Thursday night is not all right for Super League supporters

The competition’s new season gets underway this evening as Leeds Rhinos head to St Helens in a game televised live by Sky Sports.

However, the regular Thursday slot, first introduced in 2013, has consistently come in for a wide range of criticism.

Clubs, for instance, report poor attendances and a drop in revenue while supporters – especially those taking children and/or travelling long distances – argue it is far from ideal scheduling on a school night.

Last March, the clubs and Super League launched a joint initiative by offering free away travel on Thursdays in order to boost crowds and improve atmosphere. But that has done little to assuage unrest and Draper, who joined the RFL in December after leaving his post as Warrington Wolves chief executive, concedes it is one matter he aims to resolve.

“It is something we have to look at,” he told The Yorkshire Post, although, crucially, the broadcaster is happy with how Thursday nights have fared since replaced their previous regular Saturday evening slot.

“If you’re Sky, the viewing figures are up but if you’re a club it’s a nightmare as attendances are down as is the local economy.

“I know in Warrington, the pubs and restaurants would come to me and say on a Thursday night they’re down up to 70 per cent of what they would normally take. It’s a bit of a conundrum but what we’ve said to the clubs is you come up with a better solution.

“Is it Monday night, Tuesday night or Saturday night in an already congested sporting fixture list and competing with Premier League football?

“There’s no easy solution to it. Having said that, there are myths surrounding Thursday nights as cricket have made it work with Twenty20 as have darts.

“I don’t think I’ve met hardly any rugby league fans who like Thursday nights. We can’t just bury our heads in the sand and say it’s not an issue if our fans are saying they don’t like it.”

Rhinos preview: Page 23