Because "it was better in my day, I tell thee."

They're supporters that have become a little disillusioned about our current form/league structure and are looking for an excuse to justify not getting another season ticket.

The current form has nothing to do with it, its the state of rugby league in general that i'm disillusioned about. I no longer have the desire to watch the game, which is something that i would never ever have thought i would hear myself saying. Sad but true.

Fulltime at Rapid Solicitors Stadium: Wakefield 42 Salford 6

Yeah salford are top notch..... My point was that RL is going backwards, the weak have dragged all back to their level.. Our top players are elsewhere, and RL in this country is in a parlous state...

That's your problem, not the games.

Right now we are on the verge of one of the most exciting closely contested finishes and playoff series ever contested. There have been more draws then ever this season, with exciting games going down to the last seconds. 1 point seperates 2nd and 6th in the table. Each season we have new teams competing at the top. Last year huddersfield finished top, a decade ago they were relegated. Cas are 2nd and can still finish top, they celler dwellers last season. A good attrition rate of teams at the top is the sign of a vibrant competition.

If you don't like it you know where the door is.

To say we have new teams competing every year is stretching things a bit. Also, no matter how close the scores are, the quality and intensity is lacking. Back in pre SL days Wigan often only won the league by the smallest of margins, by points difference on at least one occasion IIRC. Finally, how do you know at this stage how close and exciting the playoffs will be? You may well be correct but I would contend that the fare we used to be served when our best players stayed at home and the very best Aussies and Kiwis came over here along with RU backs converting to the pro ranks was far more palatable than than this tripe, and the size of the crowds either then or now is irrelevant to that argument. But ,hey ho, someone like Suzy will dismiss this as the ramblings of an old git I suppose.

You need to wake up and look at the bigger picture, the season has been pointless and so has the previous 17, no one cares about winning the league because the Mickey Mouse club call is a poisoned chalice, teams are now playing to finish in the top eight not to win the league. The game is on it's knees and has been for a number of years. We can't attract top sponsors and we can no longer entice star players from either rugby union or Australia. I know where the door is and believe me there is a queue building.

It was "on it's knees" when I started watching in 1990 and has been ever since if you listen to the average miserable RL fan.

So you tell me in your own words what's good about the current game?

+1

We (Saints) have only lost 6 games, and really have only had 4 poor performances....Good Friday, Magic Weekend, Catalan and Hull KR away. We have beaten the rest of the top 6 away from home (Hudds excluding as we haven't played them yet), hammered Castleford at home, done the double on Leeds, etc....

On Friday we were hardly "completely dominated for most of the game", we made a lot of mistakes in the first half, but the 2nd half was a pretty strong example of keeping it simple and grinding them down for the win. Not a classic performance, but without any half backs we can hardly expect much attacking zing, and is pretty much how we are going to have to play the rest of the year.

I agree all the way, whatever the ills of SL IMO they wouldn’t be put right by going back to the winter season, I believe this would make a bad situation worse. There are many reasons why the game is in difficulties at the minute, and there has been a lot of very interesting discussions about them on these boards, from my own experience with friends and family the number one reason is simple, money, the lack of it. I’m not saying it’s by any means the only reason, I just think if people had the spare cash they once had they wouldn’t be quite as critical about the game as a whole and would still be going through the turnstiles much as they once did. The good old days are like the last holiday you had, it’s always a lot better when looking back than the accrual reality of the time you were there.

Moving back to winter would also mean the whole season would run alongside both football and RU. Not only could this hurt crowds, it could cause a logistical nightmare now so many teams share grounds with either football or RU teams.

It worked for over 100yrs, infact rugby league used to play along side football on Saturdays, switching to summer was said that it would increase attendances as we wouldn't be in competition with RU and football however it's had the adverse affect, people can't afford to watch sport all tear round so now they pick between football and RL unfortunately they seem to pick football. The stadia sharing is the major issue of that I agree.

The stats say otherwise. Attendances across the board have increased since the switch to summer.

The biggest problem with the competition IMO is the top 8 play off. It's simply too easy to get into allowing the better teams to canter along. The change of format next year will hopefully address that problem. It will make it necessary to finish in the top 4. With Wigan, Leeds, St Helens, Warrington, Huddersfield, Castleford, Salford and if they ever get it together Hull looking strong for next year I hope it will add to the intensity of the weekly rounds and produce a better competition. Time will tell but I am optimistic.

The other big issue is money. RU because of the international game has more than we do. Australia has mega bucks because of their new TV deal aided by a favourable exchange rate which we benefited from for quite a while. We can't do anything about what others have, just look to grow the game gradually here. It will take time and competent management. We have one of those...........