I kind of liked the fact that Wigan, Widnes and Saints, and to an extent Hull too, were strong teams formidable on their own grounds. It gave a certain aura to Central Park, Naughton Park, Knowsley Road, The Boulevard. You felt like you were entering enemy territory and it meant an away win was incredibly satisfying. You would come back home feeling like you'd done a successful raid on enemy soil.

The more modern grounds have lost that character even though the facilities are better. Also summer rugby has made it all more 'comfortable'. Positive progress of course, and important to attracting a wider audience, but when I was a teenager I did enjoy the grim intimidating atmosphere of these grounds on a crappy winters day.

I enjoyed going to Thrum Hall, with a stop at the Turnpike for lunch en route.

What has happened to Castlefords projected new Stadium? no offence to Castleford and Wakefield but they need new grounds to move forward in Super League .

Bit unfair on the "big" stadiums. DW And hudds are great when they are well populated. As for headingley. It shouldn't get such a high mark so long as it has that rubbish open terrace.

.....and that band that plays all the right notes, but not necessarily in the right order.

I must say ,i have a phobia about Salford.. The exit routes from the car park are pathetic.

Speaking of Headingley, anyone remember a game against Leeds about 15 years ago when the Wire fans were in the open terrace? A cup game I suspect. About 20 minutes before kick off there as an almighty drum solo noise coming from one of the gardens of the houses behind. Everyone rushed to the back and peered over the wall to see a young lad banging away on a full drum kit in his back garden. A few minutes later, there was a minutes silence for someone connected to Leeds and the garden drummer coincidentally started up again. The Leeds fans thinking it was the Wire drummer directed a barrage of boos and "show some respect", "wire scum" from the other 3 sides. I think it was even mentioned in the newspapers about Warrington fans "lack of respect".

I might be in a minority here, and almost heretical, but I think Saints' new ground is the best overall. Similar to ours but more going on design wise externally (less boxy) I do like our full side standing as Headingly as it's a better RL mix IMO but they should lose points for their Away end.

I suppose that a fan experience can also be coloured by other things such as the rivalry and importance of the game, atmosphere, the price of pies, team performance, ease of travel/parking, the weather..

Having considered all that Saints are still top for me as you'll never beat the 'back in the box' moment

Agree about saint's place but we only normally see it at first hand when it is relatively full, when it is excellent. Must be lot different against Salford, wakey etc, as is the hj, but less noticeable with our lower capacity.
Under the stands the totally wicked looks really cheap.

Agree about LP I did love going to Knowsley Road even despite us not winning there. Just the hope every time we went and the fact we would always fill out that away end with 5-7k fans on a cold Friday night. the atmosphere was unrivalled.

Wakefield away is a belter.
Cheap beer in the Social club on the side, out of date beer on the pitch, garbage pies but they’re a bit warm.
Old timers that hate Cas and Wigan but like Wire as they remember Brian Bevan.

I liked the Willows, I LOVED Odsal for its uniqueness and I'll miss Bellevue if they ever get shut. You dont get that feel anymore.

I get why stadiums move on and are much better designed these days, but give me a tin shed anyday of the week (to visit as an away stand, I want a real ale bar and creature comforts at home please)

I agree as a day out on the train and the cheapest beer but really the away side is ridiculous uncovered and too low for viewing

The Boulevard was a great away day so long as it wasn't chucking it down.

Hull away in minging weather was the pits. Especially New Craven Park, only been once on a freezing day, thought I'd got frostbite.

An an away fan, I much preferred standing in the railway end terrace as opposed to the new ground, even taking into account the toilet facilities (wall to pee on). The atmosphere and sense of occasion was always better in the old grounds. This country is obsessed with the whole idea that a new, characterless ground is best. I don’t think it is.