This is the truth of it. Until such time as Latics are relegated - if they ever are - we will just have to take this occasional annoyance on the chin.

I don't see it as a major issue this time round, anyway. Home advantage has hardly meant much to Wigan in recent years. Just so long as the match isn't switched to Langtree Park. Home advantage WILL mean something to Saints, and they've had far too much of that in the last half-decade.

I thought about the LSV but the capacity is only 11,00 and with the marketing push I suggested I'd hope that would be insufficient. Bolton holds 28,000 but other than that we're looking at Langtree or Halliwell Jones and to be perfectly honest I'd rather play it at Robin Park than either of those two.

at the end of the day we will play the game at a stadium that is available on the day and one that the owner/coach and players are happy with......As fans we just need to turn out in numbers and support them.....

I'd be pretty disappointed if we aren't allowed to play at the DW on the Saturday, But I'm not going to blame the RFL for this. As incompetent and stupid as they are at times they shouldn't have to tip toe around fixture lists because teams have to ground share. The tv rights have a lot to do with this aswell remember. I remember all the moaning when there was a ridiculous rumour started from Saint's about the good Friday game possibly being moved because Latics where due to play on the Monday or something, and like I said then, It's our problem and no one else's, So if we have to miss out on playing at our "home" ground because of a poor deal/relationship between Leneghan and Whelan regarding rugby matches being played before footy matches then we can't start holding the RFL responsible. We all know that it's possible to turn the pitch around in time, and if it isn't allowed there's only one man saying no.

On another note we could play Friday night on sky but the BBC will want this game so I can't see that happening. At the end of the day however the beeb don't even want to take this competition seriously anymore and they have shown that by giving some of the rights away to sky and trying to minimise their coverage. So for them to start calling the shot's is a bit frustrating aswell. It will be an embarrassment if we have to go elsewhere to play our home game but I half expect it now.

Whilst playing the game at somewhere like the Reebok wouldn't be a bad idea I still feel that it would be overkill for this game. Realistically unless tickets are given away really really cheaply then it will be a repeat of the playoffs where crowds against saints where relatively low. Adding to that, the fact we are playing saints again on magic weekend takes away even more from the occasion.

Leigh it is then. Don't get me started on the Magic Weekend!

Is that confirmed? Hudds v London for the late Sunday game was mentioned as confirmed on Twitter earlier, that one being on Sky. If Cats v Wire is on BBC, that could mean they've taken that as their 'first choice', leaving Sky to pick up Wigan v Saints for Friday.

Otherwise, Sky end up with Leigh v Leeds and Hudds v London, which are surely the two least attractive games?

Which, if needs be, will happen.

Once the date and venue are set, despite some inevitable grumbling, we'll all look forward to hopefully dumping you out of the cup, again.

I actually think Leigh wouldn't be a bad option. we got just under 13'000 in attendance for the semi final last year. Whilst leigh only holds 11'000 you can guarantee it will be full and the atmosphere will be booming as opposed to the reebok which would probably bring a few thousand more at best and be half empty and dull. remember that this is all hypothetical It would be unfortunate that going of last year around 2 thousand fans may miss out but those are the cards we have been dealt unfortunately.


If this was a superleague game taking season ticket holders into account then I wouldn't dream of playing at a small venue like that, but people need to be realistic. There is not a chance that we would get 28k into the reebok for a challenge cup game.

I hope we can play at home. I think if sky get the game and we play Friday night then it should be OK. But if BBC get it and want it on the Saturday then I think Whealan will try to block it due to the round ball girls playing on the same weekend

Seems to be gathering momentum as it was on the GMR news that we may have to go to a neutral venue and sporting life seem to think Widnes' Stobart stadium is being considered or in other words another home tie for Saints

Surely everyone is missing the point here? Assuming the BBC pick Wigan v St Helens as the televised 2:30pm saturday game, the only person stopping us playing at the DW is DW himself? There is no clash of fixtures as far as premiership rules are concerned, so if Dave Whelan gives us the go ahead we should be able to play the game at home? If he doesn't give the go ahead it will just be proof again that he cares nothing for RL in this town. It makes it all the more frustrating that his poxy football team look like escaping relegation and the obscurity of championship football once again. Then again, if 17th place finishes is the ballpark of success fair play to them.