Northern Eel

Must be doing some seating plan updates, as you currently can't buy a ticket for any of the games... EDIT: Now back up and running.

I was thinking the same, but I do know/understand exactly the feeling being described. I am taking in all the games, but had committed to take a group of guys from Notts to one of the games. I chose Headingley as I know the crowd and atmosphere will be so much better than Huddersfield.

I am interested in how the spread of attendance across the test series plays out for a group of folk who are (largely) supporters of TGG. It would be interesting to see if there are patterns amongst our fraternity that show why sales have been lower than hoped. It might give us a more scientific angle on the following: No game in Midlands/down south? Ticket prices and commuting costs Not interested in the series Didn't know about it In the comments, perhaps you might also add the reasons for the answer you gave.

Despite saying SOLD OUT, they are, in fact, back on sale.

Especially as there is a tiresome rhetoric from some so-called RL fans that they 'didn't even know there was a game on'.

I get your point, but seriously, how many true RL fans didn't know about this test series? I don't think it has been any more or less advertised than usual? (That doesn't make it adequate though, of course)

I think we are usually in the 1-1.2 million area.

Either in the stadium or on the box...

It was muted. I was thinking about why this was during the game, as what was on the field was entertaining enough to whip up more enthusiasm than was evident. I really do think there's something around the brand that people don't (yet) buy into. International RL has had a chequered and infrequent status and until we can get to the stage where we can generate grudge-matches or repetitive 'two worlds collide' type games, it is going to continue to be a struggle.

Enjoyable day out. Passable crowd, relatively low-key atmosphere, rugby was fine, looking forward to Huddersfield. Lewis and Smith were terrific.

Finally managed to engage myself in sorting my tickets out. The 3-match deal is banked. £200 for 2 adults and 2 kids to watch every game in a 3-match test series in Cat 2 areas of the grounds is terrific value for money IMO. If you're as yet undecided, get yourself on the ticket site, save the tooth sucking and bag yourself a seat for what I think will be a good series.

Alas not. You need to select the number of tickets required at the top, and then move down to the stadium plan to select your area. Another glitch that will undoubtedly put people off. I've just been able to put 10 seated together in the basket.

Yes, there are some excellent group offers for individual games.

My social media has been stuffed with ads to be fair.

I'm off to the games. I hate the idea of International RL falling further down the radar, so I am attending in order to try and do my bit (Although I don't want the RFL to think it was anything to do with their marketing!). The Huddersfield sales look diabolical.

The 'pulling up of the socks' is a catch-all phrase to point out that, if we just allow the domination to continue and the same strings to be pulled, nothing will change. We either stand and wait for nothing, or do something about it. Our game seems devoid of ideas as to how they might actually challenge the status quo.

I know why you are challenging the phraseology. It is certainly not an easy home truth that Australia are, essentially, the masters of the whole international game and have been for some time. However, I would need to be convinced that the international programme (and the ability of the federation) is sufficient to change anything of the status quo in the game. Until it is, why would Australia even consider taking the international game any more seriously? The rest of the world doesn't have the balls to cut Australia out of their thinking. Australia dictate everything. Until that changes, nothing else will. Should they just let it happen? I think not.

The rest of the international teams need to pull their socks up and provide genuine competition for Australia, who will then start to take it seriously when they really need to. Until then, they will just keep turning up and winning.

Will the positive ramifications for London's win be greater than the negative ramifications of Toulouse's loss? The same question would probably have had the same answer if the result was the other way round, TBH. Well done London on a fantastic end to the season. Commiserations to Toulouse. It's a rocky road at the moment for expansion teams in particular and I just hope both can do well in 2024.

Toulouse have been reading the Featherstone textbook in that second half. London have deserved the status they have earnt.

They've found a significant weakness down the left hand side and exploited it very well. Now all on Toulouse to come up with an answer and they've only got 10 mins to do it.

And binoculars.

I'm for keeping it at OT. Other less so.

Newcastle is a great city for this sort of event. The ground is impressive and really accessible. The only thing about SJP that could be an issue over and above OT is that, with two relatively small stands, SJP can only make up the seat numbers with an incredibly high top tier around the two other sides. It is a long, long way up there!

I had a knucklehead behind me whose entire match vocabulary was: ’wiiiiigan’ ’smash ‘im’ ’boo’ (for the two Catalans head injuries, their penalty kick and their medal presentation) But, that aside, I thought the Wigan numbers were impressive and the Catalans fans created an excellent pre-match atmosphere.