yeah but they play a game also, thats why people in Wigan dont go...not daft us

1. There is no "rule" that says 1st v 4th is on Friday etc. Nothing on Superleague website, nothing on sky. Its just rumours and hearsay.

2. We will play on Sunday evening. Both Sky and the RFL want to maintain the integrity of the competition, and by denying us a home match at home, they would be compromising their own competition. We are the only side currently guarranteed a home tie and the only side that can only play at home on one of the four kick off dates/times, so it makes perfect sense to tell us now we are kicking off at 1845 on Sunday - let those who havent done so well be mucked around with short notice dates/times!

3. The reason we had to play Bradford at Widnes was because we fluked a home play-off place by getting a draw at St Helens whilst Warrington (I think) lost a very winnable last game. As much as I hate the bloke, DW was well within his rights to refuse the use of the ground at 5 days' notice, particularly when there was a football match taking place 17 hours after that playoff game finished.

4. If we lose our first round game and then have to play at Widnes or Leigh because of the football, then we only have ourselves to blame. This can be avoided by winning and getting a week off!

The whole point of finishing top is so that you get a second bit of the cherry

Any of the top 4 get a 2nd chance if they lose their first game

...as do 2nd, 3rd & 4th.

The whole point in finishing top is you get a home tie against a side that statistically you are better than. If you win that game you get a week off then the chance to choose your next opponent to come to your ground for a place in the final.

Well said but if we did lose our first game, we would be back at home in week 2 and then away in week 3

We are playing on the Sunday had a phone call from Wigan Warriors tonight about corporate hospitilaty she said its being played the 12th Sept .Did not ask the time though.

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6.45 is a possibility

I suppose you could always ask that question tomorrow when you ring back?

If we're playing on the Sunday, it'll be a 6.45pm kick off surely. The dates may be flexible in terms of which fixture is played in which slot, but there's only one game scheduled for the Sunday and I'd guess the time is pretty concrete for Sky's programming.

Man City have their first Europa League game on 16th September (Salzburg away). On the City website the game at Latics is now listed as Sunday 19th September. A Friday kick-off for Wigan would look the most likely. It would mean that they would play on Sunday and Friday (losing any advantage of a longer turn round between fixtures). It all depends on Sky for the first round. If they want us to play on Friday, better get ready to travel.

I was thinking that Saints, Wolves and Huddersfield will get through to the semis as well as Wigan. We would choose Huddersfield I guess. Revenge.

It would depend on who finishes second, as we can't pick them.

Only if we get beat in week 1 - otherwise we get that week off.

Would much prefer 6pm due to work commitments but there you go

Does Bilko or anyone know when the dates and times will be confirmed?

Presumably when the fixtures are all confirmed.

What is the clash of fixtures should huddersfield, hull fc or leeds be at home for the 1st round of play offs.

None of them are in the premier league so they could effectivley play on the same day
Ala like at Hull a copule of years back

Leeds wont play on the sunday as england play the match fixers next door (pakistan)

Huddersfield town are at home, hull city are away but leeds united are at home on the sat which mite affect the leeds rugby fixture for people geting to headlingley.

Actually, Huddersfield are away at Leyton Orient on Sat 11 September. There is only Wigan who are stuck with one date.

Leeds rugby & football have also played at home on the same day, and lets face it, Leeds v Castleford/Crusaders isnt going to attract more than about 7,000 spectators, so I wouldnt imagine a Saturday kick-off would make much difference. In fact, if they made it the evening one and Crusaders were the opponents, a few Swansea City fans may make it a double-header!

which iirc from last year led to 2 badly attended meaningles games.............so whats the point.

someone mentioned us not moving to play at widnes due to RFL losing integrity?...didnt bother em last time we played at widnes..why now?

It was me.

Last time, Wigan scraped into a home playoff berth by virtue of getting a draw at Knowlsley Rd on the final day of the season whilst Warrington lost a very winnable game. Sky had already decided their programming times, which were Friday & Saturday. No Sunday game. Wigan had no choice to move their home game.

This time, we have been top all season; all but guarranteed a home game since mid-July; and confirmed league leaders since 22 Aug. There is absolutely no reason on earth why the RFL and Sky cannot see common sense and schedule us for Sunday night's game - they know damn well that we cannot use the DW at any other time than Sunday night. Rostering the league leaders for a home fixture knowing full well that they cannot play it at their home would mean both Sky and the RFL losing credibility and the competition's integrity being brought into question.

There is nothing in the rules that says theat the top team have to play on the Frday in the first round. Similarly dependant on the finishing position of say Leeds (cricket), Hull and Huddersfield (football) clashes could occur and would no doubt a work around would be found.

So Wigan will play on Sunday, and the other games will be sorted after this Friday and Saturdays games.