I've no issue with it. I do think the club needs to make sure they do something to compensate season ticket holders for next year by either knocking the price off the ticket or offering something if a similar value (I doubt they'll offer free travel like they did for Millwall..ha).

I would presume they're being paid handsomely to go over by the NSW government. If they're saying they expect 5,000 to travel and millions put in to the economy then much like how the RFL are given funding to take Magic to cities by their local councils, we should also be looking at a tidy sum.

IL has been taking notes from this government. By that I mean take the p1ss and keep taking it until the opposition goes away.

I thought Lenegan was supposed to be a businessman? If so then why try to keep alienating your own people who are your target market. Game to be played about a month after the World Cup has finished. A World Cup that many have already booked and mostly paid for.

He must have had some very lucky business deals to get where he is because he is no businessman, he is a diving header.

Don't take the kids, ask your mrs to contribute, dip into existing savings, make a savings plan, use credit, or don't go? There are other options.

The point I was making is that it is affordable to most and not as expensive as you might initially think.

Not to mention the fatigue and lack of off-season for our international players.

Regarding the game at Millwall that has been mentioned a few times, has there been any explanation by the club of the financial benefits that have come our way since. A figure perhaps in pounds, shillings and pence or numbers of either sponsorships or business relationships that have been developed? Or has it all gone a little quiet?

I think it is pretty clear now that Lenegan thinks of

1. Business and money first and i suspect mostly for personal gain
2. The club
3. The fans. We are just the folk who turn up and give him money every week. Well i am not a sheep regardless of what we win this season. Enough is enough. We are not a Guinea Pig for him to mess around with.

It's a one man crusade and to hell with everyone else.

There's a few things here. Firstly, Mr Lenegan has been a hugely positive influence on the upturn in fortunes of our club. He has invested heavily out of his own pocket and I genuinely believe he has the best interest of the club at heart.
Secondly, we have no idea of the commercial benefit to the club. Mr Lenegan states that this the biggest single commercial contract in the history of the Club. Who are we to argue?
Thirdly, we have no idea about the pricing structure for next year's season tickets and I'd guess it'll be taken into consideration.
Fourthly, as a fan, I love the idea and if I can manage it, I'll be doing everything I can to get there.
This might be what progress looks like for our club and for some reason people will just find fault instead of giving it a chance. Perhaps we should go back to unlimited tackles and turn up with a flat cap and a whippet!

It's the end of the world as we know it! LOL. Reading between the lines, the Aus sponsors are basically paying for the teams to go over, I assume everything is paid for and we're getting extra shirt sponsorship until the end of the year. The club is going to take this into account with the season ticket prices - not sure what else they could do.

I also assume we're going to get a share of the gate receipts for two games which I assume will be equal to what we'd get for one, if not more depending on the attendances. The likelihood is we won't win the GF, so we won't be in the WCC, so we'll have a couple of weeks to recover for the next Super League game.

What about the players in all of this? I'd love a shot at playing in Aus, experiencing a tour etc. They don't get enough variety as it is so any chance to travel the world is something that keeps them in the sport. We're lucky we have a sport, but some people always try to find a way to drag it down. Does my head in tbh.

Its not a one man crusade. Since 2012, over 2,000 per match have not been showing up, and that is despite relative success throughout that period in terms of GF and CC final appearances.

Great for the players, I'm sure. The Gong always looks so lovely on TV! I would love to go, but the thought of that long flight...



I agree with BRW about IL, and we'll have to wait and see on the STs. Whatever the club may say publicly, they must have realised that a substantial proportion of their fans would be very unimpressed by this move, though, so they will have had to take that into account. I'm sure *most* Wigan fans, and indeed, *most* ST holders, won't be going, so the club have to offer them something in return.

I can't help but think the timing of this is all wrong. There is a World Cup Oct-Nov in Aus, and some of our players will be taking part in that. Also those of us lucky enough to be going over also. I think a bigger priority for ALL Super League clubs is to get a reserve grade league up and running so we're not losing players from the game when they're to old for under 19's.
What I want to know is why is it always Wigan who are trying to promote the game, which definitely doesn't need promoting in Sydney.

If he was after personal gain he wouldn't be involved with Wigan rugby league club! It may not be to everyone's taste but if the club are being given money to go over and they've already said season ticket prices will be taken in to account, I cannot see how this is a bad thing.

Unfortunately you can't please all of the people all of the time but I'm sure he's doing what he thinks is right for the club long term. I'm not levelling this at yourself because I don't recall any of your comments on our current style of play bit I've already noticed some of the people moaning about this are the same people miffed with our style of play and the entertainment on offer. Surely one less fixture to go to (especially if it's knocked off the ST price) will be a god send

Nonsense. Are you seriously suggesting that the club (or any RL club) is some is some sort of goldmine?

Income:

£1.5m per season from TV deal.
£2 m from 10,000 Season Ticket sales.
£1m from match-day ticket sales.
A percentage of away ticket sales
Prize money.

Total = approx. £5m

Expenses:

Salary Cap - £2m
Stadium Rent - approx. £300K

Total = approx. £2.3m

Where does the other £2.7m go?

Oxford United.....................

Cant help but feel that if the london connection had been a success we'd have been having jellied eels darn the old dw every match day,so clearly thats been a bit of a dud,colour me shocked i really am.

Whatever happened to our high profile link up with rugby union and all the benefits that would bring?

It did bring Joel back didnt it

staff, travel, upkeep of training facilities...the list is massive

Had a quick read through this thread and can't see anyone addressing the obvious problem - English teams going from an English winter to play a game in summer in Australia. Even the well acclimatised NRL sides are pretty careful about playing at that time of year.
An average day at that time of year would be in the high 20s Celsius, and if you are really unlucky, it could be 40 degrees.
edit - the average temp in Wollongong in Feb. is 25.7c - the record high is 41.7c.

The players are excited, as am I. You’d like to think the price of a season ticket wouldn’t rise too much but either way I don’t think you can argue with value for money when you compare it to the likes of football.

Quote ="muttywhitedog"Income: £1.5m per season from TV deal. £2 m from 10,000 Season Ticket sales. £1m from match-day ticket sales. A percentage of away ticket sales Prize money. Total = approx. £5m Expenses: Salary Cap - £2m Stadium Rent - approx. £300K Total = approx. £2.3m Where does the other £2.7m go?'" Here for all to see. https://beta.companieshouse.gov.uk/comp ... ng-history

Quote ="muttywhitedog"Income: £1.5m per season from TV deal. £2 m from 10,000 Season Ticket sales. £1m from match-day ticket sales. A percentage of away ticket sales Prize money. Total = approx. £5m Expenses: Salary Cap - £2m Stadium Rent - approx. £300K Total = approx. £2.3m Where does the other £2.7m go?'" Here for all to see. https://beta.companieshouse.gov.uk/comp ... ng-history

Coaching staff are not on the salary cap, other expenses involved in the club - running the academy - paying for the rent/training on training faciilities, travel expenses, tax vat etc have to be paid. Admin staff to be paid plus the costs in ticketing and running the various shcemes, advertising then there are things such as insurances for the players, medical expenses - it all mounts up over the course of the year.

Have a word with yourself. I'm not convinced by this one idea, but IL has been absolutely brilliant for our club on and off the pitch.