Don't hold you're breath waiting for a climb down, it won't happen.

The second stat is the most impressive IMO

Always said the RFL was chuffing useless. Not got a clue. And this proves it.

Regardless of the increased viewing figures and attendances, the useless buffoons went and picked a weekend when it snowed. Even though they have had MONTHS to plan for the start of the season. Just imagine what the attendances would have been had they picked a weekend when the sun was cracking the flags? Or how packed the pubs would have been watching the games on Sky had the RFL not recklessly chosen days when it snowed. But no...snow it HAD to be. We all told them the day before, but would they listen? Would they bollox. Never listen to the real fans, even though we know everything and they know nowt.

If you ever wanted proof that the RFL is useless and inept, you saw it this weekend. Yet another opportunity forgone. Who in their right mind would DELIBERATELY pick a snowy start? Downright negligent, if you ask me.

And as for the Stobart "deal", I walk everywhere and my eyesight means I can't read the side of a truck (although I CAN see that the opposition players are always offside and never ground the ball, and can count the opposition fans to the nearest minibus) so this "national advertising" business is just rubbish. Trucks up and down motorways and all that...what crock of shìte all THAT is! Anyone can see that, except the useless RFL.

And anyway, the pies in the pub were cold. All the RFL's fault. And it was the RFL's fault too that the pub I go to was showing soccer not my team playing RL so I had to sit through wendyball. Why should I have to go sit in the pub next door showing my team playing RL just because the RFL could not make my pub show a proper sport? And anyway, is it any wonder folk won't go to the games with this useless lot in charge? Its a bloody good job there are some of us real fans left, else the game would just die!

I could go on about how useless the RFL is - they ate my hamster too and stole my girlfriend - but I think I'd be preaching to the choir?

And anyway, whoever thought to sell our extremely valuable sponsorship to some tinpot company selling soup? Soup is for wussies anyway. Beer and fags were the way to go in the past, so why go change something that clearly worked? I despair.

I'm sure I speak for all genuine true RL fans? We are normally the most forward-looking, positive fans on the planet, but this lot would try the patience of anyone!

RFL out!!

Extending the comparative SL Round 1 attendance stats even further... which highlights that the Round 1 record breaking attendances in 2012 actually came in 7th out of 8, with only the year 2008 having a lower average attendance in Round 1.

Super League 2012 - Week 1 attendances = 73,720/7 = 10,531
Super League 2011 - N/A - Magic Weekend
Super League 2010 - Week 1 attendances = 78,090/7 = 11,156
Super League 2009 - Week 1 attendances = 78,141/7 = 11,163
Super League 2008 - Week 1 attendances = 60,320/6 = 10,053
Super League 2007 - Week 1 attendances = 69,237/6 = 11,539
Super League 2006 - Week 1 attendances = 65,624/6 = 10,937
Super League 2005 - Week 1 attendances = 67,474/6 = 11,245
Super League 2004 - Week 1 attendances = 69,499/6 = 11,583

At least there's more bums in armchairs watching Super League on Sky these days... allegedly.

Eh?

Hope standee is ok, normally has a lot to say on sky schedules but nothing on here? Strange!

To you, irony just means "A bit like iron" doesn't it?

It was a poor attempt at irony really wasn't it?
More like a mad rant!

Of course it was like a mad and semi-incoherent rant. That was sort of the point...

Your a changed man, Adey, I never realised the high esteem in which you held the RFL

Well you failed.

Must try harder!

Brother, verily have I trodden the Road to Damascus, and indeed have I undergone a most remarkable epiphany...