I don't mind people not going to all games, i myself on average over the last few years only manage to get to 7-8 home games a year and around 4-5 away (usually the Yorkshire based ones). But this is because Friday nights aren't exactly ideal for a guy in his early to mid 20's as many other things occur then, and of course other people will have all sorts of different priorities and interests which can effect their attendence too. What i can't stand though are these 'I shan't be going, not because i'm busy, but simply because they aren't worthy of my support' types. They make out that they're taking some sort of moral stand when really they just can't be ar$ed getting up off the sofa.

agree with this all the way

I am such a bad fan, I'm going to go and flog myself....

At least I'm not patronizing or condescending enough to preach to others about how they should support the club. I'll decide who or what is worthy of spending my money on thanks, and whilst I have plenty of it, I'm still not going to waste it on the crap being served up at Headingley at the moment. I will, however, be spending it on going to the GF and CC Final again regardless of whoever gets there...

Which is exactly what happened in the second half of last year.

Well said to you.

I'm stupid enough to have had a season ticket for the last 33 years, and attend the majority of away games also.

I wont be going to the Challenge cup semi final, and even if they get there probably not the final either. I think that comp is a pishtake of a competition and I have no interest in it. Therefore can not be bothered to get off my arris for it.

The truth is, that I very nearly did not bother going on Monday night either, despite having season ticket. This season has been complete boredom.

I will moan and boo to my hearts content if I want to, and I have no problem with others doing it also, whether season ticket holders or not.

I will be going to the CC final as we do every year - does this clear me for not going to the Cas game?

I haven't been to any games this year. This is not a moral stand and has nothing to do with quality of performance. Just so we're clear. If we were top of the league having played scintillating rugby against a series of high quality opponents, I still wouldn't be going.

I'm not sure whether this makes me a worse fan than Batley or not? Can somebody help? My place in the supporter hierarchy is now unclear.

Thanks in advance.

For those who are unclear on the situation, I'm 30 yards to the right of Mr Corbett...

I will be attending the cas game for two reasons. Firstly I have free tickets. Secondly the wife has been pestering me to see the Olympic tourch relay. Something I am not bothered about, however this way I get to kill two birds with one stone

Meh. If I want to see the Olympic torch it will pass a couple of hundred yards from my house on 1st July. Not sure I can be bothered really though.

I'm going to see the Olympic Torch round my way as my daughter tells me it is a once in a lifetime chance. She is 7 and swallows far too much crap that her teacher tells her, but it creates interest in sport I suppose, kind of!
As for Cas, I am not in attendance. My 'disposable cash' is not quite as disposable this year. I have been to 2 games this season and have been graced with a brilliant WCC win and a pretty lacklustre loss to Wigan. I suppose I am the case study of 'Glory Supporter'.

Even if you're excited by the Olympics (and my excitement has diminished since it became apparent that the "once in a life time opportunity" was mostly to be available to Coca Cola, Visa, McDonalds and Procter & Gamble rather than the British public) the chance to see a load of people wearing Jimmy Saville's tracksuit carrying an oversized cigarette lighter up Coventry Road is somehow not inspiring me.

It may well be the only chance I'll ever get to see this spectacle, but that doesn't mean its a spectacle worth seeing....

Would that be from his view or the viewers view?
I do wish you'd be clear about these things, it's important.

2. Ben Jones-Bishop
3. Kallum Watkins
4. Zak Hardaker
5. Ryan Hall
6. Danny McGuire
7. Rob Burrow
8. Kylie Leuluai
11. Jamie Jones-Buchanan
12. Carl Ablett
13. Kevin Sinfield (c)
15. Brett Delaney
16. Ryan Bailey
17. Ian Kirke
18. Chris Clarkson
19. Weller Hauraki
20. Darrell Griffin
21. Richard Moore
25. Stevie Ward
31. Shaun Lunt

Bloody hell, I'm going to be a bit lonely then if even you lot don't turn up.
I bet it'll be cold and raining as well.
Still ... if that's the price of smugness.

You'll all be sorry when McD picks all his players in the right position, subs them at the right times, and we see a solidly structured defence.

Could happen.

No Peacock, apparently a knee injury. IIRC he carried on playing so it can't be disastrous but even without a knee problem it's a chance to rest him. Good to have Watkins back, hopefully McGuire will be fitter this week.
I'd go with:
1. Hardaker
2. Jones-Bishop
3. Watkins
4. Ablett
5. Hall
6. Ward
7. McGuire
8. Griffin
9. Lunt
10. Moore
11. JJB
12. Delaney
13. Sinfield

14. Burrow
15. Leuluai
16. Bailey
17. Kirke

I like the look of that backline! The forwards are again the same plodding aged incumbents though, even just giving 2 youngsters a shot in the forwards I think would help rejuvenate the team a bit. Some youthful enthusiasm to help lift the older players could make a world of difference.

I'd agree, I'd have liked to have seen Singleton in the squad and rest either Leuluai, Griffin or Delaney.

Nice to see a well rotated squad this week

There's your problem. You're labouring under a misapprehension.

Batley Rhino has splashed out for half a season ticket once in over ten years. For various reasons (and I imply no criticism, merely an observation) he hasn't attended regardless of performance for many, many moons.

That is why I found his outrage amusing. Especially as he's loafed the occasional freebie of me, just because he buys me lunch on his expense account every now and again.

His points may or may not be valid in principle but he's hardly the vanguard for change at the club. His pub landlord is more likely to be economically effected by Batley suddenly deciding not to watch the Rhinos any more.

Besides, he's pulled the wool over over ones eyes. He's a miserable old fekker who actually enjoys it more when we're doing badly and has nowt to say when we're doing well.

Regardless, to suggest that supporters staying away from the club is the best thing for the club in the long term is, frankly, baffling. It's axiomatic that doing that will hamstring the clubs efforts to implement any kind of positive change.

Stevie Ward will start at 13 on sunday

I look forward to seeing him in action and in his natural position IMO.

Outrage. Really?



In terms of facts, it's 3 season tickets over the last 10 years not 1. I've attended plenty over the last year and a bit, so can comment on that period with some confidence. Oh and the freebies I've had from you are hardly freebies as you were happy not to pay a taxi fare when I drove, and were very happy to drink the beer I bought you on those couple of occasions over the last 10 years.

I've not pulled the wool over anyone's eyes, simply stated the case that applies to me. As we discussed at lunchtime, during the lunch I bought for you, the floating supporters as you seem to have cast me, are the ones that the club should be aiming to attract as they are the ones who really provide the profit rather than the running costs.

You yourself have stated on many an occasion recently that the main reason you are still going is because you enjoy the social occasion with members of your family. I wonder what you will do when they are no longer going on a Friday evening, will you buy a ticket to go watch on your own, or will you too be a floating supporter as I clearly am these days?

Supporters staying away from the club (I'm not staying away btw, I've just got better things to do at the moment given the quality of the product) isn't good news in the long term, but it can act as a wake up call as long as those in positions to do something about the quality of the product, actually do something about the product. As I say, I'm not "staying away" for any particular reason, but I wouldn't preach to those who choose to as I can see their point.

Just to clarify, I didn't interpret batley's post too literally and saw it more as a metaphor for a type of fan. The type of fan Leeds need to be concerned about. batley has addressed that point in his latest reply so I won't repeat his sentiments but simply agree with them.



The point wasn't that some 'supporters' would leave vowing never to return (that could indeed be bad news for the club) but they would only return perhaps when they believed the club was playing to or close to their potential. As I said earlier that situation should really be a given at a professional club anyway.

I think there is a perception (rightly or wrongly) that the players are holding something (perhaps even a lot) back and comments such as those expressed by McGuire via twitter the other week do little to allay that impression.

What did McGuire say

Actually, in terms of fact, it was 3 half seasion tickets.
The depth to which I will go for a free lift and a couple of pints are not relevant and not something I am proud of.
I thought I was a potential client you were buying lunch for?
I'm sure I can find someone to give me a lift and buy me a beer.
Do you have any evidence that supporters are "staying away" due to the quality of the product?