1. Never 23,000 inside the DW Stadium, not even close - I predicted about 19,000 at best.

2. Quietest crowd I have ever been at for an Aussie game. The only time the crowd sang was the final verse of God save the Queen.

Seems to me that the only gaps of any significance were in what I assume is the West Stand where there were a couple of massive gaps. All the other stands seemed to be pretty much full, so it isn't so hard to imagine 23,000.

And we went quiet towards the end of the first half. We were noisy to begin with and were noisy in the second half, when we had something to be noisy about because England decided to compete.

Massive gaps in the East Stand, West Stand and significant spaces in North Stand. I was in the South Stand and from where I was sitting there was spare seats in the South, two next to me were not taken. Obviously I attend the DW on a regular basis and you get a general feel for the crowd (like you probably do at KR). I have been to games with 23,000 on like Saints derbies..etc this didn't feel like one.

thats because people have heard about your reputation for being a moaning sod and decided to sit elsewhere!

Personally, I think the DW Stadium can be deceptive. There have been many matches at Wigan where I've thought the attendance has been either larger or smaller than the offical version.

One thing that always throws you is the North Stand. For most of Wigan's home games, the North Stand is only about a quarter full, and we tend to make all our guestimates based on this.

Don't underestimate those rare occasions - like yesterday - when the North Stand is full. That can throw your calculations out significantly.

i watched the highlights and i guessed around 19-20k tops! Looked a flat atmosphere and just completely dull all round. so glad i didnt go

We couldn't fill a tiny stadium in Doncaster, so it's hardly a surprise. It's a pretty poor showing when we can't fill any stadium for Eng v Aus.

Only one large gap in the West stand plus a few lesser gaps in North and East. Thought 23k was about right. We had the England band behind us in the North Stand and I'm sure if England had started with a bit more heart and got the crowd behind them the atmosphere would have been a lot livelier. Although to be honest, all things considered I didn't think the vocal support was that bad.

Except it wasn't. A good 500-750 off capacity.

For that game to be 23,000 it would have needed the North, South and East to have been 100% sold out, cause there was a good 2000 short in the West Stand.

Someone at the RFL is telling porkies!

you need to take in to consideration it was the bbc.

My thoughts exactly. I just saw two humungous holes on the stand opposite me (West) and some smaller bits and pieces here and there but overall it looked busy enough and, as you say, the atmosphere would have been a lot better had England played in the first half! We were definitely making noise in the second half but by that time I think the bands had lost heart!

What was the reason behind the traffic problems yesterday. Coming from Warrington I thought 2 hrs would be plenty whereas in practice I only just made it. Is it the same every week?

Well where I was sat in the North was packed, and the atmosphere was great. Oh, it went a little flat when we were getting tonked but all in all I had a great day, plenty of singing and shouting.