Very true, can't say I'm as excited at the prospect of Wembley as I was in 2011 and 2002 at Murrayfield. Other clubs fans still seem to have that enjoyment factor at games, or perhaps just when they play us, who knows ...

I'm sure the players would prefer 3000 vocal fans than 10,000 silent fans, like it or not the players appraciate vocal support. It's the connection and can/does lift their performances when needed.

Sure, I know they contribute in terms of money, but I wish we'd make use of the 'numbers' we have at times.

I think our problem is threefold. First, we've not got much to sing about. What I mean by that is, yes the team are winning most weeks and playing some very attractive rugby, but that's exactly the reason I don't think we're as loud. Back in the Noble era, we would go to games not knowing if we'd win by 20 or lose by 20, no matter the opposition (Quins Easter Monday anyone?). It was genuinely exciting and the crowd seemed to rally in a close game.

Secondly, I sit in the double letters of ES6 and the atmosphere there has noticible quietened. As far as I can tell, it's still the same people around us, except for one thing. The drum. I know this is a devisive issue, but I always felt that it added to the atmosphere up there. Now it seems like a library and the quietest it's been for the 9 years I've been sitting there.

Finally, I just dont think the DW is a great stadium for generating an atmosphere. Don't get me wrong, I wouldn't want us to move, but with the exposed corners any noise just dissipates almost immediately. I can only think of a few recent examples of the place absolutely rocking, the 2011 WCC and Good Friday the same year.

I would never want us to go back to the dark days of 2005/6 just for the sake of atmosphere, but I think the reason we stuck by the team back then and why perhaps the Widnes fans aren't sticking with their team is that back then we knew that we would get back to the top. Anything else was inconceivable. I don't think Widnes have that.

EDIT:


Just to say on that note, if we're at Wembley against Wire, I can't see anything but a full house with 80-odd thousand voiciferous supporters on both sides. I'd love to beat Wire at Wembley and I'm sure their fans would love to beat us as well.

Great numbers? Did you see the attendance last night? Did you all forget the game was on?

Thought the Widnes fans were a credit to their team last night. Utterly outplayed, outenthused and completely battered on the pitch, and their supporters still trying to make a night of it.

Yeah, but so few of you.

Can't remember the last time half the away stand was closed in anticipation of a Widnes visit. That honour used to be reserved for the likes of London.

But as I said in another post, you're not alone. Few visitors to the DW have brought a crowd in 2013.

Lighten up guys. It was a hot day, the fans knew the team largely hadn't turned up so they had a bit of fun to make the most of the rugby, weather and being with friends. They made conga lines not riots and I'd much rather have a party atmosphere to silence - this isn't the golf! Which would you prefer?

Plus, it's a Monday night, the game is on Sky and it's against a team we were almost certain to get beat by. How many did you expect to attend??

All that is of course true. But by the same token I'm not sure folk should be applauded for drinking ale and having conga lines. But each to their own.

I go to live events, rugby/football matches and gigs etc. not just to watch the spectacle, but to be to be a part of it, to be a part of the atmosphere. Unfortunately Wigan's key demographics don't want this and are happy to sit there with a warm knit on, sitting on their hands, which has resulted in me not attending several games this season. Part of me wishes I'd saved my money last night and watched it in the pub, but I got treated to some good rugby from Wigan, a decent atmosphere from the travelling support and I won £23 on the betting, so it wasn't all terrible.

We wanted to show are support of our club no matter the score! We had a great night and hope you lot go on and win the cup, top team!

I can't believe people are knocking the Widnes fans! We have done that many a time when getting beat. Madge's last game being a perfect example

this is what i hate about are fans, its not like we did something like this when we got beat by wire. week after we won the challenge cup in 2011

No wonder other clubs fans don't like us