Wigan v Australia at the DW? : Thu Jan 23, 2020 9:55 pm  

https://www.wigantoday.net/sport/kangar ... 1-10216820 Would be good for us if we could snag a game against the Aussies. I went to the 82, 86 and 94 matches at Central Park and the atmospheres were electric.

https://www.wigantoday.net/sport/kangar ... 1-10216820 Would be good for us if we could snag a game against the Aussies. I went to the 82, 86 and 94 matches at Central Park and the atmospheres were electric.

Re: Wigan v Australia at the DW? : Fri Jan 24, 2020 9:01 am  

That would be a game that wouldn’t need any marketing and should be a sell out straight off the bat.

Re: Wigan v Australia at the DW? : Fri Jan 24, 2020 9:11 am  

100% Warrior wrote:

That would be a game that wouldn’t need any marketing and should be a sell out straight off the bat.

Should, but probably won't

Re: Wigan v Australia at the DW? : Fri Jan 24, 2020 11:10 am  

100% Warrior wrote:

That would be a game that wouldn’t need any marketing and should be a sell out straight off the bat.

The club should market the hell out of it anyway. Need to guarantee a good crowd.

Re: Wigan v Australia at the DW? : Sat Jan 25, 2020 8:38 am  

100% Warrior wrote:

That would be a game that wouldn’t need any marketing and should be a sell out straight off the bat.

Providing Wigan Athletic allow a game to be played there.

Re: Wigan v Australia at the DW? : Sat Jan 25, 2020 9:02 am  

The seasons get longer and longer and off seasons shorter and shorter and that would mean I’d be loathed to play this game. How far can we push these players before their development and general well being is compromised? Our lads don’t get 4-5 month off seasons like the Aussies and a supposed summer sport is inching closer and closer to just being an all year round sport. The people in power want to play loop fixtures to extend the season and bring more revenue in and they can’t have it all ways. If they want loop fixtures, then they leave no room for exhibition games IMO.

Re: Wigan v Australia at the DW? : Sat Jan 25, 2020 9:47 am  

Would be great to see Wigan playing the Aussies again. One of my fondest memories was seeing Henderson Gill score against them in 1982 in a game that seemed to be camped entirely on the Aussie try line. Great game.

Re: Wigan v Australia at the DW? : Sat Jan 25, 2020 10:49 am  

NickyKiss wrote:

The seasons get longer and longer and off seasons shorter and shorter and that would mean I’d be loathed to play this game. How far can we push these players before their development and general well being is compromised? Our lads don’t get 4-5 month off seasons like the Aussies and a supposed summer sport is inching closer and closer to just being an all year round sport. The people in power want to play loop fixtures to extend the season and bring more revenue in and they can’t have it all ways. If they want loop fixtures, then they leave no room for exhibition games IMO.

Normally I would agree with you. But as a one-off I think we should embrace it. As a Wigan player what a benchmark game this would be, plus its 26 years since the fixture last took place. What an occasion it would be, you could have the teams of 82, 86 and 94 form a guard of honour, the club could market a sportsman's dinner for each tour leading up to the fixture. Interviews with past Kangaroo and Wigan players on Wigan TV and social media.

At a time the club is looking to reconnect with long post supporters and recoup some revenue I think this is an opportunity too good to miss.

Re: Wigan v Australia at the DW? : Sat Jan 25, 2020 12:30 pm  

MattyB wrote:

Normally I would agree with you. But as a one-off I think we should embrace it. As a Wigan player what a benchmark game this would be, plus its 26 years since the fixture last took place. What an occasion it would be, you could have the teams of 82, 86 and 94 form a guard of honour, the club could market a sportsman's dinner for each tour leading up to the fixture. Interviews with past Kangaroo and Wigan players on Wigan TV and social media.

At a time the club is looking to reconnect with long post supporters and recoup some revenue I think this is an opportunity too good to miss.

I just don’t think Lenagan (and other owners) can have it all ways. He wants the extra fixtures in the league and our season runs from January to October now. I’d love the game to happen for the reasons you state usually but if it means extending the club playing season to November, meaning the players will get a few weeks off and a pre season consisting of about 4-6 weeks in comparison to the NRL players 4 months then it’s going too far. The negatives of the risk of an extremely slow start to 2021 and the longer term risks of the players physically falling behind their NRL counterparts make it a no go IMO.

Not that it matters, if the Aussies say yes it will happen. I’ll enjoy the day but won’t hold my breath for much of a 2021 season for Wigan.

Re: Wigan v Australia at the DW? : Sat Jan 25, 2020 1:07 pm  

NickyKiss wrote:

I just don’t think Lenagan (and other owners) can have it all ways. He wants the extra fixtures in the league and our season runs from January to October now. I’d love the game to happen for the reasons you state usually but if it means extending the club playing season to November, meaning the players will get a few weeks off and a pre season consisting of about 4-6 weeks in comparison to the NRL players 4 months then it’s going too far. The negatives of the risk of an extremely slow start to 2021 and the longer term risks of the players physically falling behind their NRL counterparts make it a no go IMO.

Not that it matters, if the Aussies say yes it will happen. I’ll enjoy the day but won’t hold my breath for much of a 2021 season for Wigan.

It may impact the start of our following season but it's looking it might also impact Saints as well as they are trying to line up a game (plus can't see Wire wanting to miss out on the action).So all in all would balance it out between the top teams.

The only ones affected that little bit more would be whoever next year's WCC finalist is (an extra game early on).