Not quite - RL was thriving in the 1950s.  40k+ attendances for the Lancashire Cup, 100K+ for Challenge Cups. Take 1951 for example. 31 teams in the league with Cardiff and Liverpool represented. Times were different then but it wasn't a struggle to exist. 


SL started off well full of hope and optimism. We had 4 big teams that shared out the honours, some top players on show, bags of money from Sky, a dedicated RL show then it sort of dwindled in quality from about 2007 onwards and is currently in it's death throes as Batley talk about pies and peas and we make videos of Myler's shoulder pads. 


If I had no affiliation to Warrington or the NW I wouldn't be watching. 

Yes Hull KR are getting it right at the moment managing to fill their 11K stadium. Although why they needed a crappy band at the start when all the spectators wanted to do was cheer and sing, escapes me. But I may be in the minority on that one. 
Wigan's attendances this season have been amazing. 21,000 vs Leigh, 17,600+ vs Huddersfield. 

I don't like crappy bands either or silly races at half time. I like watching the players warm up & spotting who I might know in the crowd ... maybe have a chat. Then it's time to visit the loo and prepare for KO. If I want to watch a band I'd go to a concert.

I used to like signing the Warrington usual chants against Widnes or Wigan at Wilderspool with the atmosphere building, then the hairs on the back of my neck would stand up when they played this. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_B0CyOAO8y0 The smell of wintergreen would surround all of us, dizzying. Someone booting the corrugated steel at the back of of the Fletcher Street, tension palpable, nerves, excitement, the waft of embassy fags, the kick off and the first crunching tackle.

I used to like signing the Warrington usual chants against Widnes or Wigan at Wilderspool with the atmosphere building, then the hairs on the back of my neck would stand up when they played this. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_B0CyOAO8y0 The smell of wintergreen would surround all of us, dizzying. Someone booting the corrugated steel at the back of of the Fletcher Street, tension palpable, nerves, excitement, the waft of embassy fags, the kick off and the first crunching tackle.

That music only means one thing to me ... Wire coming onto the pitch. I remember my dad telling me what it was. I used to practice passing a ball and kicking on the back lawn and ran out from the house (in my kit) humming that tune. For some reason they played Telstar (Tornados) at Widnes as the players came out & I used to hum that as well. I was always going to play rugby & support Wire. I read once that Brian Bevan used to walk through crowds in town practicing his side-step so I used to do the same ... it wasn't very clever if you got it wrong. 
Anyway that's enough of that ... you silly old sod ... it's a forum! 

Wires71: I used to like signing the Warrington usual chants against Widnes or Wigan at Wilderspool with the atmosphere building, then the hairs on the back of my neck would stand up when they played this. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_B0CyOAO8y0 The smell of wintergreen would surround all of us, dizzying. Someone booting the corrugated steel at the back of of the Fletcher Street, tension palpable, nerves, excitement, the waft of embassy fags, the kick off and the first crunching tackle.  Could not stop laughing when I played that just now, my god that took me back, am I weird in thinking it’s better than most the crap they play now. Or is it just my age showing lol.

Wires71: I used to like signing the Warrington usual chants against Widnes or Wigan at Wilderspool with the atmosphere building, then the hairs on the back of my neck would stand up when they played this. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_B0CyOAO8y0 The smell of wintergreen would surround all of us, dizzying. Someone booting the corrugated steel at the back of of the Fletcher Street, tension palpable, nerves, excitement, the waft of embassy fags, the kick off and the first crunching tackle.  Could not stop laughing when I played that just now, my god that took me back, am I weird in thinking it’s better than most the crap they play now. Or is it just my age showing lol.