KRISTIAN Woolf has underlined the “enormous importance” for the club of supporters being back inside stadiums regularly again - as Saints aim to attract another big crowd for Friday night's game against Wakefield.
More than 13,000 turned out for Saints’ season opener against Catalans and a strong following travelled across to Hull last weekend to support the team.
Speaking at Saints' weekly press conference Woolf stressed the significance to the club and the sport that fans are packing into grounds after two years of disruption due to Covid.
He said: “It’s probably something that does get forgotten a little bit, we have been through two years of no crowds, partial crowds, disrupted crowds, and all clubs have taken a hit there and had to make a lot of adjustments to make sure that we’re able to still function and survive as clubs and we’re certainly no different.
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“We’re running with smaller squads, we’re running with smaller staff numbers.
"There’s been a lot of changes that the club has had to make just to make sure that we can keep functioning at the same professional level that we have and without that sort of income over the last two years.”
Woolf says having the supporters back is something the team is also very appreciative of.
He added: “The crowd support is enormously important, it’s great for the players.
“The players really enjoyed round one where we got a great crowd, a great atmosphere, the club obviously made a real effort there to create the atmosphere as well and I think everyone appreciated that and the game that was put on by the players as a result.
“We were very appreciative when you look at the conditions and obviously it’s a fair travel to Hull to see so many fans in the crowd and just to hear how loud our fans can be when they’re so outnumbered, you can still hear them on the ground and again the players really appreciate that.”
Konrad Hurrell has swiftly become a big fans' favourite - Pic: Bernard Platt
Saints will hope for another five-figure strong home crowd as they face Wakefield Trinity this Friday seeking to continue their perfect start to the season.
“It is something that really important that we keep in the back of our minds going forward that we need crowds.
"We need support to make sure that our game keeps looking like it does.
“I think it’s at a great level at the moment. I think we’re playing at a great level and some of your other top teams that have been winning over the last couple of weeks are doing the same and I’ve said a number of times this Super League season is one to be really excited about.
“If we can keep encouraging those fans to turn out then and if we keep playing our part in terms of the footie that we’re playing then that helps everyone.”
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