31 replies to this topic

[The King Of Leon]

5,000 to watch Leeds v Sale , 3-6 not a try in sight.Biggest mystery in sport how people will watch this garbage and league struggles to get any decent crowds below superleague.

[Matt J]

Promise of Pimms

[Mrbus]

most people are sheep, and do what the media tell them. the media say that rugby union is ace/exciting/etc, people turn up.

[FRISKY FILLY]

[quote name='Mrbus' date='Oct 23 2010, 07:53 PM' post='2144817']
most people are sheep, and do what the media tell them. the media say that rugby union is ace/exciting/etc, people turn up.

It may just be me but having watched top RU games,and premiership and international soccer games on tv I don't understand how people can pay hard earned money to watch these--- I get more enjoyment watching Championship RL at SL stadium,

[Mrbus]

It may just be me but having watched top RU games,and premiership and international soccer games on tv I don't understand how people can pay hard earned money to watch these--- I get more enjoyment watching Championship RL at SL stadium,

i fully agree.
i can understand people taking part in these sport instead of league, but in terms of viewing entertainment i think they offer very little compared to rugby league; whenever i watch them all i find myself doing is criticizing the lack of skill on show. e.g. footballers on 150K a week miss open goals because 'its their wrong foot', players not being able to catch a ball let alone pass or show any movement, countless clean line breaks with no one supporting, etc

[Blind side johnny]

It's a complex mix of choice, preference, peer group and overall comfort. Believe it or not there are avid RU watchers who can't understand how people can pay to watch RL.

It's just like music really - people prefer different things for their own reasons that those who disagree fail to comprehend.

[FrankDrebin]

It's a complex mix of choice, preference, peer group and overall comfort. Believe it or not there are avid RU watchers who can't understand how people can pay to watch RL.

It's just like music really - people prefer different things for their own reasons that those who disagree fail to comprehend.

Exactly. I personally can't abide watching Union. However, a lot of people do, and obviously enjoy it immensely. In fact a heck of a lot more people in this country watch Union than League. They obviously watch it because they get something out of it. I don't, because I don't like it. They do, because they do. There's a really simple explanation.

[Mrbus]

In fact a heck of a lot more people in this country watch Union than League.

the only time more people like it is when the 6 nations or england are playing, the average crowds for the premiership are woeful.

They obviously watch it because they get something out of it.

goal kicking technique ???

3 out of the 6 games this week had no tries, with saracens also winning off the boot/without touching downn. so thats 7 teams who failed to score even 1 try, think its time they had a look at the 4 try bonus bring it down to a more realistic 1 (2 at a stretch) try bonus

Edited by Mrbus, 24 October 2010 - 10:48 PM.

[Blind side johnny]

the only time more people like it is when the 6 nations or england are playing, the average crowds for the premiership are woeful.

I'm no union fan but do prefer to rely on facts. Can you substantiate that statement with some figures? Those that I have seen published are worryingly high, I believe.

[The King Of Leon]

the mind boggles when 85 thousand turn up at wembley yesterday to watch 2 american teams play a sport that we dont even play in this country.meanwhile 18 thou turn up in melbourne to watch us play the aussies, even though melb is an aussie rules stronghold its worrying times for us in league.It would help of course if we had more press/media coverage in the daily,s, ala soccer type hype but cant see that ever happening, i really dont know what the answer is!

[Robin Evans]

It's a complex mix of choice, preference, peer group and overall comfort. Believe it or not there are avid RU watchers who can't understand how people can pay to watch RL.

It's just like music really - people prefer different things for their own reasons that those who disagree fail to comprehend.

cracking call!

I have been a fan of both codes for 40 years. Brought up in a soccer area it was with great enthusiasm I took up rugby at 'grammar' - obviously the union game. I loved it, then aged 13 - 1973 I discovered Fev!!! This game I watched was far better than the one I played - but I still loved both. Later in life I got the chance to play both and watch both. I'm Fev daft and will always prefer league - that's my choice and how it is!
However, I watched Leeds v some french outfit a couple of weeks ago on some murdoch chanel somewhere. It was a cracking game. Some splendid tries, outrageous defence, and a nail biting finish - rugby union as it's not supposed to be to us league preferants! Rugby played like that is always likely to attract it's supporters - regardless of the code.

However, given the choice of an all expenses trip with my mates to Twickenham, all the corporate faffin about, free drinks and stuff on toast follwed by an hour of listening to some ageing player spouting anecdotal bilge before an England v Wales clap-a-thon - OR - an afternoon in a cold west yorks for a NRC game with 1500 or so of other like minded souls who delude themselves that one day we may get a shot at superleage (my fat ginger botty)!!!

Choice?? No choice - it was/is only ever going to be Fev!

[Mrbus]

However, I watched Leeds v some french outfit a couple of weeks ago on some murdoch chanel somewhere. It was a cracking game. Some splendid tries, outrageous defence, and a nail biting finish - rugby union as it's not supposed to be to us league preferants! Rugby played like that is always likely to attract it's supporters - regardless of the code.

was that the game were leeds have like 80% possession, but still lost because the kicker was ######?

[Robin Evans]

was that the game were leeds have like 80% possession, but still lost because the kicker was ######?

Leeds regular kicker was indeed injured that day. The makeshift kicker had a bad day - they lost. Pretty much the same result in league - if your kicker is down, it makes it all the harder to get a result. When Fev came up they played 2008 with only Stu Dickens as kicker - when he was spelled/injured we struggled and it showed in the end of season analysis!

Your comments on crowds are a little facile. They perhaps don't match SL for total attendances - but Leicester regularly get 20k and although I readily accept it was a one off but it will be a while before a SL club can get the huge crowds at Wembley for a league fixture like Saracens did earlier this year!!
I can't see why the attendance comparisons are made anyhow? If you like your league - watch it!! Let Union look after itself! What they get is irrelevant to you isn't it if you are a league or nowt man??

[Mrbus]

I'm no union fan but do prefer to rely on facts. Can you substantiate that statement with some figures? Those that I have seen published are worryingly high, I believe.

http://www.espnscrum...ory/123676.html
http://www.guardian....miership-crowds

granted they're more about the decline in number rather than being poor, but a sport which can get 80K people to go watch pointless friendlies shouldn't be getting club games of 3/4/5K or weekly 'total attendance of 47,828'

[Mrbus]

Leeds regular kicker was indeed injured that day. The makeshift kicker had a bad day - they lost. Pretty much the same result in league - if your kicker is down, it makes it all the harder to get a result. When Fev came up they played 2008 with only Stu Dickens as kicker - when he was spelled/injured we struggled and it showed in the end of season analysis!

so that's a yes?
really think a rugby league team with 80% possession would loose because the kicker was injured.

i can't totally see a reason for playing the sport for fun, however i don't know how people enjoy watching it. most of the main skills is done under a crowd of bodies (rucking, mauling, scrumming, etc), meaning the fan gets to see very little other then the end result (of who gets the ball), that before I move onto the awful handling skills that so many players (mainly forwards) seem to show

[Blind side johnny]

the mind boggles when 85 thousand turn up at wembley yesterday to watch 2 american teams play a sport that we dont even play in this country.meanwhile 18 thou turn up in melbourne to watch us play the aussies, even though melb is an aussie rules stronghold its worrying times for us in league.It would help of course if we had more press/media coverage in the daily,s, ala soccer type hype but cant see that ever happening, i really dont know what the answer is!

The game in London was marketed, the one in Melbourne wasn't, to the shame of the ARL.

If american Football was played regularly those 85000 would dwindle rapidly to 1200 as has been seen before. It's just novelty value.

[Robin Evans]

so that's a yes?
really think a rugby league team with 80% possession would loose because the kicker was injured.

i can't totally see a reason for playing the sport for fun, however i don't know how people enjoy watching it. most of the main skills is done under a crowd of bodies (rucking, mauling, scrumming, etc), meaning the fan gets to see very little other then the end result (of who gets the ball), that before I move onto the awful handling skills that so many players (mainly forwards) seem to show

Some people like Beetroot - I cannot possibly understand how - but there you go. It's choices and opinions. A very subjective point of view. Some people find watching union enthralling, exciting, exhillerating! Some don't. C'est la vie. I don't understand why the need to compare the crowds? When it matters, Union can pack em in - we in league can't! A match earlier this season reportedly got more to watch than a whole days programme at the magic weekend - A weekend promoted to the hilt in the league press and on murdochvision! A comparison means nowt.

[Ironhawk]

I too hate Beetroot I like your analagy

In my case union can be watched with


Free Tickets

Edited by Ironhawk, 01 November 2010 - 06:19 PM.

[Robin Evans]

I too hate Beetroot I like your analagy

In my case union can be watched with


Free Tickets

it's all about choices. Like I said in my 1st post - I was offered a corporate do at Twickenham - transport and everything all paid on!! I chose to watch Fev!!!!! I might be bonkers like - but I just prefer league.
A mate of mine went to S. Africa for the Union world cup and had a great time - he rarely misses a fev game.
He prefers league but doesn't mind watching the national Union game. Each to their own eh?

[gabby]

Rugby Union is more or less a game for playing as all shapes and sizes can play it. You get the tall ones in the second row and the rotund ones in the front row and the little ones at half back and so on. In league, every player can now be same shape and size as it is now a game for athletes rather than rugby players. By rugby players I mean players who can make a ball talk as in the 1950's and 60's. Before everybody writes in, it is my opinion and I know which version I prefer, the old one as teams in mid table had players with more skill in their little fingers than most of todays athletes. I have watched league for 50 odd years but I ended up playing Union because I went to a grammar school but have played some league games also.