Yesterday we were treated to a fantastic Challenge Cup tie between Leeds Rhinos and Wigan Warriors.
Despite being on the losing side, that was the view of Leeds boss Rohan Smith:
“I thought it was a terrific contest, an open game in great conditions.
“Both teams attacked it and it could have gone either way and very nearly did.
“That was a good game. You know as a fan and as a supporter, if you follow rugby league you can be disappointed with the result but recognise a good game of footy between two good teams competing for the first step of a big prize.
“I am proud of the effort of some of our players.”
A classic game always needs a good atmosphere.
Asked about this, Smith conceded that the crowd wasn’t as big as normal but was no less impactful:
“It is a bit of a tricky one there because there wasn’t the same crowd as their normally is and I understand the reasons for that.
“But it was still fantastic, Wigan brought a great following and our following was terrific.
“You could tell that it was a game that meant a lot but I think every game, Wigan Leeds and any close game is going to be enjoyed by the spectators and both sets of fans helped to make it a great spectacle.”
This is likely because cup games aren’t included in season tickets. It has long been an issue for the cup.
