Last night I watched the Penrith Panthers. Derided by some last season as a team of no stars (well, except Jamie Soward, and he was just returned from Superleague, so must be past it, right?), they exceeded expectations then, and this season are going from strength to strength. After an admittedly shakey start, they played the most exciting attacking rugby I have seen for a long time. confidence in the squad is obviously sky-high, and, as remarked in commentary, if they continue with that form, they will be packing them in. So yes, I do think the brand of rugby you're playing is the biggest factor.

I think it's quite simple, everything has declined (players, quality, coaches, refs) but yet prices have gone up?

I'm now paying more to watch a bunch of kids/also rans than what I did watching some of the best players In the world only a few seasons back!

The fans and the players have been treated like mugs by the RFL & owners for years. The players at least can go over to the NRL to get the money they deserve whereas the fans are stuck here and milked.

Who's crowds are up then ?

Saints are

Good summary.
I'd also add that the brigantine element is well down on a couple of years ago leading to the funereal atmosphere at a lot of the home games and even some of the away games.

No they are not.
The Cas game was over 20% down on last season, the Catalan game was just over 6% up.

Maybe "Beware Shadows" should be renamed "Beware Saints Fan having a go at all things Wigan"

And were up 6% overall in 2014 compared to 2013.

Using 2 games as an example is like saying that the league table at the moment holds any validity. There are lots of factors that can be said about both the catalan (first game of the season, last years winners) and Castleford (disappointment of the Souths game, on a Friday on sky vs Sunday in summer last year) games, overall, we were up last year, and have every chance of being overall this year.

So they are down then? and not up as you said.
I agree that it's too early to see how things will out, but a lot will depend on which teams you get at home after the split.

One is up, one is down in the same games

in the first two home games last year vs hull and hkr the attendances are to a man the same and up by 2k on average of you include the first 3 games!

What's the saying about lies and statistics?



I think most clubs are seeing the post split games as bonuses regardless of who they're against ...

On the mobile currently.

So cant check my facts easily. But from memory. Cas Widnes possible hull kr.

But I prefer to judge after a full season. We are not even 10 games in, so as I said before to early to judge.

To be honest (and as a longstanding RL fan I take no pleasure in saying this) I have found RL increasing boring over the past few seasons. Five drives and kick, 13 big lumps v 13 big lumps .... it just bores me.
I used to love watching the special players who used to scare me when they had ball in hand - Drummond, Johnathon Davies, Scot Gibbs.
Even the kids weren't that bothered about renewing the season tickets .... I'm even close to cancelling Sky Sports I've so little interest these days.
I would much prefer a return to specialist positions, a variety in styles of play (at least Saints try and move the ball, proper commentators (Eddie & Stevo are pitiful)and some competent ref's.

the fatc that ther l;eague means very little stopped us getting season tickets. Add to the fact Wigan are "slow starters" there is no point going early season. Get tickets from groupon etc but thats it. Sad state of affairs but thats the way SL has been.

You need get yourself more involed,not everything happens in SL...

That's exactly the way I feel and have done for a while. The kids are bored with a game with no stars or excitement. We may get 3 or 4 games a year at home with a decent atmosphere, the rest are just like sitting in a church. We need big names back in the game who will create anticipation and excitement. The clown, Nigel Wood, talks about a vision but he is not in touch with reality and I cannot see how the game will grow.

maybe its because they play on a saturday afternoon when its easier for Dads to take their kids? thus introducing the next generation of fans to football via Wigan athletic .

Friday nights limits it to taking babies who dont know whats happeing anyway, and older kids who are already steeped in football.

IMO crowds started decling in when we started playing on friday nights. And who is to blame? Sky TV

It was Wigans choice to play on a Friday night years back they had a poll Sunday or Friday .Friday came out tops.

If Saturdays are a no no then Friday night is easily the best option.

Friday night games are an excellent way (at least they used to be) to start the weekend. It allows you to have a few beers and then meet up with friends at the pub after.

I think it will take a couple of big teams missing out on the 4 this year for fans to appreciate the importance of regular season games after a few years of pointless matches.

I can see this season's crowds improving from here and next season's crowds being strong.

As well wigan has a good fan base in coppull ,chorley (me one of them) and since 2014 the last bus from wigan to chorley is 21.45 instead of 23.10 meaning I have to add a extra 15 pound for a taxi so I can see the whole game as I dont drive ,the chorley to wigan bus was allways full of supporters match days now its the odd 2 or 3.

The crowds at Wigan are a symptom of a game which is stagnating. There are few superstars, and those who look like being the next star either move to Aus or elsewhere or fall back to the others' standards. The game is looking at a very limited player pool particularly in the key positions at halfback. Looking at the current SL coaches is hardly inspiring, if we can't attract the Aussie playing stars at least the game can try to get the next Madge for a couple of seasons to shake things up.

Oh well, at least the club has got well over £1 million in the bank from the sales of Tompkins x 2, Hock etc....

Its early days yet but like others have said the quality of players in superleague is a concern for me as is the quality of rugby being played.. the game against hull on friday was shocking!

As to latics getting bigger crowds than us thats because they get more away fans coming to the stadium than we do

The quality of the coaching is the biggest single problem imo. As average as the current crop of players may be, I'm sure better coaches would get more out of them in the way that Madge did in his first season.

Buses round Wigan are crap since Stagecoach (Sapphire are part of Stagecoach group) took over. Many services after 7pm handed over to smaller companies so you cant use return tickets and the weekend night buses withdrawn totally. Never thought I'd say this, but please comeback First!!!