Playing in their fifth challenge cup final in ten years . . . how embarrassing!

Lowest ever attendance at Wembley* was the fantastic final where underdogs Sheffield beat firm favourites Wigan, and no-one who witnessed that cared less that there was just 60k there.



*Post 1945 - prior to that several Wembley finals were sub 50k

The RFL were probably offered the chance to insure themselves against the possibility of one of the top 5 supported side's not making it to the final. They refused to do it so they're gonna take a big hit on this one

When the powers that be have put speed restrictions on the M6 and closed Euston station it's hardly surprising that attendance levels are down. No wonder a number of ex players are biking it. Does anyone know if I can get there on a narrow boat?

Really? How is it embarrassing for them? Please explain.

Well you'll need to take the Trent & Mersey Canal, down to the junction with the Coventry Canal, before going south on the Grand Union to Watford/Brentford.

..and presumably I needed to set off last week.

Maybe a fortnight ago just to be sure - assume ~2 mph (accounting for slow running past moored boats and time lost doing locks) and 8-10 hrs running per day, for 150 miles, so somewhere between 7-14 days depending upon your experience.

Just shows you how crap the modern world is. In the early 19th century they already had systems of canal barges that would do the journey non stop and in a quicker time. No wonder we cannot fill the stadium when you could get 30 000 for a ladies crocheting competition in the 1940s. Now where has my butler gone with my monocle?

How many Catalans supporters are going ? Maybe 200

You may be surprised.

A few thousand genuine French / Catalan supporters but, they'll have plenty of support from the 'Neutrals".
Similar to the semis a few weeks ago, there needed to be an offer made through ALL RL clubs to bolster the attendance but, they either couldn't be bothered or, decided that there wasn't enough time - mickey poor

It’s obviously much harder for Catalan supporters to get to the game, flights and ferry crossings booked at short notice are expensive and very limited, meaning some won’t be able to make it. However there is a sizeable French population living in London who will compensate for this. It’s a shame only expensive match tickets remain on sale.

What neutrals?? any genuine RL fan would be mad if they’ve had the misfortune to watch the garbage that they serve up over here.... I’ve seen it twice fake injuries, Bird up to his off the ball tricks spoiling to win etc etc.... only chance of a decent game is if Wire chuck it around with abandon.....

Come on, they were superb in the semi final and a joy to watch.
As for fake injuries, this is something that the game needs to eradicate. EVERY side has taken to having an injury whenever there is a set play near their line, either a scrum, penalty or drop out.
Indeed, this is why the Wakefield fans were booing at Huddersfield when Murphy was injured as we thought it was just more delaying tactics, in his case, he was injured and nobody should boo a player whio is crocked BUT, you'd delayed the game so many times, only for the player to spring to his feet after some work with the magic sponge .

It should be a great game and close too, roll on Saturday

From late 80s till the old wembley was knocked down the capacity was around 78k and we managed to just about fill the stadium every time apart from when lesser supported clubs sheffield and london made it. The problem is the new wembley at 90k plus is simply too big for us when we have 2 big show piece finals.we have still been getting crowds of 65-75k which isnt bad really (that would fill millenium stadium) but still leaves circa 20k empty seats which is why it always looks bad on tv.