Originally Posted by
Canterbredve
I’ve been meaning to post on this theme for a while. Having recovered from the Grand Final (in a good way), now is the time.
I’m not necessarily as pessimistic as some on here. I don’t think the game is necessarily at all unattractive to the casual viewer. Compared with union, it’s fast and non-stop (an average of 68 minutes in play, is it not?). Eddie Jones mentioned something about union having to be more attractive to watch. I totally agree. I played it for twenty years and now I can take it or leave it.
I’ve seen very many cracking games of league this season, and not just with Saints in them. Even when there was little to play for but pride, some lower teams turned in some excellent performances. My partner didn’t know that sport even existed before we were together, but now she’s often quite willing to come with me to the TWS for a match, and she can follow a game perfectly easily.
Getting up to matches from Canterbury where I live is easy. Transport in the north by bus and rail is generally good. I have been astonished to be able to catch a bus from St Helens to Wigan (I know) back to my hotel at around 11 at night. There aren’t any buses at that time where I live.
I took my son and a friend to see Saints play Broncos in Ealing – Spurs and Arsenal fans respectively. They enjoyed the carnival atmosphere, and the match (me, not so much – Saints lost). There’s no dangerous animosity between fans. A league match is a great day or evening out, and there’s always Perpignan when the pandemic abates. I think that the league community sometimes has a chip on its shoulder. I honestly can’t think of a better game to watch when it’s a good one, and even when it isn’t so good it can be compelling. I can’t say that of union or football.
There must be a big constituency out there that could be like me – not from the north but a dedicated league fan.
Finally, RedVee.net is good fun – the wit, the banter, the spats – and even the contributions from fans of other clubs…