Press release from the club?

Lam Snr and Jnr?

Seems to be the Wigan way to offset bad news with good news. With Bateman's departure announced (bad news) I'd hope this was the naming of a new coach... or perhaps a new player. Anything less would be a massive disappointment.

They should do it live on Wigan t.v.

We’ve finally signed Mark Gasnier?

Somebody on social media mentioned it being an announcement on another ‘Big One’ game. Scouting about the one in 2016 was the ‘Big One 6’ and then last years was billed as the ‘Big One Week’ but it was the 7th version of it. To announce the ‘Big One 8’ at 8pm on the 8th day of the 8th month in 2018 seems to make some sense.

Massively underwhelming if it is that.

2 announcements in one day, we're being spoilt

Is it just my imagination or do we always lose when the club gives a big marketing push to a game ?

Got to hope it is something bigger than that. The club has just just announced its lost one of its best players for next season in the same week they sent out the mailers about the auto-renewal for season tickets. I know a few people have withdrawn from auto-renewal not just because it is so early and they have holiday expenses to cover but also because we have no idea of what fixtures we have and no idea who will be coaching the side in 2019. I think there will be a few more who will want to wait and see if all that is announced is another "Big One".

Phil Wilkinson is suggesting it’s coach related. He seems to be hinting at Lam for 2019 with Edwards to take over in 2020.

I wonder why 8pm? Be getting Mr Lam up early from bed at 5:00 if it's a live link!

When I saw it on social media initially I assumed it was the Lam announcement, and the late time was so he would be awake over in Aus for a live interview. However, I've just checked, and it would be 5am over there. The big one 8 seems a lot more likely unfortunately.

It would be utterly embarrassing if it is the Big One 8

They have done this before though. I remember staying up till some daft time expecting a signing that they had built up, only to reveal it was the Big One, and that they had been out delivering milk in order to promote it

They got a serious amount of flack for that though (nearly every comment on social media was negative) so you would hope they have learned. It does seem to add up though with all the 8s and this probably being the earliest they could announce the big one, having only recently learned our super 8 fixtures.

Carney was quite adamant that a coach signing is imminent. i doubt its the Big One announcement. if it is their whole marketing team needs a good slap (and the sack!)!

My source in the club says it's the Big One 8. Which is about as bad a press release as could be released at this time.

I’ll [utry[/u to wait until it is announced before ascending to my high(er) horse.

No one at the club is allowed to say anything at all, a rule quite strictly enforced since Friday of last week.

Eight in a row!!!

Will it not be 3 announcements ???
1 - John Bateman leaving
2 - Announcement that there will be an announcement
3 - Announcement at 8
Then another announcement to say someone as been sacked for breaking the announcement cap .

The marketing department are between a rock and a hard place with the Big One announcements. They can only make them once the fixtures are known in the S8's so have limited time to sell the game and yet it is quite possible the game will be pretty meaningless with a semi final place already assured. Hard to sell something that does not look that enticing but I think it just makes things worse if they then go on to over hype it. Trying to make out a game is something it is not just looks desperate.

I think the concept of the Big One is a good idea but they would be better off picking a regular season game. They would know the date well in advance and could really market it to companies for corporate hospitality and so on for months not just a few weeks.

Anyway, lets hope your source is wrong and it is the new coach being announced.

Just seen a 15 second clip about the announcement on Wigan’s Instagram page and it has Ray French’s commentary of Adrian Lam kicking a drop goal in the 2002 Challenge Cup Final playing in the background followed by some commentary of what I presume was his try in the game.

Looks like it’ll be Lam going off that.

I’ve just listened to it on Twitter (I presume it’s the same one). First one is Adrian Lam with Ray French commentating and the second is Shaun Edwards going over for his 250th Wigan try commentary by Eddie Hemmings.

This.

I heard that Twitter one too but although he got the DG, Lam certainly didn’t get 250 tries and according to good old wiki, Edwards got 226 for Wigan. Very intriguing by the club.