i would guess there was about 35k in the stadium, lots of empty seats. Like i first pointed out, dont get carried away with all this shizzle the RFL give you!

Great success today, well attended, great atmosphere and a fantastic spectacle to promote our sport.

Exactly, the RFL did a great job. An amazing game and RL the top news item on BBC news. A wonderful day for the game (if not for the officials).

Agreed.

Just a shame about the ref for the second game.

I really enjoyed today (except for the result!). I hope this wasn't a one off and we see more games played at Wembley. Maybe one next year to keep the momentum ahead of the WC.

Give it a rest.

Great day today. Excellent crowd, excellent atmosphere, shame about the result that's all.

Well said. Yesterday was really something for the RFL to build on going towards the World Cup. Yesterday had it all, bar a better crowd which will hopefully come in future. The game and atmosphere were both great and even as it was I think the crowd was respectable and didnt look too bad on TV. A good, competitive performance from England was key going forward and we got that too. I am sure that everyone that went would want to go again after that and I am sure there was a good few at home who wished they had gone when watching it on the TV.

There has to be an international at Wembley now in every 4 Nations/tour that is staged here, like there was in the 90s. Even if we can get 50,000 at the next one then it will be good progress. It is also good to see that so many 'Southerners' went to the game. It spreads the gospel as well as the costs of attending internationals as it gives the old flatcappers one less international up North to complain about not attending. With one England match at Wembley, one in say Wigan, one in Hull and say a final in Leeds that is a good geographic spread and even if just fans from around those areas attended their local matches then all the venues should sell out...

It really isn't about the empty seats, it's about how many filled them. Would we have got the same crowd up here? No, history has shown grounds not sold out in the 'heartlands' for Eng vs. Aus encounters.

Agreed. What a day. Not enjoyed an RL event as a day out like that for a long time.

Was a great day and I said to my bro that there would still be moaners. Even at half time one guy from up north was moaning it was only half full. I explained that if we got 40,000 in then that is still a good crowd. reminded him that at Wigan two years ago we couldnt sell out vs australia.

I think the national media and london media never helped at all which is a real shame. The london press should have had a big preview of the event one day last week but their hatred for Rugby League stopped them supporting the 4 nations.

Fantastic day for the game despite the result.

the game was close and of good quality and contained controversy, vital ingredients to get any neutrals (or TV viewers) coming back. Also the Sunday papers today have far bigger write-ups than for usual RL games, and certainly far more coverage than had we played it in the heartlands.

...seriously....hatred of RL?

It's no wonder the stereotype of flat capped whippet racing pigeon fanciers is rolled out time and again....



Fact....there were about 75,000 tickets available for the games.
Fact.....every RL fan in the country knew that the games were on.
Fact...the RFL offered tickets for a tenner......and other discounts

Fact.....the reason there were more empty seats than full ones has nothing to do with the evil media.....and everything to do with apathetic RL fans.

Fantastic day RL wise! Thoroughly enjoyed the whole experience.

Although our return train journey (19:30 from Kings Cross) turned into a night mare as the train broke down just outside Peterborough. Whilst there was a few groups of lads getting a bit rowdy and their songs wernt really appropriate for young ears or non rugby related paying passengers.
It did appear that the buffet carriage was selfishly raided. Leaving other passengers with nothing whilst the train stood stationary.
But the lack of personnel and information from East Coast Mainline staff was beyond a joke.

After waiting for over a hour, 3 coaches eventually tuned up to take people to Doncaster or Taxis were provided for those left wanting to gotp Leeds and further a field.

You might wanna check up on that one...... There was only ever half the stadium made available from the offset.....

Just got back and have to say i had a fantastic weekend and despite the result really did enjoy the day.

Where i was sat on the side there was a really big mix of kiwi's aussies, and even americans behind us, which gave me something interesting to listen in on when they where commenting on the touch downs and field goals... and also a bunch of union fans who we got talking to who loved the fact that it was almost non stop.. they where just a bit annoyed about the scrums....

For me it was a great success. A very good standard competitive match infront on a national tv audience with seemingly a lot of newcommers in the stands. Definitely something to build on. And from what i've read there doesn't seem to be too many complaints coming from people who actually made the effort to go and enjoy the atmosphere. I really hope they do something like this again in the future.

I was on the same train, we eventually got home at around 2am



The day (apart from the journey back) was brilliant though. We met loads of people who were attending their first RL game and saw plenty of RU shirts about. Can't wait for the next international at Wembley.

I was saying they london media could have done more. Do you wanna show me some proof they did promote the double header! They had more previews on aviva premiership RU all damn week.

You give me a solid reason why the evening standard sports journalists decided to ignore the double header even though it was held at wembley?

If it isnt hatred for RL by the evening standard sports writers then I would like to know the valid reason why a big event at wembley was totally ignored?

Do you think they will ignore the Saracens yearly trip to wembley like they did with the 4 nations?

When the NFL rolls into town the London Media have no problem promoting the wembley game. It would have been nice if they would have given the double header some decent coverage.

And yes the heartlands fans should have made more effort. I never once disputed that in my post.

Quote from Andy Wilson this morning:
gary richardson never lets you down. oh, better do rugby league, ask a few questions then move on quickly. disgraceful bbc.

Not quite. There was an interview in Friday's paper with Gareth Ellis about the upcoming match.

Was quite amusing to see George Riley try to defend Richardson by saying he always has a good word for the sport when the talk on a morning. Shame that doesn't come across on-air. "Sorry Steve, we've got to talk to some idiot hack about Terry again. And again."

I now have renewed optimism about international RL. The game brought in big numbers from the south and is an excellent base to work from.

The rfl have grown the grand final into an event and I've no doubt were heading in the right direction for the world cup.

This weekend could be the day the rfl, working closely with the independent commission, stopped the rot and saved Rugby League.

Agreed, but as much as anything it goes to show that performance on the pitch matters so much. People left the stadium proud of their team and itching to support them again. That has not always been the case.

The RFL need to maintain their momentum as far as marketing the game is concerned, but equally the lads on the pitch need to maintain their own momentum.

The Standard is a Monday to Friday paper, they did a bit on Friday before the game, today it isn't news.

[urlhttp://www.thisislondon.co.uk/standard-sport/article-24007113-peacock-problem-a-worry-for-england.do[/url
I can feel the hatred from here

that isn't in today's paper. They never even had a report on the weekends 4 nations double header!

No surprise to see Aviva premiership given a nice report though.

Jesus wept......it really is no wonder that people in the south have a stereotypical view of northerners......


RL is a minority sport everywhere except along the M62 Corridor. In London, we struggle to get 3,000 to first grade game......whilst the Union clubs in the area, Saracens, London Irish, Wasps and Quins average over 10,000. When the RFL get all 14 clubs in Wales for the weekend, 40,000 roll up for 7 games.....when 4 London clubs start their season at Twickenham 80k+....

.....fancy a bet?
The crowd for the Wembley double header last weekend will be dwarfed by the crowd for what is essentially an exhibition match on November 26th at Twickenham? The barbarians have announced that already, 40,000 tickets have been sold......so I'd hang on to your wallet if I were you.

RL gets a mention in the ES from time to time, but make no mistake, RL is a minority sport in the capital and therefore gets column inches that reflect that fact.