then the ref says play on.......I dont really care if Wire had gone ape the ref had already messed the game up with his garbage calls and wound players up. So like I said before do players or the ref stop the game? I played for over 20 years and never saw players stop a game...

Of course the players can stop the game if both teams just stop. I don't know why you think they will spring back into action just because he shouts play on He's not got a playstation controller, they're grown men with their own minds. It's common sense to stop the game if both teams stop. That didn't happen for the full lengther so irrelevant.

Off course they will, but for anyone to think that the poor crowd of 5,500 is all to do with Covid19 is in fantasy land as many older supporters see a situation like of the seventies, a lack of the same interest when they see the the squad and indeed the game now is in a poorer state compared to what it used to be prior to Rugby Union going professional.

I was one of the loyal supporters in the seventies who was part of Wigan crowds as low as 2,500/3,000 and the highlight of a season for Wigan supporters was watching a Challenge Cup Semi Final at Central Park between other clubs due to the decline of the then Wigan squad.

The way things are at the moment, many older supporters are seeing the same kind of decline beginning to happen again.

What the club badly needs now is a new Uncle Mo, who knew how to create interest among supporters and get crowds into the ground by signing top class experienced players which rebounded into more youngsters wanting to play the game at the local amateur clubs which from I understand is not the case now.

Tough to put a figure on it but looking at Leeds and Wires crowds recently, I’d say they have been around 2,000 down on what they would’ve expected on the same nights and against the same teams back in 2019. We were about 5,000 down against Wakey by comparison, so a difference of around 3,000. Those 3,000 aren’t going to turn up to watch a team that has averaged 10 points a game over the last 9 fixtures. It’s turgid rugby and just offers no entertainment value whatsoever. I go because I’m a saddo and will support the club come what may but I fully understand people who would say there’s no incentive to go. It isn’t enjoyable watching the team, in fact at times you go away in a worse mood than the one you turned up in. The none die hards go to be entertained, to sit there and have some wow moments during the game and to walk away with a spring in their step. Watching us struggle to string 3 passes together, getting totally dominated in the middle of the field and pinch one or two try’s at best a game isn’t going to get those people in the ground. It certainly won’t be changing this season so we’ll have to grin and bear it. It’ll be the Saints crowd that will be a real eye opener. I doubt it’ll break 10,000-11,000 unless Saints bring 4,000 or 5,000 with them.

did you hear what the attendance was on weds? i've not seen it

8,000 and a bit is what I heard. It’s a Wednesday fixture, so I’d have expected you to get about 10k on in a Wednesday in 2019. It’s not too worrying a drop that in the current climate IMO.

Impossible to make a judgement on how crowds will be affected until the next round of season ticket sales. Those who understandably didn't buy one this year will probably be unlikely to buy match tickets. I am a little surprised there are no half season ticket packages.

Previously taking someone’s head off in a Wire v Wigan game was compulsory not accidental. Even in pre season “friendlies “ Locker Cup often saw a season ending injury or 2.

Supporters should stop making excuses about mid week games and Covid19 and face the fact that there is not the same interest in the game today as there was in season's past.

A situation which will be hard to rectify with more and more supporters finding other interests outside watching Rugby League.

So are you saying they don't penalise "accidental offside" or that when a player falling receives a head high tackle it is deliberate or intentional?

Correct, they don't penalise accidental offside. It is a turnover (or scrum pre-COVID)


Already answered earlier

I thought I was looking at old pages from Redvee when I read this. Think you'll find that the Saints coach's team selection for that game cost them the cup, not Hicks.