With the number of cases there are around now and indeed the number of people some of us know who have got it at present, I expect the main resistance is from folks who are still a bit scared to go anywhere where they are sat so close, so long, to people who are shouting and not wearing masks. The mental health aspects of this pandemic business are often under rated by those it doesn't effect and cases such as that of Piers Morgan don't help that general situation. I have been in touch with several staunch fans who are in that boat and It's going to take time for people to get back into it and get their confidence backs I believe myself that gates across sport in general will suffer for some time yet I'm sure. For many of those the fact it is on Sky has maybe made their minds up for them too. I offer that observation not as a dreadful excuse just as a fact.

after listening to AP on the zoom call last week a big crowd for this game and Saints is essential, out of interest what does the club receive for a televised game from Sky?

Personally I find Cricket as dull as ditchwater but I do know people who are booking days and weekends away to go see it, they clearly feel it's a good way to spend their time and money. RL isn't hitting home with its marketing and hasn't done for a long time now.

You may think things I've listed are 'excuses' but a quick look at the ticket map for tonight (the new website allows you to see what seats are free) shows that we will be lucky to scrape 8k even with £5 tickets for kids and key workers, and non passholders being able to attend for the first time since last March...there's clearly a problem there. Some of it is Covid, some of it is the state of the game in general in my opinion

Truthfully if I didn't have a pass I'd probably not bother tonight, I'm struggling to get enthusiastic about it as it is.
All the cancellations have killed any momentum we had with getting people back into the game. I've barely paid any attention to the results over the last few weeks with us not playing. I suspect I won't be the only one.

I'm in the same boat. I didn't watch Wigan-Wire last night, when on other years I would watch 'big' games on SKY if Hull weren't playing.

The table is too lopsided, we are above Wigan but in fairness to them they've played 4 more games and won 3 more. I know there isn't an easy answer for cancelled games and how to assign points but I struggle to understand why RL has so many absentees for 'covid contacts' compared to other sports including RU which also of course features contact in the sport.

Covid has created a lot of unexpected problems of course, but even without it it is almost certain the reduced SKY deal was coming, Toronto were still likely to fold as the long term plan just wasnt there etc. SL has limped along for at least a decade now.

Only thing Hull can control is the home form, as we know it hasn't been good enough for 5 years, I've seen green shoots of improvement under Hodgson but it needs to turn into consistent performances at home.

I think its the recent home form that does it. On paper tonight should be an excellent game but I can't help but feel like I am just as likely to see us plod along or get battered for 80 mins as I am to see an entertaining 80 mins, especially as we've made efforts to boost the crowd. The team usually rewards this endeavour by turning in a dire display.
That may be unfair but I find that trepidation rather than excitement is the mentality that has crept in over the last few years.
Anyway...enough gloom. Hopefully it'll be a good return.

I don’t have a pass and aren’t bothering for much the same reason. Only habitually checking on here and Twitter has kept me aware of RL at all. Work with a few Wigan fans who’ve completely lost touch with it all as well. Tough times ahead for the sport IMO.

Whilst I understand all the reasons for our fine supporters not attending matches, especially those who at present don’t feel safe, or comfortable enough due to the risk of infection.

But if you can attend, our club and AP needs its supporters more than at any other time,

If the Olympics was live then you might have a point that some people would be distracted by it but the fact most stuff has already happened during the night
Most people won't watch it as much as normal

You will probably be right about the crowd which does surprise me as you can't get a much better offer than £5

A Supporter= someone who backs his or her team through thick and thin no matter what. All the people crying off tonight will be crying even more if the team goes belly up. I would be there like a hot if i didn't live in another country.

Anyone know who the ref is tonight? Please don't let it be Kendall

do my best to make all homes games now, pass holder so no reason not too, if anything its going to away games i have shrugged my shoulders at, constantly asking for shift swaps or wasting holidays for them, fingers crossed 2022 season will be a bit more relaxed during fixtures

liam moore

Thanks for telling us what a supporter is but that is quite a generalisation if you don't mind me saying so . For a start off I would expect that there are dozens of Fc fans who have been pinged and are isolating and in addition I spoke to a guy I bumped into in Hymers avenue today who I have know for years and spent many great times with at away grounds across the north since the mid seventies, ( I even missed the last train home from Leeds with him after one particularly memorable win at Headingley) like me he has been a season ticket holder for 60 odd years and like me still is one. I asked him if we would see him there tonight however he is 76 years old registered vulnerable because of a lung condition and so admitted openly to being too scarred to go tonight. I doubt that makes him any less of a fan though!

Strong 13, weak bench.

Leeds look as strong as I've seem them this season.

Going to be a tough game

This is Leeds best squad they've out out this year.

Would've preferred Brown over JJ, hopefully we can get the win.

Hopefully the fans are out in force, its usually a great atmosphere against Leeds. I love to hate them



Seen plenty of FC shirts and some Leeds shirts around St Stephens

to be honest if i was Brown i would be peed.
To be left out in favour of Johnstone and in fact Bowden who has offered nothing this season when he has played i really dont know what he has to do.
Just cant see what the coaches see in Johnstone other than he is supposed to be a nine and we know Houghton needs to be interchanged. at times

At stated strong 13 but bench poor. Brown and Micky to replace JJ and Scott. Still think we can win. COYH

four repeat sets on and sweet FA from it

Making yards for fun just need to get something going when we're down their end. Put Connor in this game and I feel he'd have already found a way to unlock their defence 2 or 3 times. This game is just made for him.

Bowden only done 15 minutes then pulled
The distribution from Sneyd and Houghton is terrible

They’ve not really threatened our line so far but it’ll come. Just hope we can hold our nerve in D better than last week because we’re not scoring any blinders tonight.

Not ahead by anywhere as near as much as I'd like but still quite liking how they're playing. Nice to see us not try and score off every single set and put the ball in goal and look to build pressure. Hopefully some points will come off the back of that in the 2nd half.
Defence looks solid enough but Leeds aren't offering much other than 1 or 2 brief scares.

Agree about the distribution it’s been pretty poor, inaccurate and slow. Sadly no Connor who’d have certainly unlocked things. Carlos and Bureta playing well along with Sao & Satae but need more from the likes of Sneyd, Houghton, Reynolds and Wynn. Though pleasing we’ve been putting Leeds under pressure and looking for repeat sets.
Need to ensure we keep our discipline as we’ve gifted them 4 pts. Taken the wrong options a few times too which we need to address.

we look absolutely knackered