It's quite simple. If Sky decide ( and it is their decision!) we are playing on Friday or Saturday, prepare for a trip to Widnes or Leigh. The club could have prevented this with a little foresight. Just as Old Trafford is kept free for GF day, so could the DW have been for the Ist Round play-off.

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.