If you have such faith in the RFL How come our game gets such a comparitably poor deal compared to the Guinness premireship? Our viewing figures need to improve for the RFL to have a good base for negotations next time as the "good times" may well soon be over in today's very poor economic climate. Glad you can be so blaise about Sky viewing figures being unimportant.

I agree with the OP and this was brought up by Martyn Sadler in his column last week.

I don't know why anyone would think this could equate to just a few hundred fans, when the likes of Wigan, Leeds and Saints all play on a Friday night, which could equate to over 40k RL fans.

As for the corporate stuff, it is a valid point to an extent, however a few clubs still go with Sundays, so there obviously isn;t a black and white solution.

When viewing figures can be as low as 100k at times, having up to 40k fans at their games at the same time really could make a difference.

Bit harsh that considering Martyn Sadler was saying precisely the same in last weeks League Express ...

I`d suggest Sadler knows rather more about RL/Sky than you Coddy ...

And three years ago and three years before that, Sadler was proclaiming to anyone who would listen, that Sky would screw us. The first time prompted me to get in direct contact with Richard Lewis, he said enough on both occasions to assure me that we'd be OK. Sure enough Sadler's predictions of doom were unfounded.

If I had to rely on Sadler, I'd have given up on the game years ago.

Slight side issue, but it was interesting to see that for the first time in a few years we kept our game against Leeds on a Sunday, rather than accomodate them with a Friday night fixture in line with their preference of home game. The result was a significantly higher attendance than last year and the latter our two fixtures of 2008. It certainly seemed like the Leeds fans came out in much bigger numbers for the Sunday game.

should the rfl push for a live game on sunday? i think this would give blanket tv coverage for the whole weekend = more TV money in the long run?

Done years ago, may work.
At the end of the day, the Crusaders viewing figures was 350,000, much much higher than regular and i'd be willing to give this idea a try

Don't have Sky. I have a Telly Freeview Box 7 pvr. I watch plenty of Live Sky games but always at the Pub/Club or Gym . I am also a season ticket holder at York and regularly watch Leeds Rhino's.

sounds good. especially during soccer season, a game following straight after suer sunday on Sky sports 1 could get a fairly larrge audience potentially

werent crowds really compromised last time?
I cant remember why they switched to saturday

And I don't spend my money on any of those because I'm at home with the family so we have Sky. In fact it strikes me that you have a lot of free time but want to dictate when you want to watch your rugby. You can't please everyone.