Really though the rfl would have had the sense to schedule Wigan v Leeds on Saturday and have the local game on Friday.
Getting across the m62 on a Friday evening is a nightmare, and we wonder why playoff attendances are so low. Having it Saturday would have easily put 2-3k extra on the gate.

Sky would probably schedule it so that more people watch the game on the Sky Channel, increasing attendances is secondary.

Generally speaking I'd imagine games are better attended and better watched on friday night then saturday night.

The M62 on Friday is an urban myth - especially for two relatively close points on the motorway as Leeds and Wigan. It's a convenient excuse for people who are looking for an excuse not to attend. The Leeds turn out won't be huge, but I wouldn't have thought it would be any bigger on the Saturday.

Definitely. I did it after finishing work at 6 for the Leeds v Wigan game earlier this year and still had time for a couple of pints in The Skyrack.

It must just be heading west that's difficult.
The M62 west is awful every night of the week and worse on a Friday.
Yes, it is used as an excuse not to attend games but, remember the play off game a few seasons when Wigan played Wakefield.
Most of the Wakefield fans, travelling on the supporters coaches (which do set off early),missed the first 25 minutes of the game.
This wasn't helped by the lack of turnstiles that were working but, the M62 being rammed is not an urban myth

I used to drive the M62 every day and the only thing I noticed on a Friday was rush hour was about an hour earlier, unless there's an accident it's not a problem at all.

That must be why Monday Night soccer games are so poorly attended, when teams from opposite ends of the country play each other...

Ive not had a problem on the m62 on a Friday night before. It's off the m62 getting into Wigan that's the problem.

But I would imagine that this game was scheduled for Friday so as to give Wigan, as the highest placed club, an extra day rest before the Grand Final if they win.

Sorry, but as someone who drove BOTH ways on the M62 on a friday every other week for 5 years, it's absolutely false to say it's an urban myth. The road is completely horrid and some f*cktard always has an accident. Always. The fact that Hudds-Leeds has been 50mph for no discernible reason for a year doesn't help.

But most of the matches at WIgan are on a Friday night, as is Saints and Leeds. Why should this one be any different?