: Mon Mar 09, 2009 4:18 pm  

I'm not keen on being Wigan Warriors, just doesn't sound as good as Wigan RL.

But are there connotations to both names? We, as fans may associate the name Wigan RL with success but associate Wigan Warriors with the post success era of the club.

The introduction of the Warriors, Rhinos, Bulls, Wildcats is simply marketing tactics, development of the brand in one particular direction, arguably in looking towards the NFL for inspiration.
I can't see teams reverting back to the old/original names, so I think we have to accept in 2009 it's the warriors.

: Mon Mar 09, 2009 4:35 pm  

wigan pie man wrote:

you have just brought up a clincher for me.

i like american football in a big way for the last 7 or 8 years and my favourite team is Pittsburg. I ALWAYS refer to them as the steelers.

by the same token our newer fans refer to wigan rlfc as the warriors (which many have pointed out, and many recognise as the clubs future fans), because thats what they were more or less brainwashed into calling them from the off, just like myself and the steelers ?

if we suddenly dropped warriors from the name, would these new/young fans stop calling them warriors?
i very much doubt it, so it would be a pointless excercise imo.

I appreciate your point, but you seem to miss mine slightly. Do you like the Pittsburgh Steelers because they're called the steelers? Do you like steel, for instance?

Of course not. I mean, I stick up for Miami Dolphins, and last time I was in Florida I swam with a couple of dolphins and thought it was rubbish. I like Miami Dolphins because, having been there several times, I love Miami. Similarly, I support Wigan because it's where I'm from, I love our town, and I love our sport. Similarly, I can't see anyone choosing to follow Wigan because they like the idea of 'being a warrior'.

My guess (which may be wrong, before anyone gloats when its pointed out that it is) is that you either like Pittsburgh as a city, or they were winning a lot when you first got into the sport.

: Mon Mar 09, 2009 4:37 pm  

I voted for not bothered either way because I think there are pros and cons to having it or not having it.

I'm more of a traditionalist myself and on one hand would like to return to Wigan R.L.F.C. or Wigan R.L. for short. However, I know there are many people at College etc. who simply call us "Warriors" or "The Warriors" whilst others refer to us as "Wigan".

If we were to drop the tag I'm sure people would still refer to us as Warriors without evening realising, for possibly a year or two at least because this is the 12th year we've had it.

I do think we could use it more as a marketing tool, it certainly appeals to the younger generation. One thing about having part of our name as "Warriors" is that it could and probably does attract infants to us who don't really know what's going on within the game and as they get older they may continue to go to the matches and understand the sport more and learn about the club to the point were they don't really acknolwedge the Warriors tag either.

However, again, despite having "Warriors" as part of our name we are a traditional rugby league club and "Warriors" doesn't fit in with that and I can see why people think it's pointless.

In truth, I can't really decide either way.

: Mon Mar 09, 2009 6:43 pm  

ROBINSON wrote:

I appreciate your point, but you seem to miss mine slightly. Do you like the Pittsburgh Steelers because they're called the steelers? Do you like steel, for instance?

Of course not. I mean, I stick up for Miami Dolphins, and last time I was in Florida I swam with a couple of dolphins and thought it was rubbish. I like Miami Dolphins because, having been there several times, I love Miami. Similarly, I support Wigan because it's where I'm from, I love our town, and I love our sport. Similarly, I can't see anyone choosing to follow Wigan because they like the idea of 'being a warrior'.

My guess (which may be wrong, before anyone gloats when its pointed out that it is) is that you either like Pittsburgh as a city, or they were winning a lot when you first got into the sport.

no......and i dont like War either (think about it )

i do appreciate your point, and as ive said earlier, had i been asked 5 years ago i would say drop it.......now ive gone with the times and think its the future.

o/t........nearest ive been to pittsburg was watching 8 mile, but i already supported them.
the simple answer to why pittsburg? They played in the first match i seriously sat down and watched, and they won it. It was a run of the mill round game. And i think what swayed it was the way i was impressed by the BUS, Jerome Bettis, .....I thought "what a great player he would be for wigan."

: Mon Mar 09, 2009 8:42 pm  

Wigan RL for me.

: Mon Mar 09, 2009 8:52 pm  

Warriors. It just goes for me, Wigan RLFC just reminds me of nancyball

: Mon Mar 09, 2009 9:33 pm  

How much of our merchandise is Warrior-branded... none! Get shut of it, we are Wigan.

: Mon Mar 09, 2009 10:03 pm  

Orrell Lad wrote:

How much of our merchandise is Warrior-branded... none! Get shut of it, we are Wigan.

i managed to get a none warriors scarf a few years back but for a while now theyve been plastered with it

: Mon Mar 09, 2009 10:11 pm  

If Kelvin was our most popular mascot would that mean Wigan RL should change it's brand to Wigan Gorillas? No.

The "brand" is Wigan Rugby, not some ill conceived americanised embarassment. While Warriors may be good for kids clubs etc. there's nothing stopping the club adopting another mascot/kid friendly approach - Kelvin or a new one.

: Tue Mar 10, 2009 12:08 am  

RobotMonster wrote:

If Kelvin was our most popular mascot would that mean Wigan RL should change it's brand to Wigan Gorillas? No.

The "brand" is Wigan Rugby, not some ill conceived americanised embarassment. While Warriors may be good for kids clubs etc. there's nothing stopping the club adopting another mascot/kid friendly approach - Kelvin or a new one.

And therein lies the problem. On the one hand admitting it is good for younger fans, on the other adopting an 'I don't like it so get rid' attitude. No doubt another 'fan' who would complain about lack of marketing initiatives, if the football team continued to take the young fans, when the shirts weren't ready or indeed anything else he thinks the marketing teams do wrong, but when we have something that can be shown to be seen in a positive light by younger fans, albeit annecdotaly, that's not good enough because he doesn't approve. I despair sometimes!