A crowd of just 5,555 turned up to watch Wigan beat Wakefield on Friday night with many on social media drawing attention to the issue.
This Twitter user certainly took a dim view of the situation.
An attendance of 5555 for tonight should set alarm bells ringing not just for Wigan but for the rest of Rugby League in this country. The game is on its arse.
— Michael Lavelle (@mikelavelle93) July 23, 2021
Another user pointed attention to the state of the country as a whole.
The country is on it's arse not just the game
— Dez Barrow (@dezb1966) July 23, 2021
Another called it “worrying”.
A very disappointing turn out, especially with no games on tv. Worrying times!
— Ken Bold (@bold_ken) July 24, 2021
Someone else highlighted the continuing fear surrounding COVID.
https://twitter.com/Cmet1981/status/1418882555693174787?s=20
Do you really think you're going to get full crowd's while the country is still in a pandemic? Some people are actually being careful I think you'll find most sports crowd's down apart from the permanently sold out ones who always have a waiting list.
— Saints supporter (@mtsaint) July 24, 2021
Another Twitter user called for better leadership from the RFL.
The game needs leadership of the field, from the RFL downwards.
Crowds are down for all clubs, but it's not possible to fully compare during a pandemic.
Come next year, get some serious work done marketing games, publicise the game on the field then see what crowds are.
— Alba gu bràth 🏴 🇪🇺 💙 (@Argyll1872) July 24, 2021
Someone else believed that the game will go part-time in the near future.
Will be part time in the next few years
— Danny Dutson (@dannydutson9) July 23, 2021
One Twitter user called for greater transparency between all rugby league subjects.
ONE of the main problems with rugby league is the SECRECY and therefore the disconnect in communication between media and marketing teams between clubs, league and brand!
Part of my reading for leaving the internal area of the sport is the miscommunication…this needs sorting https://t.co/MJil6QTYJP
— Emma Butler (@EmmaRoseButler) July 23, 2021