rlhttp://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugby_league/super_league/london/9456539.stmrl

An average of 2500 after 3 home games isn't indicative of the development going on at Quins apparently according to the RFL.

I think most SL clubs will be doing a fair bit of work in the local schools - and due to them not having the same amount of local competing clubs, they have more schools to access.

Crusaders (1766), Huddersfield (2624) and Hull FC (3052) are not good crowds, and cannot be blamed on away supporters not going, especially as their away following isn't good themselves.

But the average attendance is indicative of them not being SL quality, be it their location, the lack of buy in from the community, etc... and this is despite freebie tickets being given away too.

Surely it would be better for Quins to drop down and get themselves competitive and build up support in their community. If visiting SL clubs aren't attracting crowds locally, then I can't see what good there is them being at the top table.

The RFL can still support London Rugby League without it necessarily being club based. By funding and supporting the local community sports coaches they could still create players to help grow the sport, without the need for unnecessarily supporting and putting up with a club that is not SL standard.

Quins score own goals by playing in the middle of the afternoon on a Saturday, when RLC games are played - limiting the amount of RL fans that can get to their local club. If they played Sunday afternoon, that would help address that issue.

I can't even bring myself to comment!

Likewise, whats the point?

Nothings gonna change their world

I'm both stunned, and not, at the lack of insight a statement like this demonstrates.

My point being though that development CAN still continue without the embarrassment of a top level club not being top level. All the other C grade clubs are developing in many areas, and Quins would grow as an entity by developing naturally and not falsely in their current guise where they are dropping back year on year.

I don't think many fans would complain if teams such as Quins, Cru, Catalans etc.. came up naturally when they were ready, and competed naturally against other teams properly.

Weren't Quins warned about their crowds a few years ago and told to improve them. Seems a bit strange that now the RFL appear to have changed tact.

I still believe that the expansion clubs like Quins should be taken under Sky's wing ala Melbourne in the NRL. With their media power and promotion expertise i'm sure the London club would boost their support.

His last comment says all we need to know about the future of the game under his leadership (expansion is the priority).

FFS the dream is to have 2 London clubs in SL , there isnt enough support for the current one. At least he referred to it as a "dream"

His leadership has seen the sport become profitable, which is good work, much better than his 'rugby league men' predecessors.

Don't you think Lewis has got one of those faces you would have no problem slapping

It's about time the clubs got together and took hold of Rugby league themselves thus electing a new board. How he can defend this is beyond me and speaks volumes about his intentions to keep them in the league. EOTD crowds affect income and since we are supposed to be using a salary cap then this will affect how many quality players quins can bring in. Also saying that there are a lof of schools playing rugby league now but at what level are these ever going to get to. He needs to wake up and smell the coffee me thinks.

He can defend it all he wants, is he going to pay for it?

The bloke, who’s been bailing them out for a number of years, already stated last season that he was sick of filling the money pit.

So he acknowledges their crowds are poor, then suggest their strength is the community development and the number of clubs playing Rugby League. Surely this is any area where we also beat them, our community programme is well respected and the quantity and quality of clubs and schools who play rugby in the Wakefield district is exceptional.

It seems the RFL are determined to bring in and continue with Expansion clubs regardless of sustainability. This should be a long long long term view. Not a boom and bust approach currently imployed

If the clubs end up running the sport again we really will be in trouble.

As far as I am aware the clubs vote on all changes to rules, franchising, number of clubs involved so therefore do have a massive say in how the game is run. Harlequins need a stable base to play from only then will they build up any kind of decent support. The constant moves around London have not helped them and has lead to a club with little to no identity within any particular area. If they are able to stay at Quins for good then maybe they can start to build a decent support in that area.

From a Wakey position we need to work alongside Mr Glover to get 10,000 Wakefield fans through the gates for each home game regardless of how many supporters the opposition bring.