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.

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

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

Providing Wigan Athletic allow a game to be played there.

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.

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.

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.

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).

If it ends up happening, I just hope we start to look at the amount of games being played and the length of the season before long. I’d rather have 23 quality league matches than 29 (or whatever it is at the minute) averages ones. If they then want to make the short fall up with some representative games then fair play. I just can’t help but feel the disparity in the length of pre seasons here compared to Down Under is going to set us back even further over time. The issue needed looking at regardless of this game happening or not.

I think I'm the other way. :lol

Id like for us to resurrect the old Charity Shield, Lancashire Cup and a Regal Trophy type knockout comp as well. Squads are a lot bigger than back in the 90's and we pay rent on the stadium for the season and not how many times we use it. Let's get it used and get some coin in. Even if tickets are limited to a tenner.

Trying to compete with the NRL clubs won't happen as their cap and TV revenues outstrip ours five times over.

I don’t buy into this too many games in a season lark. It’s only the Aussie players and coaches who moan about it. There used to be five cups played for and around 40 league games in a season. Yes we want quality but not at the expense of losing too much qty. we’ve already done away with Easter Monday fixtures and Boxing Day / New Year’s Day games went with the switch to summer rugby. Whatever will it be next, a game every two weeks!

Don't forget the Aussies don't have a 'Challenge Cup' knockout tournament. Plus all NRL clubs all break off for three weeks mid season whilst the elite players compete in State of Origin.

I don't think they play enough games but with the revenues brought in they don't need to.

Fair comment, the only way we generate revenue is through gate money and if you reduce matches then you lose revenue. It’s a rock & hard place situation I suppose. I wouldn’t like to reduce the games any further though.

They still play during origin season, most players backup and play again

They all get a week off rotated around the period they call them the teams bye round

I must agree with you about aussie coaches and players do all the whingeing about too many games,its the same in football the only overseas managers who don't moan are Solskjaer and nuno espirito Sancho off wolves all the rest never stop whining,if you don't like it don't come over here

They don't get 3 weeks of though do they

Do I mention or imply three weeks off?

No, but the OP did

Correct