You are celebrating the wrong mythological heroes and should change your name to CYCLOPS. You are so one eyed.

First you say show me a picture with a flag and a skull then when you are proved wrong say, " who cares anyway".

In itself the brigantes is not a problem but may well become one.
It may attract the chavvy element, it may become targeted for blame ( either fairly or unfairly) and it may encourage copycats and idiots from other teams.

Other Wigan fans also share these concerns

The great thing about RL fans has always been a lack of overt tribalism like you get in soccer. Copying some of the worst soccer fans in the world is not the way to go IMHO

It is a simple point , easily understood yet you ignore it.

apart from the mindless banging of a drum,ive still never heard the wigan brigantes at the DW so they cant be working that well in bringing atmosphere to the DW. but im sure they are good lads having a good time and as long as they dont cause bother then let em get on with their merry flag waving

Excellent, just what we need in a "family" game, I suggest you watch something with a round ball

Because just as virtually every poster on this thread is saying, experiencing trouble from one fan from a club does not make all fans from that club trouble-makers, experiencing trouble from a couple of people you are assuming were members of the Brigante group (though, knowing a couple, I find that very, VERY hard to believe), does not make all of them trouble-makers.

Casting unproven aspersions on the name and the group risks damaging the reputation of what is, for the third time, nothing more than a group looking to improve the atmosphere at games, and who have done a great job.

I said find me one because I couldn't - and I wasn't at home so not willing to spend ages ploughing through pictures. I never said they didn't exist, and I have no issue with them anyway!

You say it 'may well become' a problem, 'may attract the chavvy element', 'may' this, 'may' that...what you're actually saying it that the Brigantes movement is actually not a problem at all, but they need to be aware of their wider perception and the behaviour of any hangers-on...in case of what 'may' happen.

They are fully aware of that, and that's precisely why they dropped the 'Ultras' name, and why they have open discussions and make decisions around this issue. Yes, it's a simple point, and one neither I nor they chose to ignore. As for the flags - they're just flags, doesn't matter whether they have skulls, lions, phrases or frikking Care Bears in cherry & white - they're there to add colour and atmosphere and they do a great job. They're not threatening or inflammatory. Don't try and create a problem where one (as you acknowledge) doesn't actually exist.

Frankly, any group creating a display of dozens of loud, bright flags and banners in their team colours, and who are vociferous, enthusiastic and lead much of the singing, will inevitably be compared with some football groups. But as we know, RL fans and football fans are (for the overwhelmingly massive majority), a different breed so let's not label them as bad guys when they're really, truly, not.

You want a RL group copying the worst soccer fans in the world? - try the Warrington Casuals.

If you've gone onto the Wigan Board over the last 2 or three seasons you will find some of the more obnoxious examples of your average RL fans, and that includes those whose idea of balanced discussion is simply to ban every different point of view. Meet a coachload of similar people outside a stadium and all your preconceived ideas about Wigan folk will simply be reinforced.

Conversley, I don't see the Brigganties as anything other than good. There is the potential to attract some nupties, but having a fairly high high profile at games would make them easier to spot, and be dealt with. There's a lot of time and effort gone into making the flags, and I think they should be applauded for bringing a bit of colour into the game.

This was the noisey crowd that attended Craven Park for the preseason friendly, they were right at the back of the West Stand and never stopped chanting throughout only complaint I would have is the hurling of toilet rolls onto the pitch. Okay they are not meat pies (as Wigan fans would never throw a pie it goes against their mantra) or bottles but are still "missiles" that if making contact with a player, or fan somewhere else in the stand could cause trouble. I do not have a problem with them other than the throwing of said toilet rolls onto the playing surface, they were rather entertaining, a bit monotonous due to lack of material, but entertaining.

I not casting unproven aspersions, merely stating what happened to me and what I saw a Wire fan doing on the same night and offering the opinion that it cannot be condoned whoever you team happens to be. I thought the two incidents provide argument to the fact that fans from any team are capable of bad behaviour and no one set of fans has the right to take the moral high ground.
Also are you saying only proven comments perhaps with supporting independent evidence by are accepted on here, do I need to supply independent video evidence or third party evidence whenever I post a comment on this site?
Or as I suspect, are you merely attempting to defend the indefensible because of your own loyalties?

FFS, I have not denied the incidents took place and I agree completely with your view on fans in general.

I'm simply asking how you know for an indisputable fact that the Wigan fans involved were part of the Brigantes group, and not simply Wigan fans wearing their colours and being unruly? Are you even aware of who the group is, how many members they have and what they do? I assume you're also aware it's not just a generic name for hardcore Wigan fans? That said, the Brigantes do have to be careful not to allow trouble to become associated with their name.

When I said be careful about labelling a group as trouble-makers, surely you understand it would be hugely unfair if none of that group were involved, given the hard work, organisation and not inconsiderable cost they put into it. Why should they be tarred with a bad name thanks to other people? The people behind the Brigantes group are certainly not trouble-makers, they simply work hard to improve the atmosphere at the DW.

Best fans should be judged on how many turn up when their team isn't doing well. Ergo, Wigan have the best most loyal fans. During the great escape season and the barren years, our fan base actually increased. This was despite some absolutely dire performances from the team and all sorts of shenanigans going on in the background. Aside from that, I'd say in general, every SL team has a majority of great fans and long may it continue.

Personally I think you're all a load of T0553rs

cricket?

The best fans are in the Championships. No glory hunters here my friends.

True, but there's also a distinct lack of Glory to be found down there anyway. In the last 8 years it's all to be found in God's County at Headingley.....

You may well be right there, Gods country was the middle east with all its deserts and there is a very good sand pit of a pitch at sheddingly

Broncos or Hudds

I think most rugby league clubs fans are generally well behaved people, even, shock horror, HKR.
What I will say though is that there is only one place I will not go to, and that is Warrington. Many years ago, on a visit to Wilderspool I witnessed the most thuggish behaviour I have seen at a rugby ground and have never bothered to go back since.

Yeah, because we're all glory hunters at Salford

Cronus Im not trying to be troublesome, merely debating. Surely you can see your opinion of what you may consider the friendly joviality of loyal fans, may not be shared by other club fans who might consider that type of fan group intimidatory. I point you towards the Wigan game at the Hj last year, I found the constant annoying chanting after the game had ended on what was a historic day for the Wolves last year which by the way had nothing to do with Wigan, was both disrespectful , intimidatory, and sent many Wolves fans out of their own ground early to avoid potential trouble from this clearly committed group, it was certainly not adding to the atmosphere, which is of course the Brigantes purpose.

Thats why you are so popular in the rugby league world.
What an absolute load of brown stuff. Prevent teams from being promoted and then say they cant win the top prize classic, only a Rhino would say such a thing, hang your head.

Numbers wise - Cas or Hull FC. They have great gates considering the size of their catchment area (cas) and relative lack of success (both). Passion-wise - London Broncos. Behaviour-wise I have no idea, almost every club has idiots - some more than others.

The best support i've heard from opposition fans in the last couple of years was Widnes last sunday, made a right racket even when they were getting thumped. The most overrated are without a doubt Hull, they deserted their team in droves last season and the KC was like a morgue for their last televised game. The biggest crawlers are Huddersfield....fancy making a banner "well done wire" just to get on telly. I bet they don't have a "welcome to the champions" when Leeds are in town this season.

That was a banner in recognition of more than just rugby though, both set of fans seem to have a good relationship outside too, mutual respect.

Awww, i'll see what I can do and make you a banner for tomorrow if you feel left out?