Think we got both last night to be honest, after the very touching video of Leon's parents on the big screen there was a great applause around the stadium, then followed by a very quiet 5 mins or so til the players came out.

Don't think an away team will ever come out to the reception Saints came out to from the home fans either, but the team and their fans fully played their part on the night.

Then the 'proper' minute's silence was very touching and emotional and meant 10 times more than the previous applause for me personally. I'm not ashamed to admit I had tears in my eyes for the first time since my mum passed about 4 years ago, I didn't know Leon from Adam, but still felt the pain and hurt suffered by the whole rugby league family and felt immensely proud to be a fan of Wakefield and rugby league last night.

They had one for Vinty Karalius and Frank Tobin Snr at Widnes too. Nothing disrespectful about celebrating their lives and achievements like that.

A one minute applause is for fans that are incapable of showing respect.

I think for RL fans a one minute silence is more than acheivable.

Definately not. Its merely a different way of showing respect. As mentioned above it happens all the time in affirming and celebrating the long life of an old-timer.

I accept in the context of Leon's tragic death that silence was the appropriate way to manifest our collective loss and sadness.

Agreed. The applause thing doesn't feel right to me.

Its second rate, chavvy, common and lame.

You want to show respect, use a minutes silence, anything else is nothing short of abuse.

I can understand why you make such reasoned, calm and reflective posts but it wouldn't harm to break that robotic stance and emote once in a while.

Surely this is true?

In my opinion, a minute's silence is a far more fitting and touching tribute to someone than applause.

People at a sporting event will spend the next 80+ minutes applauding and making noise. So to me there is nothing special, celebratory, or respectful about doing it for one minute more. It just lacks any emotion for me.

But a large group of people remaining silent, though, is out of the ordinary and has much more of a resonance.

I find it a shame that some people seem to think silence cannot also be a way of celebrating someone.

Michael.

Actually I think this thread has two camps.

1. Those who think silence and applause are both methods of celebrating a life depending on the context; and

2. Those who think ONLY silence is appropriate.

I'm very firmly in No1.