Super League clubs encountered mixed fortunes on the attendance front in round six. Two clubs posted their lowest crowds of the year while another attracted their largest figure to date in a round where three clubs attracted five-figure crowds.
The highest attendance of the week came at Headingley, with Leeds Rhinos' game with Catalans Dragons attracting 14,321 supporters. It was a promising crowd for the Rhinos, who only attracted 10,655 for the same game last year. That said, Leeds United weren't playing over the weekend and the game was played on Saturday afternoon rather than Thursday morning, which may have had an influence. However, the game was on terrestrial television, which normally impacts attendance. Last year Leeds averaged 12,940 fans at Headingley so an above-average crowd against Catalans, who bring the fewest away supporters, is a promising sign.
Wigan drew the second-highest crowd of the weekend, with 11,497 attending the DW Stadium. The figure was a 6.6 per cent increase on the same fixture last season but was still below their average attendance from last season, which was 12,278.
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The other five-figure crowd of the season came at Hull FC's MKM Stadium as 10,952 fans watched as the Black and Whites lost to Leigh Leopards. However, this was their lowest attendance of the season so far and a 28 per cent drop from their opening home game of the season against Castleford Tigers. Given the game was played in the club's favoured Saturday afternoon slot, and wasn't televised, this will likely have disappointed the club.
Castleford Tigers also posted their lowest crowd of the season, with 7,348 turning up for their drubbing at the hands of Warrington Wolves. That being said, the fixture has traditionally been a low turnout at the Jungle and this figure was the highest attendance the Tigers have posted when hosting the Wire since the 2017 season, when they won the League Leaders' Shield and reached the Grand Final.
Huddersfield Giants also posted their lowest crowd of the season as 4,684 saw their gruelling clash with St Helens. The game was on television and a Thursday night, which no doubt influenced the crowd, but it was below last year's average while their game at home to St Helens last season was also their second-highest of the year.
Finally, 4,705 fans saw Wakefield Trinity fall to a sixth straight defeat at the expense of Hull KR. That being said, it was their highest attendance of the season so far.
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