Who's -------- - General Rugby League

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gpo1971 — Mon, 16 Jun 2025 07:52:55 +0000

I don't think it's a coincidence that attendances have been on the wane since SL was inaugurated. The CC Final was the major showpiece game, it isn't anymore.

It's not a good look on the telly really, the empty seats that is. I watched the Union final on Saturday and the pre-game stuff and atmos was light years ahead of that at Wembley. It was ruined when the game kicked off, that was garbage. But they always get 80000+ to watch it.

Cost is an issue of course. How much is a London day-out/weekend these days? Not happening for a lot of people.

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Spike Island 90 — Sun, 15 Jun 2025 11:56:15 +0000

@frankg I think the costs are a factor, if you go to magic and say Catalan away then means less money for Wembley.

However, that been said, CC final attendances was in decline before them events and I feel now it’s escalated because overall RL supporter base is decreasing in size.

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Frankg — Sun, 15 Jun 2025 09:39:33 +0000

I believe that one of many factors in the reducing appeal of the Challenge Cup is that RFL/SL have consistently relegated its importance in the game behind SL, SL Play-Offs and SL Magic Week-End. In fact, rugby league as a game does not seem to exist outside SL, so it's no wonder that many fans outside the 12 SL teams, who would travel to the CC final each year, have lost interest over the years.

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Spike Island 90 — Sun, 15 Jun 2025 08:45:11 +0000

Was reading an interesting article on the CC final today. Amazing that in 1982 our game against Wakefield in 1979 attracted 94,000 and our finals against both Hull clubs in 81 and 82 attracted 92,000, these were some of the last big Wembley attendances.

By 1989 CC finals struggled to break the 80,000 mark and then gradually went towards 75,000 in the mid 90s.

Did Wigans dominance play a part in the CC final losing its appeal?

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Spike Island 90 — Mon, 09 Jun 2025 15:21:16 +0000

When I was there in 2019 for our game, it felt like a friendly, after a great day in the lead up to it with over 7,000 Widnes fans making the journey, we felt short changed by how the dull our game actually was from an atmospheric point of view.

Another issue with the CC is RL is losing supporters, back in the day, they’d be a few coaches going to wembley from Widnes and that would be the same for towns like Oldham, Halifax, and Cumbria.

Now RL is becoming increasingly irrelevant in those places which impacts the attendance.

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Spelly — Sun, 08 Jun 2025 20:52:57 +0000

As has been said in previous years, but the RL don’t listen, the 1895 cup should be the curtain raiser to the challenge cup, not the women’s final. I think quite a lot of supporters from the 2 SL clubs would come to the stadium to watch that game as well as the c cup final, as it is once the main final is over, they naturally want to go and celebrate, and it’s quite hard for the fans of the championship clubs to get to the station in time for the last train home, unless your staying for the weekend.

I think they should close the top tier, then it would look fuller with 63,000 fitting into the 2 tiers. Yesterday’s attendance wasn’t too bad, the 2nd highest since 2017, and just a 1,000 down on last years.

Good call mate, and the ladies' final could be a curtain raiser at OT, as both are sponsored by Bet Fred.

I realise that the girls would then lose playing on the hallowed turf, but staging the 1895 after the main game, is 101% wrong in my opinion.

Another poss could be playing the 1895 in Manchester, and leave the ladies where they are, but.............

Whatever, the "big one" should always be last on.

Spelly.

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sandgroper — Sun, 08 Jun 2025 20:44:09 +0000

@prisoner

With you there!!!! Soccer producers used to gaps in play filled with coaches views etc!!! Robbie Paul playing the run around the pitch game!! Way behind the times.

Wembley meant something years ago when the ignorant Northerners visited the centre of the universe!!! At least the crowd managed to sing the National Anthem in those days.

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Farnworth Viking — Sun, 08 Jun 2025 19:22:42 +0000

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Cuerdley Viking — Sun, 08 Jun 2025 16:04:21 +0000

The old Wembley & its RL traditions have gone, the new Wembley means Jack sh*t to RL.

Thousands of empty seats from two big clubs made our 'show piece' final embarrassing, god help us if its Catalans v Huddersfield next year. Neutrals not interested, final should be moved elsewhere.

BBC coverage, as mentioned, not good enough. Far to many times, cameras more focused on coaching staff from both clubs than the game which was in progress, absolute joke. Mark Chapman looked as though he had popped in from a funeral the way he was dressed.

Positive though, them lot lost at the death, sheer bliss, well done Mikey

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Prisoner — Sun, 08 Jun 2025 12:25:29 +0000

That was the worst coverage I have ever seen, seen more of Peters and the crowd than the game absolutely disgusting panning the camera anywhere but on the play.