I'd agree too.

I've always argued that whilst the price of a ticket has increased slightly, the on-field product has decreased at an alarming rate. That for me is why fans stay away. 20 years ago Saints Vs Wigan was full of world class players, but sadly it isn't the case anymore. More people choose the easy option of watching at the pub as the entertainment factor over the course of the night is far better imo.

That might be a self filling prophecy, in that the less fans that go to the games, then the less money the game has. All in all that equals an even worse product on the field.

Definitely, if you go on RedVee some of the Saints fans think this current team is the second coming of the '82 Kangaroos, where as IMO they'd get mullered by their Sculthorpe era team.

Summer rugby hasn't helped, in that the window of opportunity to sign top class Aussies, during the antipodean winter, has now gone. I believe that home grown players benefited from the experience of playing with and against the likes of Lewis, Sterling, Kenny, Maninga etc.

20 years ago in 1999 we averaged 9,200. Our crowds currently are well in advance of that but well down on our crowds of the Maguire years and early Wane years. We’re just crying out for some excitement and buzz. That can come from a new coach with fresh ideas and a new style of play, exciting new players playing entertaining rugby etc but currently we don’t have that and on the back of what people felt was grinding rugby league for the last few years and a lack of investment our crowds are going one way.

In other ways it has helped. I remember Joel Tomkins on return from Union spoke of how the handing skills of the forwards was way below that of league. On further discussion it was cited that handing skills in RL had massively improved due to more months being played in warmer conditions over summer than previously in winter etc.

Warmer weather, theoretically is supposed to be produce a better product, faster running, more ball in hand and entertaining rugby.

But yes... I do see your point.