I've always said this. It does my head in. It's not a game of chess! And we don't clap Wire, Leeds or Saints onto the pitch, as they are a threat. People only ever clap when the teams either haven't brought any fans like Catalans, London or Crusaders, or if they pose no threat and everyone feels sorry for them.

It's not down to sportsmanship in the main. Fair enough to those who clap every team every week but that wasn't the case last night. I have never seen an away side get a standing ovation coming on to the pitch. It was pure patronising sympathetic applause in the main.

Got that wrong last night!! I had a good chat with a few Wigan fans in the North stand and all wished us well. I usually clap the opposing team if they put in a fantastic performance, don't tend to clap beforehand though. Been a tough few weeks though.

Ever since I first started watching the game in the early 1980s it has been customary to clap both teams as they take to the pitch, particularly at home games where, as a representative of the home club, you are acting as a host to the visiting team and its supporters. It is a simple gesture, but I think an important one. It has always been part of my experience of rugby league matches, as has applauding any good play or tries scored by the opposition team, standing respectfully for the anthems of other nations etc. These things are the foundations of our game - foundations built from sportsmanship, shared values and the sense of solidarity that helps rugby league to be a "family" game on so many different levels. These things have been fundamental to our survivial and development as a sport and I would not wish to see them slipping away from us. Rather, they are values that I believe we should be upholding and actively promoting.
I wasn't at the game last night and so I did not witness the event, but the thought that our fans gave the Bradford team and its supporters such a warm welcome, bearing in mind their club's current predicament, is one that makes me happy. They are, after all, part of our rugby league family.
What is the percieved danger of such gestures? That somehow such gallant conduct will result in our team suffering more losses? I find that to be a naive and somewhat shallow view. You could even argue that it has the slight whiff of sour grapes following Wigan's loss.

That's where the applauding after the final hooter comes into play. Why do we 'boo' Saints and Wire, when one of the biggest cheers of the night was Bradford coming onto the field.
The applause seemed sympathetic and patronising. 'Aww, here's Bradford, aren't they cute, let's all clap them.'

Does anyone in this thread really think that an applause or boo makes a jot of difference to the players?

Unfortunately I couldn't make the game last night as I didn't leave London until 7.30 - so thank you Bilko for the updates on Twitter.

I would have applauded the Bulls onto the field last night to not only show sympathy to the plight of the players and fans because of things completely out of their control done to their club by morons, but also to show solidarity with them.

I can't say I've ever clapped the opposition onto the field.

If a team scores a good try then fair play I may give a quite clap and say it was a good try, but that usually falls on deaf ears. I will not always clap the opposition off, but if it's been a tough game I generally will.

I tend to clap the winners at finals, but it's got a bit much recently.

Agree.

seconded



things like this only get brought up when we get mullered.

Ditto.

I won't ever clap Saints onto a pitch, so personally I think it's a bit hypocritical to clap anyone else on out of 'respect'.

I've clapped opposing teams' tries at times, and losing teams off the field if they've put up a good effort, but not before kick off.

I think, as much as I respect both teams on the pitch, we should do away with teams coming out at different times. Get rid of the pantomime booing and cheering. Bring them both on at the same time so the whole stadium cheers, brings a great atmosphere.

I dont think ive ever clapped any away side onto the pitch BUT last night I did as it maybe the last time I see one of the great RL clubs perform at Wigan. I dont really care if that upsets some folk but im an RL fan not just a Wigan fan.
Probably never happen again like.

I clapped Bradford onto the field last night to show support for them and the situation they find themselves in. It was simply a gesture of support for a bunch of rugby players and their fans, who despite their situation have carried on with their jobs/support and given their all for the team, rather than taking the easy option and sitting back and waiting for the inevitable to happen.

It will be a sad day if super league were to lose Bradford, which is looking likely. The team and the fans are the victims in this sorry episode and should be supported by the whole rugby league community.

The reason we lost last night was not down to us applauding the opposition onto the field.

Never have and never will clap any away side onto the pitch, why should I at the end of the day I don`t want them to win at the DW so why should I be two faced. If a player from the away team gets hurt during the game I will clap if he has to go off due to injury as I wouldn`t like to see any player get hurt.

Correct. I think last night was the first time I've ever clapped Bradford onto the pitch as I can't stand them, but I don't want to see them go under. I don't care that nobody else in RL would be bothered if it was happening to us. I've looked at it and asked myself 'How would I feel if this was happening at Wigan?' and the answer is totally devastated.

Sorry can’t agree, yes they put their bodies on the line, but it’s because they get paid for it first and foremost. Why would you but your body through what they do in the game and in training if you didn’t get paid for it. When as spectators we go to watch a SL game we pay for the privilege that gives us the right to be entertained. If we are not satisfied with what we see for whatever reason why clap? If through good play, great skill, effort, or gentlemanly conduct etc. (from whichever team) clapping is justified. WE ARE NOT SHEEP, DONKIES, OR FOOLS. I will not applaud a bloke who is being paid, partly by me, for standing around scratching his backside instead of helping his team to do what it’s paid for, entertaining! Applaud when they enter the arena, and if it’s deserved, when they leave. If a painter and decorator does your front room and makes mess of it, you wouldn’t shake his hand, and then tell him to do it again, or would you?





Rock 'n' Roll.

Would this question have even been raised if we'd have won?

I always clap teams on and off as a mark of respect and on Friday I assume a lot of people felt empathy towards the Bulls' plight so the applause was much more than usual.

Foremost I am a Wigan fan, secondly a Rugby League fan. I love the game and I want my team to beat all other teams out there. I've been to Grand Finals and Challenge Cup Finals where Wigan didn't feature and I still clapped both teams out.

Bradford's situation is bad for the whole sport of Rugby League and ironically, seems to be the only time we've been getting National coverage about our sport this year. Why do the press seem obsessed with negative news ?



I don't complain that people aren't clapping or showing respect to the opposition, please afford me the same courtesy.

friday was the first time ive ever clapped the opposition onto the pitch.

just seemed the right thing to do

All this respect thing, I presume 9 out of 10 people that clapped them on will boo saints and wire.

Well said, i agree wholeheartedly.... Sometimes, the tone people use here when they have a differing view is very poor.

I respect the man/player, not the jersey he's wearing.

i was more concerend by the number of bulls fans there - more than we've seen for what, 5/6 years. whilst thats good I just was thinking, where have you lot been...?

Too true. I'll clap that!

My grandfather, god rest his soul, always taught me to clap the opposition before the game as its the sporting thing to do. Always have and always will clap before kick off. Never during or after.

Good point well made. But, does this mean that by not clapping but booing etc that we galvanise the away team more and fire them up?

It's reverse psychology. The more you boo a player / team the more you pay them a backhanded complement. We should know being Wigan and having tomkins in the side.