According to Stephen Jones of The Sunday Times (twice voted Sports Journalist of the Year by the Sports Journalist Association!) we might as well abandon efforts to spread the League game anywhere as it'll all be in vain ... The following is a piece taken from his 'Rolling Maul' blog on February 10th:

'Millennium tragic

Anyone know what day it is on Saturday? Didn’t think so. Well, the so-called Super League of rugby league starts with every club engaged in two days of action at the Millennium Stadium.
The number of last-minute adverts in local newspapers and number of silly, stunted media 'events' confirms the observation of a friend at the Millennium Stadium that sales have been “tough".
It is not so long ago, chiefly when ex-Union players were giving the code some publicity, that many people were aware of rugby league, when it started and what was happening. These days, it all seems faded and shrouded in mist. Gone. I am sure things are different in pockets of the north-west of England and Yorkshire, but not elsewhere.
Why? It may have something to do with the fact that recent results in the code’s miniscule international game have shown that the Super League is anything but super in its attempts to produce a non-embarrassing England side.
Or is it something more significant? Is it the long and slow slide out of the public eye and even into oblivion? Rugby league points to a growth of park-pitch sport in its portfolio. But as a national game and a professional game, in terms of standards and awareness, is it on the way out entirely?'

Your always going to struggle getting families to attend MM , keeping kids interested for 7 games is a hell of an ask

looking at the empty stands last weekend it's not just the kids who have a problem with 7 games

I'm afraid to tell you it was more just general disinterest in your post than me actually taking the time to think up a reply.


Was there actually a 'strong' point anywhere in your post?


Must have missed that one.