Union has always had a strong high profile international competition which has produced packed stadiums bringing in regular steady high income. Much of this income was and still is invested in development at mini and junior levels. Once Union went professional the writing was on the wall and League was too complacent as it basked in the early success of Superleague. The RFL should have been more pro active in the days when Superleague on Sky attracted higher viewing figures and crowds than Union club games.
Union has come on in their professional era in leaps and bounds with players becoming much fitter and more skillful. As they first recruited League coaches and then players the product became much more attractive as a spectator sport and both crowds and Sky viewing figures increased followed by increases in the TV royalties and sponsorship. As a true national and international sport there as then only going to be one winner.
League had hung on in for a period because the product was more entertaining but once the combination of bad rule changes and the steady loss of our top players to both Union and NRL made worse by the failure to attract main Sponsors have left it threadbare with the result we now all can see.
IMO Union is now a far better product with high skill and fitness levels, real competition for possession at all breakdowns and a strength in depth of playing talent due to the strong development area that will see it continue to flourish.
Had Caddick invested more wisely and at a higher level in Union so that he had a side capable of competing at the very top then he would have needed a new stadium to house the crowds today.
Unless League can somehow produce/recruit 20 or 30 genuine class players plus some needed rule changes quickly then I fear our game will continue to decline with falling crowds and tv sponsorship. Meanwhile our top players will keep swopping codes and our youngsters will join local union clubs rather than League ones as they eye the higher earnings and profile.
I am really worried that the leadership of our game has left it all too late.