With that attitude, you're probably right to stay at home

G1 always talks sense

After my trip to Salford last year (only really went to watch Sir Kev break the points record) I won't be rushing back. I was extremely underwhelmed by the whole experience. Saints the following week however, despite the red hair and result, was a ground I look forward to revisiting.

Same

As long as the kick off isn't around sunset

That only made the Comic Relief hair harder to look at!

Been to Salford once, took over an hour to get out of the car park, swore I'd never go back so wont be going.

Unless you're buying tickets direct from Leeds, make sure you get them prior to kick off. There is no cash accepted on the turnstiles and you will be required to visit the ticket office and purchase a ticket. You can do this online prior and print off your ticket, it is also cheaper to do so.

Until the new access road is built traffic is a nightmare, I'd suggest visiting the fan bar for a drink after the game to let the majority of the traffic go. Obviously the other option is to sit in your car in a massive jam.

SNAP....

My thoughts exactly - which I'm actually really disappointed about. There was a time when I wouldn't dream of missing a game, infact I used to go out of my way to make sure I could attend every game possible - whether that meant booking holiday from work, missing out on other events etc... Nowadays, with the lack of quality dished up on a regular basis, and the general meaninglessness of many games, I've got much better ways to spend my hard earned and my ever decreasing spare time. For certain games, it just isn't worth it anymore.

It's a sorry state of affairs really - maybe I'm just getting old and miserable... Or more likely, I've come to the conclusion that the entertainment offered isn't good enough anymore to justify being such a 'loyal supporter'.

I think it's a combination of both Superted. After many years of avid fan-ness you grow out of the habit. Shlepping accross the M62 becomes a chore not an adventure. It's not something I can be bothered with for a drubbing of Salford* or, even worse, a game of the "intensity" that these usually serve up.

Just not enough high quality intense matches. About one in ten raises the heckles these days.

*I mean no dis-respect to Salford but, lets face it, it's what we all expect. Of course, Salford may pull of a shock but it's the fact that it would be a shock that is the issue. If we all expected Friday to be a rock hard encounter, regardless of the result, I suspect the likes of Superted and I might roll back the years and brave the M62.

Even in the 90's, early 2000's when we were by no means great, I used to love a good away trip - because regardless of the opposition or gulf in class, you knew you were going to get a full bloodied game - those games are becoming rarer and rarer when both teams are putting in 100% intensity.

The worrying thing is, I consider myself an avid fan - and I am becoming less and less bothered as the seasons go on. Rugby league really is in my blood, and as sad as it is, my life has always kind of revolved around rugby league, with playing/training taking up a large part of the week, and with attending Leeds matches the highlight of the weekend. Now, I've not lost any love for the game itself, but with the way things are currently, there is nothing whatsoever that entices me to go to the likes of Salford this week. Now, if that's how I'm feeling as an avid supporter, how on earth is the sport going to attract new fans? Fancy dan marketing/cheap deals won't work in the long term - Even if I were offered a free ticket and travel to the game on Friday, I'd actually prefer to sit at home and watch the game on the box - thats a massive worry for me. Maybe the proposed changes to the league structure will help....

Sorry to mention it but Rugby Union does Ok and a large majority of people go for the occasion rather than the game itself. We need to make the match day experience better and more enticing .. as it is, a long trek to Salford on a friday night to stand in an almost empty stadium is understandably unappealing.

The problem is reality. Salford-Leeds is a very mis-able fixture. Doubt anyone who is not going, will be overly fussed. I'm not going this week and I may check in with the highlights at some stage.

Rugby Union need it to be an 'occasion' because the on-field entertainment isnt strong enough.

The thing that needs to change in Rugby League is more meaningful games. At the moment, Rugby League fans are being short changed. The top teams pick and choose which games to approach with high intensity - because they can afford to do this with the current structure.

I dont think your average fan wants or needs the razzmataz matchday entertainment or an 'Occasion' (although there is some need for these, particularly for familes and new fans). Rugby League fans just want a full bloodied match between 2 teams who are going to go at it 100%... A good, hard and honest game of rugby league between 2 teams who will put their bodies on the line with a win at all costs attitude - playing the game as if their life depends on it.... It's quite simply really...

Actually there does seem to be quite a good number of red haired Saints fans

Correct.i would echo what superted and G1 have said and also add that several years ago games like the one at salford on friday night would have been 3pm kick offs on sunday which always gave me more reason to go along as we had a set group that went to away games and the majority of away games used to be at this time on the sunday.more and more games have moved to the friday which are not the sky game and i think that is one of the reasons i go to less and less of the away games to the lower end teams.i dont get much enjoyment from rushing around after work to get to the game when you know what is being served up,simple as that for me.