...because of what has happened in the previous 2 seasons.
Leeds having a very average season 2 years running and still going on to win it all has really changed the way other teams view the competition.
Last season we dropped players in games we viewed to be meaningless even though we were supposedly chasing Wigan for top spot.
The reality is that because of what happened the year before, we didn't care about finishing top.
The emphasis was on getting to the playoffs with a fit squad of players.

The entire way the league and playoffs are setup, will always discourage fans from attending games.

Why would anyone make the effort to go to London for the weekend to watch us play the Broncos, if we are going to put out half a team and not care about the result?
Why would anyone pay to go tonight, when the view is, that it doesn't matter who wins as it will have no effect on the outcome of the season, and it is on TV?

Then we get to the playoffs, and they are poorly attended.
Well what do you expect when a team can lose, but not be eliminated?
That first week between the top 4 teams is even more pointless than the regular season!!!!

Yes, they have to try things to make the regular season mean more for longer for more than just the top 4 or 5 teams, but the current setup has been shown up for what it is by Leeds in the last 2 years, and the results are less bums on seats.

Time for a rethink.

Yes, the figures are like for like against last years opponents at the HJ.

Thanks for the Wigan / Saints figures B.

Given Saints abject form, Wires weakened squad, Friday night commitments, the weather and the apathy of the league format I actually thought Friday's attendance was quite reasonable.

Following this 5.6% fall in attendance I can now accurately predict that in 20 years time our average gate will be 5,000.

League Express articles, 2033;

" I may hang my boots up next year, but I will see how things go and talk with the coach before making any sudden decisions"
Adrian Morley

"After reviewing the budget, we can confidently say that the cladding will definitely be in place next year"
St Helens CEO

" Absolutely shocking. I can not understand why the RFL seem incapable of stamping out punching and fighting, it has no place in RL"
Gareth Hock, Coach Widnes Vikings


[iThe super rich NRL in Oz have started buying up UK SL clubs and are turning them into feeder clubs.[/i

" Yeah, they should be a really good asset for us. We will probably re-name them Headingly Stormlets"
Melbourne CEO

" This is not how partnering was supposed to have developed, it's degrading, and as chairman of 'Save the Rhino's' I am asking for everyones financial support to buy back this great club"
Gary Hetherington

" I really feel for Gary, it's a black day indeed. We will of course help as much as we can (muffled laughter)"
Hunslet Coach

Very good Chaz, although your crystal ball missed the obvious headline, "2033 THE year of the Wolfs"