I agree. I love the Saints-Wigan banter as much as the next person, however I want our sport to be much stronger overall as well.

I mean how good would it be if we could crow about having 17k average attendances over Saints with 16k. Or with Wire with 15k.

I've seen us win everything many times domestically

But i'd love for GB/England to beat the Aussies in a test series and/or World Cup Final.

I can't wait for this gig
I wonder what the capacity of the arena is when they they convert it into a temporary concert venue?

just a bit of close season banter Stu, this is the time when boredom really sets in

Thompson is the big question mark for us no doubt, if he's fully fit it's a no brainer he improves us.
Signed for four years but if we get two out of him and then sell him back to the NRL it's great business, if he breaks down again we've done another G Burgess and I doubt very much we'll be able to get him off the books, time will tell.

I think the fact that it was good news about Wigan RL is what annoyed a lot of Saints fans.

Something like “I was brought up in Wigan, went to school in Wigan and I have my house in Wigan”.

I think Stu was hoping it would go something like-

Reporter “so how does it feel to be a Wigan player, considering you used to play for St Helens?”

Thompson “I’m only here coz I forgot put my nans address down, COYS” before breaking out in to when the Saints go marching in and exiting the training ground on a one way trip to the TWS.

Thompson basically said what you’d expect any new player to say when starting at a new club.

Ha ha. I did allude to the fact he was trying to curry favour with fans in my earlier post. I just thought that bearing in mind how long he was at Saints and that he is still best mates with the likes of Makinson etc that he would have referenced something like "I still have some great mates at Saints and enjoyed my time there however I am a professional and now play for Wigan etc etc"

Matty Smith said similar when he signed back for Saints after his spell at Wigan. Even if Welsby went to the NRL and then signed for Wigan I would understand those comments more. He is a Wigan lad and his family are genuinely Wigan fans. I was just a bit surprised.

Having said that to be fair to Thompson he probably would've signed for Wigan and they wanted him but it was his Dad that wouldn't let him. He was best mates with Gildart at the time and wanted to sign with him.

All fun and games anyway. The game needs stories and pantomime villains, so it’s all good.

Sold out already and another date added

Me and Angela have got tickets to Richard Ashcroft's homecoming gig at Robin Park Arena. I can't wait for next July.

Can’t be more than 10,000 I reckon.

Won’t come close to the magic of Haigh Hall but he remains a phenomenal performer & prolific song writer.

Expect some strong support acts and a surprise guest.

Roll on July.

I've seen somewhere that it's 11,500 each day.