I'd have thought that the game at the KC at the weekend is bigger than Wigan athletics game and there was no sign of anyone wanting to call off last nights match. Wigan RL must have a binding agreement in place to cover off this eventuality.

They at least play in one that they own, and can use whenever they need to, rather than at the whim of a football club chairman.

I tend to agree that this fixture should have been reversed to be played at Widnes - seems to be the fairest solution?

It could, although I think you'd be more worried still were you a Widnes fan.

Can't see the RFL not being a party to the postponement. Won't it be they with whom Sky have the TV contract? It must surely have been agreed with everyone barring possibly Widnes.

Why didn't they build proper drainage into that space age stadium you are 2nd rate tenants in?

Under investigation by the RFL.
let's see which wrist they get a slap on, left or right.

Is there any factual basis to this or is it just some froth on twitter?

Give the 2 points to Widnes if Wigan "can't play"

Agreed.

Only way to call games off is an official pitch inspection which deems the pitch unsafe.

You can't have a club deciding they're not going to fulfil a professional fixture in the elite competition just because they don't fancy it.

Still, it's the Pies. I think we all know sod-all will happen.

How's that fair to other teams who actually have to win games to earn their points? Could lead to a healthy boost to Widnes's crowds if the 2 points puts them into the super 8s and a big reduction for one of their rivals who drops into the middles as a result. After all, it was a game they might well have lost.

To be fair none of us know the details of the tenancy agreement between Wigan FC and Wigan RL albeit through the franchising scrutiny a few years ago I guess the RFL do, and it should state clearly who has primacy in these matters, so the RFL should be aware of that.

Worth noting that the Wigan fans (on their boards) have been pretty unhappy about the cancellation too.

There is no good answer except forcing the game to go ahead and telling the Latics to wear longer studs.

If the host location is switched, with Widnes playing away at Wigan later in the year, this will harm Widnes, as people haven't planned on visiting there tonight and their home fixture crowd will be lower than the one scheduled later in the year.

If the two points are given to Widnes, this impacts on other teams who expect to be competing against Widnes for the lower Top eight slots.

If the postponement is allowed, this harms Widnes, as they forced to play two games in one week, unless both suffer an early cup exit.

Widnes can't play at Wigan later in the year as the football pitch is being relaid.

If the game is simply played at Widnes but classed as a Wigan home fixture, that gives home advantage twice to Widnes, so unfair to other teams around them.

All this has shown is that the supposed world champions are second tier in a town that has little interest in football.

Annnnd, game on again https://www.loverugbyleague.com/post/wi ... igan-game/

Annnnd, game on again https://www.loverugbyleague.com/post/wi ... igan-game/

GAME ON. Fixture reversed, KO 8pm at WIdnes. £10 entrance and Wigan paying for any commercial revenue loss to WIdnes. What a farce. www.widnesvikings.co.uk/article/ ... n-warriors

GAME ON. Fixture reversed, KO 8pm at WIdnes. £10 entrance and Wigan paying for any commercial revenue loss to WIdnes. What a farce. www.widnesvikings.co.uk/article/ ... n-warriors

Quote ="Clearwing"Is there any factual basis to this or is it just some froth on twitter?'" Here's a report from The Guardian: https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2017/ ... gue-switch However I can't see anything that validates the report, it almost reads just like the collective "facts" that have been posted on these boards.

Quote ="Clearwing"Is there any factual basis to this or is it just some froth on twitter?'" Here's a report from The Guardian: https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2017/ ... gue-switch However I can't see anything that validates the report, it almost reads just like the collective "facts" that have been posted on these boards.

Statement from both Widnes and RFL. Could be an expensive night for Wigan. And I hope the reverse fixture in July fouls the newly-laid football pitch.

Fair play to Widnes - they've come out of this looking good.

Wigan on the other hand, regardless of the why's and wherefores, look like a shambles at absolute best, or cynical, arrogant,'bigger than the game', selfish, spectator unfriendly s at worst!

What is clear from this whole mess is that the RFL need to put Policies in place to protect against this type of thing. Forget this example, if the pitch/stadium of a home team is playable at the time of the game, the game simply has to go ahead as planned - if teams in SL cannot guarantee this because of ground sharing top trumps, then they should be forced to have an alternative venue available at all times, or face severe consequences. In the amateur game, the match would have been forfeited, the club fined, and repeated offences would lead to expulsion.

Re - Widnes "looking good"

Not sure that dropping the general admission to £10 will please their season ticket holders (i.e. the erosion of the "benefit" of being a ST holder).

Right.

Not sure about them looking like bigger than the game. They come out of it looking like small fry in a town they thought they owned.

That was the 'shambles' option... if they've done it cynically for the extra rest period, then that is the whole 'bigger than the game' thinking.

At least its ours and we don't have to answer to anybody. Or are you just upset that DP hasn't congratulated Wane on the WCC?

Of course they have. To quote a Saints fan I was talking to at our game at Saints last year 'They have been cheating b******s all of my life and it will never change'

To says it's amateurish is doing a disservice to all amateur clubs.

Saints fans have always been known for their unbiassed opinions when it comes to Wigan. Bit rich anyway.

Besides, I don't think this is as cynical in terms of getting rest - I think this is a case that Lenegan has been told where to go - Latics don't want the rugby messing the pitch up and Lenegan has bent over and said yes sir. Then tried - and failed miserably - to save face with a wreck of a press release.

I reckon this is right - they've lost the DW stadium top trumps battle and then added insult to injury in the way they've mis-handled it.

Either way, as I said earlier, the RFL must put Policies in place that either prevent this happening in the future, or have serious consequences - points deductions, fine and potential expulsion for repeated offences.

As a sport, we're already pretty small time, and do a good enough job of playing to that small time tag on our own - we can't afford to start letting other sports dictate where and when we play, so if that means taking a hard stance with our clubs who choose to ground share, then so be it. We should be setting a standard that as a Super League club, if you're ground sharing, your agreement should be strong enough that you cannot be dictated to and only the RFL (probably in conjunction with Sky) and the club itself can make a decision on where/when a game is played - if not, you're not fit for Super League in my eyes.

We need to set higher standards and expectations in all areas of the game - this is a great example of where we look Mickey Mouse as a sport. Set the bar higher, accept no less and start building a winning culture from a 'whole of game' perspective.