TBF, the fixture list has stacked the 4 of the 5 worst supported teams at the stoop in the first 4 SL games, but the Manly game last year showed what can be done.

I have nothing but admiration for the way the club have managed to get people into the boxes and the shirt sponsors attracted, but without a fan base to view these sponsors logos, they won't hang around for long.

I repeat what I said last week, FREE tickets for Salford (2,663) and maybe even Huddersfield (2,800) has to be an option. If Leeds and Saints continue to be mediocre we can't rely on them drawing a bumper crowd (by bumper I mean 4k+)

Last year was the first season in SL that we failed to attract a 5k gate for a comp game........and we only cracked 4k twice.........what are the odds on us struggling to crack 4k this year?

True!

Any sign of the 2010 shirt in the shop. Its not on line yet but I assume by the 3rd home game its freely available ?

Dangerous

I actually think that playing Melbourne today, as opposed to say Parramatta, St George or Manly, potentially knocked 1500-2000 off the gate IMO. The Storm are a new club from an AFL mad area and I don't think would potentially lure the hardcore Aussie RL fan across to the Stoop.



Last year Manly were a big draw. A team with a long and illustrious history in Aussie RL. It was a much tougher sell but would have liked to have seen 4k this time. Hopefully, Quins will get another chance next year. Would love a game against the Dragons, Eels or Broncos.

No doubt playing Melbourne had an affect on the crowd, but I don't think its quite as drastic as knocking 1500-2000 off the gate. 500 tops, I would say. Last years game was a cracker, so why couldn't be build on it?

I disagree. Melbourne just isn't the draw historically to latent Aussie RL fans in the capital. Add to that the fact that news leaked out about Slater, Blair and Smith not playing. Manly had never played a game in the UK for 22 years. If St George, Brisbane or Parramatta had won the NRL title I believe that a crowd close to last year's would have been on the cards.



It is hard to guage success for Quins at the moment. I love the fact that Quins have a settled home. I love the fact that the side is the "most British" in SL. I love the fact that the young London kids are coming through in droves. The only thing missing is the growth in crowds and a tilt at the top of SL. I enjoyed my visit last week and will be back. Hopefully, something can be done to improve the numbers in 2010.

I don't dispute what you say. But the numbers don't lie - I don't think there were anymore than 2000 Aussies at the Manly game last year. Did you go today? How many Aussies would you say?

It wasn't available, there were still last year's "batman" replicas in the shop.



On the subject of our predominantly English squad and growing number of local lads, I was amazed looking through the Melbourne pen-pictures in the programme to see there isn't a single local man in their squad - they're all from NSW, Queensland or NZ (plus one from West Yorkshire!) - not a single Victorian.



Although outclassed I was impressed with our squad's attitude, teamwork and application, which were back to where they should be after the late summer malaise of last year.

I live in the Channel Islands so can't make every game. I'll be there for the Salford game probably. Just seen the tries on Sky Sports - the conditions looked terrible. It is also tough to follow a club getting 12,500 the day before.



Lots to think about. Hopefully, some of the young kids on debut would have enjoyed the experience.

"Salt-of-the-Earth QRL Supporter #1"



There was hardly an Aussie accent to be heard - a few Kiwis presumably to watch the Kiwi singer. Sydney doesn't like Melbourne, Melbourne dosn't like RL therefore we were well down, well down on the convict front.

I was surrounded by them!



Although TBF some sounded like they might be "regulars".