I didn't go and I'm not a hypocrite!
I didn't go because I have been left disenfranchised from the national game by the acts of the RFL.
I regularly attended GB internationals in the past.
IMO the RFL have made us (England) a much weaker prospect by trying to strengthen the other home nations and France, and for me that was the beginning of the end as far as copeteiveness went at international level and has had a far more detrimental effect on us than your hatred of RU.
Our game is not national and to survive it doesn't have to be until it's ready, likewise at international level, it doesn't have to be huge and world dominating at all costs. Square pegs in square holes.
Against the best we need to be at our best, and that means GB, every year a three test series of the tri nations and use England v home nations to develop international players of the future if needed but to be honest the level is probably lower than SL level.
Bring back the tour games for home and touring sides against top clubs, representative sides and the home nations if needed.

I quite enjoyed the games entertainment via the tv and after reading most on here tried to wonder why we should have such a low attendance.

my personal reasons was I worked the saturday morning like a lot on here and just of late with rising prices you have to have the urge to go and for me it didn't sell.

the two headed games is a seller but lets look at the quality of the teams, Wales for all its decent effort keeping a low score line still came well short of competing and England can't must up a full squad neither and have had to rely on imports that are related or can claim nationality for being here a few years.

its a fact that as a Great Britain side we was far closer to competing which brought in the crowds expecting a fiery encounter and we got them, going back years ago when Morley got sent off at the galpharm for the head high we put up a fight.

trying to bring the french national side into the 4 nations never worked and it won't with the Welsh Scottish or Irish, we need to revert back to the GB squad.

I shall be attending the final at Elland road and expect to see a far better game than I did last time when we was absolutely embarrassed

Good post.

Although correct where was the hard marketing around the heartlands? Yes most rugby league fans knew the game was on but several of the younger end may have been playing or playing today.

My point is about trying to attract new fans not just the die hard league fans like people on here.

Last year I was approached by Doncaster rovers football club about sponsorship. This is the package I got:

16ft x 2ft board on the halfway line
Crowd facing (my choice as it was the side if the VIP boxes)
A box for any game I wanted
12 ground tickets to be used at any games I want
A signed team shirt

Upon arriving for the box game against barnsley we were greeted by champagne, escorted to our box. The club commercial director came to meet us. After the game we were asked to attend the players lounge and watch the man I the match presentation.

Now I hate football but I could not turn that package down and I still go and continue to go with clients who are football fans.

All for £900 + vat

After this I get constant offers, promotions for all events at the club.

What I am trying to say is we will have our die hard fans at club ad international level but promote from the grass roots up and attract more die hard fans. We are becoming a feeder sport for union so let the rfl help stop this. As I said in a previous post the actual days are always good but let's bring more die hard fans into the game.

This needs to be done in an efficient way, you mention promoted all over London? I live in Barnsley and have not seen a single poster, flyer through the door or anything. I still stand by my main point of yes we know the game is on but playing all amateur fixtures on the same day isn't going to help crowds.

Briefly on the England/GB thing it needs to be GB. I have no issue with Reed as he was born in England. The others however we should be using homegrown talent.

Poor crowd should have been at least 60000, we are supposed to be moving the game on!?
Rangi Chase exciting playing AT TIMES - my opinion is he is not consitently good enough through a game
for International duty.

Can't blame the RFL for this one. They put on two games for a tenner in a magnificent stadium. The real problem is why no one seemed interested enough to go.

The problem with international RL was perhaps best illustrated when the New Zealander made a hash of a kick, which allowed the Tongan to barge the Australian out of the way to score for Australia against England.

This is exactly why I and probably 10's of thousands of others are not interested in England, it's ruined the International game. How can Rangi Chase get motivated for England, he only chose us because he hasn't a prayer of getting in any other International teams. Good club man, rubbish on the big stage.

Excellent post, sums up my feelings to a T.

what a great and true post

Yes ,but other nationalities playing for Rugby Union national sides does not make any difference to their large turnouts for Union internationals.
Why are we so different?

Is it our inability to compete with Australia? I was fifteen the last time we won a test series against Australia, I'm fifty six now and doubt I will ever see one again.
Sure, we've had the odd 2-1 series defeat over the years but any game against Australia seems to have that air of inevitability about it.

Had we had our share of series victories over the years then I'm sure there would be more of an appetite for the international game.

I got 6 tickets £60 good seats 2 games can't complain although wembley is so expensive £4.50 for a pint of p@@s £1.20 for a packet of crisps and searched on the way in not for weapons but for any drinks or food I know allot of people moan about this but it is scandalous and I live down here

Uniun is played from the top of Britain to the bottom, league is not, more interest union

The laughing Kookaburra looked class in the few opportunities he had, his foot work was frightening, their backs didn't need to force the game though.
I can't ever say I've seen much of Lockyer when the opposition defence aren't tired, he just seems to use his world standing to draw defences where he wants them.
I wouldn't want to come up against Tomkins after he lived in Auz for 3 years. MOTM for me yesterday.
I'm a big critic of Sinfield when he plays for England but he mainly went ok yesterday, seemed to draw a few defenders to create a gap. I'd love to see him run it in hard for once when his options run out instead of just taking the tackle or half heartedly turning in the tackle to be placed on his back. I'm a fan of how McGuire utilises a bit of lost momentum and the fact he always seems to come up with an half break that wins him the ground. Sinfield was found out during the Thurston break though, he was extremely slow.

gone is the days of taking a flask of bovril into the match on a winters day

that is one thing that es me off

a plastic bottle of water is now classed as a weapon

never mind the pound coins that is far worse.....argh that's why they take your money off you from the foods bars