You're about the only person who I've seen who has that opinion.

Yet the complain about the teams having a second chance and the costs

"My own view is that a lot of supporters will 'take or leave' the first playoff game purely down to the high cost/importance comparison, especially as the game is also televised. If you're in the top four, its not the end of the world if you lose, and if you're not in the top four, then the chances of making the grand final itself is minimal, so it's not surprising people don't go.

If, however, season ticket holders were entitled to pay, say, a tenner for that game, then you'd see attendances jump I'm sure. However I'm equally sure that this is an issue for the individual clubs, rather than the RFL.

No one has mentioned that the games have all been on SKY.

Money is tight.

People, in particular families, are facing higher prices and fuel /heating bills. But no wage rises.

IMHO SKY coverage makes it an easy option.

You will hear the Leeds fans using this very excuse when their fan base fails to materialise in any great numbers this Friday.

I doubt that.

Who's complaining? I'm just pointing out some facts. I'm OK with how it is, but a lot aren't, as evidenced by the shiit crowd.

Therefore, something needs to be done in order to attract those who won't pay. What's wrong with that?

The NRL system is much better leaguechatter.wordpress.com/2012 ... club-call/

The NRL system is much better leaguechatter.wordpress.com/2012 ... club-call/

In effect, it costs a season ticket holder whenever they miss a regular season game. Come the playoffs, it costs them to attend. While ST sales continue at their current high levels it'll always be a struggle to draw in as many punters for playoff and cup games. Particularly, as others have pointed out, when they're televised.

On what grounds would you say "it's fine and it works" then? The poor crowds, the likely repeat fixtures, 5th and 6th getting easier wk 1 games than 1st or 2nd, finishing 8th out of 14 and still being able to have the chance to call yourselves "champions"

It's not fine and it doesn't work, the fans have on the whole voted with their feet, the first 2 weeks of the playoffs make a mockery of the sport, yet the RFL will doo nothing about it.

Judging by the early ticket sales its going to be another crap crowd on Friday. I can understand the Catalan crowd being low but not this one. For love of god lets get behind the lads on Friday!!!

If we can't top 18k for this game, then what in the holy f*ck are we doing? This is the biggest game of the season! It's fine turning up for games against Bradford, Saints, Warrington when in reality, those games were just position jostling for the top 4, yet we've sold just over 7k for this one so far, and they're firing out kids for a fiver... shambles so far, lets hope it picks up

I hate people sometimes.

A lot will think "I'll save my cash, I'll go if we get to the final but if we lose, I haven't lost anything"... then (if we get to the final) they'll be there decked out in Cherry and White acting like superfans.

Probably straight on the website buying tickets at full time as well.

Pretty sure the main reason is financial, rather than the comp structure. CC games are straight knockout, and not all televised, but are also poorly attended.

We'll be there on Friday, just not buying a ticket in advance. Why should we pay an extra couple of quid "booking fee" when we can walk up on the night and get them for face value? If it looks like heading for a sellout, we may pre-buy, but otherwise we'll take whatever seats are still available on the night.

Been season ticket holders for years, but this year, circumstances dictated that we couldn't commit.

I'm sure there will be plenty others in similar situations, so I won't worry too much about sales of "only" 7k.

They'll probably get better seats too.

Fans choosing which games to attend shocker?