The recent play-off clash between Huddersfield and Salford summed up one of Rugby League’s biggest issues, one which hardly ever seems to get a mention, though it deprives the game of both money and credibility and far too often diminishes a match day atmosphere.

I am talking about the poor crowds we get, even for big matches.

My friends who follow football and Rugby Union make fun of the thousands of empty seats we see week in and week out, and who can blame them?

Lowly Wigan Athletic sometimes get more through the gate than the mighty Warriors, while both Huddersfield Town and Hull City put to shame the Rugby League teams they share with.

Ken Davy has done great things at Huddersfield Giants but has failed in getting people to watch his fine team. Why? Perhaps Ken would like to comment.

It’s not just Huddersfield, of course, or just Super League. But until Rugby League looks at itself properly and does whatever it takes to get bums on seats (perhaps by showing a bit of imagination for a change), no one is going to take the game seriously. The sad lack of real, sustained, imaginative initiatives over the years surely makes that clear and I don’t accept that nothing can be done.

Perhaps the new tie-up with IMG will lead to something but I’m not holding my breath. It’s up to clubs like Huddersfield,

Salford and others to do something.

We keep saying Rugby League is the best game in the world. But if so, why is it so apparently hard to market (in the heartlands, never mind anywhere else)?

I visit a big sports bar in York every week and I regularly have to ask the staff to switch one of the screens to Rugby League so I can watch the game, almost always on my own.

Perhaps the RFL hierarchy would like to comment on how they square that with claims that Rugby League is in a good place at the moment.

John Walker, York

A NEW SALFORD FAN

Well done, Salford! I never thought I would be saying this, but I have really enjoyed your televised games this season.

The semi-final was very much a hammer versus a rapier and on this day the hammer won, but I hope this does not mean that you will change your open and exciting style of play.

Good luck next year and I look forward to viewing you.

Stuart Lonsdale, Pontefract

UNLUCKY SALFORD