Manly ??

(I'm guessing he's changed it to Manly to hide the result of the NRL GF, although I'm pretty sure it would have made more sense to just not mention any of the teams rather than a team that has nothing to do with it this year!)

No one in Australia gives a fat rats about the WCC.

I think it should be scrapped.

Its a contractual obligation sadly so I doubt it will.



Some of the more clever amongst you will recall Barry McKenzie suggested the WCC warm up game should be played in Cumbria next year and all proceeds donated to that blokes family (the one who got shot.. cant remember his name)

How good an event would it be if everyone cared about it though? It would be the showpeice. At least the teams who come over care about it though.

After watching the NRL Grand Final today and laughing my way through it at the appalling standard of rugby on display, I think we should change the format of the WCC next year and play an NRL all stars team against Wigan - at least that way it will be a bit competitive

Dropped balls, forward passes, deliberate forward passes and passing straight into touch... it was like watching an under 11's game

or Saints V Leeds

Only team's that haven't won one before

Mmm, McGuire for England?

In 1987 at Central Park.

Wigan won 8-2, in one of the best games of RL I've ever seen.

I suppose the match will be played at the Reebok, as it has its local to Wigan and used by Saints on three occasions. Ewood Park would be another option.

But, should this WCC be played at a larger,more notorious venue? OT is too large and City of Manc stadium don'tlike RL roughing the turf up. So, what about Anfield?

The Reebok is a nice enough stadium and as a resident of Manchester who doesn't support Wigan I'd be inclined to go. If it was at the JJB I doubt I'dgo. However,if it was at Anfield I would definately go and I'm sure a lot of my friends who aren't into RL,but have a passing interest would definately go as well.

This is key for the RLIF now; do they play it safe - go for the Reebok, or even the JJB, where they're assured of filling the stadium by at least 75% - or do they really go for it? Do they try to harness both the enthusiasm and immense numbers of the Wigan fans, and the name of Anfield to draw in impartial supporters and try to draw an attendance comparable to Leeds first WCC at Elland Road?

Wigan are the biggest club in the country at the moment. They should be pushing to beat Leeds' 30k WCC crowds IMO. Can't do that at the DW. So either Blackburn, Everton or Liverpool.

If they could get Old Trafford and close the upper tiers then that would also be good. Reckon they could get 40k there at least just for the fact of it being Old Trafford.

Was it as exciting as the scoreline suggests?

Aye, that's a possiblity, but you'd still have near 40k empty seats. Leeds' record was 37k,which I think Wigan should be aiming to beat.

OT gets used every year for Grand Finals whereas Anfield hasn't been used for years, so there's a bit of novelty there and its Anfield, how many folk would like the chance to go Anfield before it gets bulldozed? Anfield also has a 45k capacity, which should easily be doable with Wigan's fanbase and a legendary stadium. The prospect of a half empty OT, which is used every year might put folk off buying a ticket. A full to the brim Anfield though? I reckon that's a more exciting prospect.

I wouldn't mind if its at OT anyway, Ilive 10min walk off.

Anfield would be good too. Would be better for neutrals if it was at OT though as it's closer. And for some reason (could just be me), Anfield seems a bit more of a Saints sort of territory rather than Wigan. Plastic Scousers and all that...