Quote: leedsnsouths "Well in the 90s we used to play matches at Old Trafford and Wembeley and go near to selling them out, so selling out a 24,000 seater stadium isn't exactly a brilliant achievement'"
People like to rant and rave about the RFL but always either misremember facts or delude themselves that Rugby League has ever not been what it is - a battling, second tier (in popularity) national sport which has to fight for both crowds and attention.
Average attendances vs the Kiwis for series in the UK:
1980: 8,729
1985: 16,769
1989: 17,206
1993: 22,590
1998: 19,734
2002: 20,835
2007: 19,360
2015: 30,887
2015 was historically exceptional and the 2016 Huddersfield game being sold out is also very atypical of these matches. The RFL needed to bring a game to W Yorks as we haven't had a top ranking test match for some time and are one of the most loyal heartlands - and Hudds is the only viable option other than Elland Road.