The crowd was disappointing as has been said, for me it has to be a combination of reasons rather than just one in isolation, the Latics doing well, did the Oz trip anger people to the point they're staying away?,a throwback to the dire fare served up last season? I'm sure others can come up with more reasons perhaps but off the top of my head I can only reason those answers as the rugby has been so much better than last season.

Either way the club must be hurting financially if the gates keep on a fairly static number its going to lead to trouble down the line.

That said, the atmosphere was terrific on Friday. Not sure what this was down to (other than the better performances we're seeing this season) but, considering it was a relatively low crowd, it was very noticeable.

If players didn't move positions we'd have never had Hanley, Farrell or Lockers at loose forward (started life on the wing, 2nd row and centre respectively), Jason Robinson on the wing (started at stand off), Connolly at centre (fullback) or Sam Tomkins at full back (stand off). That's just a few notable examples but you could add Botica, Edwards, Platt and dozens more to that list.

To use the fact that he didn't go particularly well in an injury ravaged team last season when thrown in with little or no preparation is not really a fair argument. Let's be honest; he was never going to set the world alight under those circumstances. Doubly so as he was injured at the time too!

If he has lost a yard of pace, particularly as it seems to be as a consequence of increased bulk and power, then a move to centre might be worth a try. With an abundance of wingers, what have we got to lose?

Spot on!! And let’s not forget Tony Clubb - England centre to prop!!

Completely agree with you,great atmosphere while the bean counters wouldn’t agree it was maybe a case of less is more?

And Willie Isa, played the first half of his career at centre.

The attendance wasn’t great but it was only 500 down on last year when Cas were flying so the difference could be away supporters. We should still be aiming for 14k minimum though.

I don’t know what more the club can do. Maybe something like if you’ve had a season ticket in the last 5 years but not this year you get 20% off a half season ticket?

Moving games is not helping to retain or improve the sales of season tickets, im in walking distance and no longer have issues with shift working so im not affected but i know of mates that are.

Well said and not to mention the scores of players in other teams in both hemispheres. If we have a player who can bust a tackle he shouldn't be playing on the wing full stop.

Couldn't disagree more.
Jason Robinson made plenty of busts
Vainokolo
Ryan hall
Pat Richards
You could name hundreds.

Someone mentioned he made the busts from centre position , what if he made them down the centre do we turn him into a prop or 2nd row? Of course not.

He could do a job at centre in an emergency, but he's a winger.

Crowds won’t rise until there’s a different culture at the club. I know of many people who although they appreciate ‘winning’ rugby, have been alienated by the selling of players on a conveyor belt, teh style of play under Wane, the raising of prices, the reduction in home games, the movement of games and even the fact home games aren’t on Sundays.

Just watching the TV recording - really sad to see the East Stand look so sply populated compared to 10 years ago.

They shouldn't have to but hopefully the club can come up with some good ideas to attract some fans back.

There’s loads of new faces or empty seats around me now, a real shame a lot of regulars that have been going since we moved to the JJB have stopped in the last 1/2 years.

1) Selling players :- which players would you have kept that didn't want to leave and how? In one of Wigans most successful periods players like Hanley, Gregory, Bell, Edwards, Betts etc were allowed to leave. I don't know your age but I remember the great Wigan team of the 1960's (Boston, Ashton, McTigue etc) getting too old together, and look at Saints when they held onto Long, Cunningham, Scully etc.

2) Under Wane Wigan have been successful and even last year when some were complaining won the WCC, reached the Challenge Cup final and were 2nd highest try scorers.

3) Wigan are probably the cheapest side to watch in Superleague

4) It's 18 years since Wigan moved from Central Park, I think there have been four games that could have been played there that haven't, hardly a major concern. Similar has happened at Huddersfield and Hull and Saints had to play fifteen at Widnes.

5) When surveyed the MAJORITY of fans wanted Friday night RL partly because the funders of Superleague pick those Friday and Thursday night games for t.v. something that Wigan have no control over.

He's a winger at the moment but that doesn't mean it will always be his best position. Positional shifts often work for players as they go through their careers, especially in positions where pace is paramount. Darren Lockyer prolonged his career as one of the top players in the world by the simple expedient of switching from fullback to half.

I think it was telling that Gildart used the phrase "can't go the full length anymore" when talking about the two breaks on Friday. If that loss of pace is permanent, then a move to centre could most certainly be a move worth exploring. It really is a 'no lose' option.