So far this season we've seen some good attendances at the games, most are generally up on averages from last year.



Along with this the Sky Sports audience has been massive. The opening game between Widnes and Wakefield pulled in a big audience, had it been last year would have came second only to the grand final. Not only that, this weeks fixture between Saints and Salford was 80% up on Widnes v Wakefield and had a higher viewing figure than last years grand final.



Are these some promising signs that the popularity of our great game is steadily increasing or just some early season anomalies?

Just to enhance your point, here are the viewing figures for the opening Super League match (in 000's):



[uSky Sports 1[/u

[iw/e 5 Feb 2012[/i



1 LIVE FORD SUPER SUNDAY - MATCH (SUN 1533) 2,848

2 LIVE FORD SUPER SUNDAY - MATCH (SUN 1300) 1,469

=#FF00003 LIVE SUPER LEAGUE (FRI 1900) 251

4 OLDHAM V CHESTERFIELD-LIVE (MON 1930) 244

5 LIVE PAK V ENG TEST CRICKET (SAT 0600) 237

6 LIVE NFL SUPER BOWL (SUN 2230) 235

7 GILLETTE SOCCER SPECIAL (TUE 1930) 235

8 GOALS ON SUNDAY (SUN 1100) 189

9 LIVE PAK V ENG TEST CRICKET (FRI 0600) 180

10 SKY SPORTS NEWS - TRANSFER DEADLINE DAY (TUE 2215) 177

Yup,



I think not only the figures that Sky have been released but also the fact that the RFL recently announced the amount of people playing the sport had increased again only suggest a positive future for the sport.

Well done to the RFL.

Go wash your mouth out immediately that kind of talk will only cause bother round these parts

There does seem to have been a boost to the sport so far this season, and I think the good Grand Final and 4 Nations (Final disappointment aside) will be helping the TV audiences.



However the weather will have played a part in the big TV figures (more people stay in and watch TV on cold, dark nights) so we will have to see how the figures hold up later in the year.

That is true, however there has been good crowds attending the matches also. This shows it not just stay at home supporters, we must be hitting some now supporters through advertisement.

Well it's quite obviously the Widnes effect





Joking aside, hopefully this is the signs of TGG being recognised for whay it is.....TGG.

Despite an increase in everything (playing, viewing and attendance figures), people will still bash the RFL. I'd give it until page 2 before an anti-RFL comment comes in

Think it does help wehn we have the likes of Joey Barton & Wayne Rooney tweeting about RL to their millions of fans. It's free advertisment for the game. The viewing figures have gone through the roof, and dispite awful conditions, attendances seem to be on the upwards curve.



With more advterising in the shape of Stobart and extra cash from Heniz and signing up other brands to RL, RL certainly in a very good position.

So change the title to, ' is the popularity of SL growing '

This isn't just about SL, it's about the entire sport. From grass roots through to SL, the examples I used were because they were the ones I had to hand.