previous post the actual days are always good but let's bring more die hard fans into the game.

This needs to be done in an efficient way, you mention promoted all over London? I live in Barnsley and have not seen a single poster, flyer through the door or anything. I still stand by my main point of yes we know the game is on but playing all amateur fixtures on the same day isn't going to help crowds.

Briefly on the England/GB thing it needs to be GB. I have no issue with Reed as he was born in England. The others however we should be using homegrown talent.

Poor crowd should have been at least 60000, we are supposed to be moving the game on!?
Rangi Chase exciting playing AT TIMES - my opinion is he is not consitently good enough through a game
for International duty.

Can't blame the RFL for this one. They put on two games for a tenner in a magnificent stadium. The real problem is why no one seemed interested enough to go.

The problem with international RL was perhaps best illustrated when the New Zealander made a hash of a kick, which allowed the Tongan to barge the Australian out of the way to score for Australia against England.

This is exactly why I and probably 10's of thousands of others are not interested in England, it's ruined the International game. How can Rangi Chase get motivated for England, he only chose us because he hasn't a prayer of getting in any other International teams. Good club man, rubbish on the big stage.

Excellent post, sums up my feelings to a T.

what a great and true post

Yes ,but other nationalities playing for Rugby Union national sides does not make any difference to their large turnouts for Union internationals.
Why are we so different?

Is it our inability to compete with Australia? I was fifteen the last time we won a test series against Australia, I'm fifty six now and doubt I will ever see one again.
Sure, we've had the odd 2-1 series defeat over the years but any game against Australia seems to have that air of inevitability about it.

Had we had our share of series victories over the years then I'm sure there would be more of an appetite for the international game.

I got 6 tickets £60 good seats 2 games can't complain although wembley is so expensive £4.50 for a pint of p@@s £1.20 for a packet of crisps and searched on the way in not for weapons but for any drinks or food I know allot of people moan about this but it is scandalous and I live down here

Uniun is played from the top of Britain to the bottom, league is not, more interest union

The laughing Kookaburra looked class in the few opportunities he had, his foot work was frightening, their backs didn't need to force the game though.
I can't ever say I've seen much of Lockyer when the opposition defence aren't tired, he just seems to use his world standing to draw defences where he wants them.
I wouldn't want to come up against Tomkins after he lived in Auz for 3 years. MOTM for me yesterday.
I'm a big critic of Sinfield when he plays for England but he mainly went ok yesterday, seemed to draw a few defenders to create a gap. I'd love to see him run it in hard for once when his options run out instead of just taking the tackle or half heartedly turning in the tackle to be placed on his back. I'm a fan of how McGuire utilises a bit of lost momentum and the fact he always seems to come up with an half break that wins him the ground. Sinfield was found out during the Thurston break though, he was extremely slow.

gone is the days of taking a flask of bovril into the match on a winters day

that is one thing that es me off

a plastic bottle of water is now classed as a weapon



never mind the pound coins that is far worse.....argh that's why they take your money off you from the foods bars

Or cricket? I dont agree with Rangi Chase playing fro England but that shouldnt stop people gong to watch the game!!! I payed £10 for my ticket to wembley and really enjoyed the atmosphere and the games (not the result) some people are only happy when moaning...

The Words Piss Up And Brewery Spring To Mind!

I cannot identify with the England team anymore it's not a moan it's a fact.

I agree. It should be Team GB and everyone playing in it should have been born here!

i had the same reservations as a lot on here about not being excited for the game until i got in the stadium and the teams came out for the england game. the atmosphere was great given a third of the stadium being empty, and by half time i was feeling patriotic again and obviously giving the ref some weel deserved abuse. me and some mates got a train there n back for £10 n with the ticket was less than £50, so couldn't complain, had a great day. Ive been to international matches all over up north and the experience of travelling down to wembley to watch to games whatever the chances of winning is much better

42,000+ the crowd, there wouldnt have been that many at Old Trafford..

I friend just text me to say they was a big party load from Stanley Rangers was going to go but the conference league said they couldn't change the fixture, so they didn't go and then was told that crosfields couldn't field a full team on saturday morning

it does make you think why play on the same day

There are plenty of so-called Rugby League fans who have sat on their s watching the game yesterday on tv and called our our sport for being "a joke". People who love to see the sport "fail", even though yesterday was a success all round other than the result. It really sickens me. The RFL were virtually giving tickets away for yesterdays game and still they wouldn't attend.

The biggest joke though is that those people then suggest this game should have been played in the North of England. When was the last time a GB or England game in Yorkshire sold out? When was the last time a GB or England game in the North got an attendance as big as the one yesterday??

I saw a coach in the services on the way down from Shaw Cross Sharks, werent they playing yesterday? ok it could be any age group who went but they were there..

Coco, you are absolutely spot on.
Chase is not and never will be English.
If he was better than we have then maybe try him (although it still wouldnt be right)
Rob Burrow must have broken a few mirrors and run over a couple of black cats.
He should at least have a spot on the bench and probably a starting spot.
Like Tomkins he can break defences with elusive running and pace of the mark.
We got hammered by the ref today, disallowed try, no sin bin/ sending off for a deliberate strike to the head, allowing tha Aussies to hold down too long in the tackle.
Having said all that, there was enough on show today to give us some real hope for next week and for all the moaning about the crowd figure, people should get of their backsides and support the team.
9 of us had a great day out today and for £10 a ticket.

Just got to say I went to the match and had a great time pity about the result tho!

I went to the game. 2 games for a tenner. Should have been more there, but what more can the RFL do but offer you tickets for £10??
Beer was expensive and rank but if youve been before you expect that.
England made a fist of it, but Oz looked like they were in 3rd gear throughout. Whenever they stepped it up a little, they scored. A couple of different decisions from the ref, a fit 17 from start to finish and H'ton tackling Williams and it could have been closer.