Man Utd aren't in Manchester. But they don't hesitate to sell themselves in Manchester. They don't look at Trafford as their fiefdom. They will go in to Salford, Bolton, Wigan, Stockport, Cheshire, Bury (and much much further)

RL clubs are locked in to a view that Salford sell in Salford and that certain parts of Wigan is for Wigan and certain parts are for Leigh yet there are 200k+ people in Bolton next door where we aren't making in roads, there are people in Stockport and Bury and Trafford and Manchester where we don't make in roads. There are 2.5 million people in greater Manchester and we have clubs fighting for the same couple of thousand fans.

I'm not saying it's just those areas, there are 2.2m people in west Yorkshire and we have Wakefield and Cas fighting over the same 100k market. On other threads we have people arguing over whether Rothwell and Wetherby are 'really Leeds' and whether they're fighting with cas and Wakefield for the fans in garforth. There are people who complain that Leeds advertise in beeston or holbeck because South of the river is hunslet territory.

Salford RL missed their chance to be the home of spectating on live sport when Manchester United turned their back on their local fans in the 2000s as tickets became like gold dust.

While the football club chased the big dollar spent in the club shop by fans far afield and gentrified the atmosphere, Salford RL could've grabbed those locally who were alienated if they had moved quickly.

Now it's too late as Salford City and the class of 92 plus FC United of Manchester have moved in to cash in on that crowd.

Hillbilly, we have disagreed and that's only natural as people will have differences of opinion, but, I would hope that it was a disagreement based on some semblance of facts, or each others interpretation of them? I know what is was about and think that we just agreed to disagree, no name calling or "swinging wildly" to create a different never ending argument?

Funny how our co correspondent, named all of these Rugby League places in Manchester yet left out Rochdale how is it in 'them thar' hills, hope you're Ok on the outside of Manchester?

the growth of rugby league and the geography of Manchester are different topics. One i care about, the other i dont.

See you did understand. Seems a strange tactic, though common in those from Manchester, to pretend they don't understand things they do.

I have neither called you stupid, nor said anyone doesnt understand. I havent argued any Germans would follow Keinhorst in to RL, i havent once mentioned where he went to school, i havent argued that he got into RL after playing RL at University, I havent at any stage mentioned Jewish students. But other than that well done on a great post.

Soccer is easier to understand, which is why it is popular!

RL has always been innovative to keep it's crowds but it is a game where being able to think is important.