Sam Tomkins

I'm sorry to see Sam Tomkins leave Wigan Warriors for New Zealand Warriors at the end of this 2013 season but it's not the end of our Wigan club. 

When we have lost big players in the past like Shaun Edwards, Andy Gregory, Ellery Hanley, Kris Radlinski, Billy Boston, Jim Sullivan, Martin Offiah, Andy Farrell, etc, etc, the list is literally endless, Wigan haven't imploded, we have still carried on being a successful team.

One man doesn't make a team, it's a team game. Wigan don't play with 12 players when he's not playing, we can still field 13. I feel he goes missing in big games and his defence under the high ball is shocking. To me he's not a fullback. Don't get me wrong he's a fantastic player on his day and he can turn a game but it's often against the weaker teams.

I hope that he goes to the NRL and prove himself against the best rugby league players in the world because let's face it the Super League is just becoming a feeder competition to the NRL. Good luck Sam and all the best on your future at the New Zealand Warriors.

#WiganWednesday

#WiganWednesday is the day to celebrate everything that is good about Wigan and to highlight little know facts about the town!

I have been tweeting #WiganWednesday most Wednesdays now for about 3 years.

I thought it would be apt, as today is in fact #WiganWednesday, I would write a blog post about it and include a couple of #WiganWednesday picture quizzes.

Can you name the Wiganers below?

#WiganWednesday Wiganer Quiz 1

Quiz 1 is quite easy I feel, it's just to warm you up before you tackle quiz 2.

Can you name the Wiganers below, who is the odd one out and why in quiz 2?

#WiganWednesday Wiganer Quiz 2

Leave you answers below in the comments box and I'll let you know if you're right or wrong.

Thanks for reading and playing!

Rugby League Chinese New Year Animals

Those who are born in the year of the Wolf are expected to deliver great things, but actually deliver nothing at all.

Those who are born in the year of the Tiger always look to the past for success.

Those who are born in the the year of the Rhino cheat to gain advantage but end up hurting themselves in the process.

Those who are born in the year of the Robin are passionate about only the East.

Those who are born in the year of the Airlie Bird aren't neighbourly.

Those who are born in the year of the Dragon are very successful at home but on their travels fail to deliver.

Those who are born in the year of the Bull aren't very good with money.

Those who are born in the year of the Original Red Devil have ideas above their station and believe that rules don't apply to them.

Those who are born in the year of the Wildcat are ungracious in defeat and they personality is like "watching paint dry".

Those who are born in the year of the Giant promise so much but crumble when pressure is applied.

Those who are born in the year of the Bronco find themselves far away, unloved and separated.

Those who are born in the year of the Viking are very jealous and don't think before they open their mouths.

Those born in the year of the Saint forever live in the shadow of the Warriors.

Those who are born in the year of Warrior are hatred, adored, never ignored and extremely successful.

Two Teams, One Town

Artwork designed by Jonny Ashton (@JonnyAshy on Twitter)

As you can probably guess from the headline those teams are Wigan Warriors and Wigan Athletic and that town is Wigan.  Wigan is a small town in the north-west of England, 17 miles from Manchester, 18 miles from Liverpool (as the crow flies) and with a population of about 80,000.

Both teams in Wigan are in the top division of their respected leagues.  Apart from London, our capital city, which boasts having a number of different football clubs and one rugby league club in the top division, no other city, never mind town achieves this.

I’m very proud to say that I have been brought up and live in Wigan.  When I go on holiday and people ask me where I’m from I don’t say I live near Manchester or I live near Liverpool, I tell them I live in Wigan.  Heaven forbid that they don’t know where Wigan is.  They make reference to either the football or the rugby league team.  Most are surprised when I tell them there is actually two teams in Wigan.

I support and am very proud of both teams in Wigan.  I know of only a handful of people who support both teams also.  Why the hatred of the other team?  I don’t get it.  Football and rugby league are two completely different sports.  Fair enough if you don’t like the other sport but don’t hate your own towns team because of this.  Wishing them to lose every game against a team that is miles and miles from Wigan town.

Their isn’t that many of us in this small working class town in Lancashire.  We should of stick together and support both teams through thick and thin.

A few of me mates who have also been born and brought up in Wigan all their lives and support Wigan Warriors also “support” Liverpool, Newcastle United, Arsenal, Tottenham Hotspur, Manchester City, Manchester United, to name but a few football clubs, what’s all that about?  I doubt they have ever been to a football match at Anfield, St James Park, Highbury / Emirates, White Hart Lane, Maine Road / Etihad, Old Trafford.  The so called City “fans” probably thought Maine Road is a busy road that you have to look both ways before you cross.

I’m sick and tired of the arguments between both sets of supporters about attendances, season ticket holders, going to semi-finals and finals, being successful, that Wigan is a rugby town, that Wigan is a football town, arguments about the DW Stadium.  Can’t people just be happy that we have two successful teams in one town?  We are very lucky to live in Wigan with two top flight teams, Wigan Athletic and Wigan Warriors are both Wigan teams, they should both be respected in the same way.  It would be brilliant if you could buy one season ticket that allowed you to go to all the home matches at the DW Stadium for both Wigan Athletic and Wigan Warriors.  I would love 20,000 Wiganers (a quarter of the towns population) to come together to celebrate and support our towns teams at the DW Stadium on a weekly basis, especially when the rugby and the football seasons overlap.

Instead of hating your own towns team, put your dislike into their local arch rivals, Bolton Wanderers FC or St Helens RL, much more fun in my book.

This article was written before the Wigan Athletic v Manchester City FA Cup final, but regardless of the result (hopefully Wigan won) as a Wiganer and a Latics fan I was very proud to see Wigan Athletic make the final, for the first time in their 81 year history, of the oldest and most famous football competition in the world.

Regarding Wigan Athletic reaching the FA Cup Final Ian Lenagan (Wigan Warriors owner and chairman) said on BBC radio Manchester “Wigan is not a rugby town or a football town, it’s a Wigan town.  We stick together.”  

I hope that every Warriors fan and Wiganer supported Latics on their historical day on Saturday 11th May 2013 and stuck together.  Hopefully it’s the minority that wanted Wigan Athletic to lose and were glad that they lost the coin toss so they had to play in black for the final “to save getting changed for the funeral march home” someone wrote on twitter.

Kris Radlinski, former Wigan Warriors fullback himself tweeted on Wigan Athletics reaching the FA Cup Final “What an achievement by the Latics.  This crazy little town cracks me up.  I love being a Wiganer!!  Areet mon!!”.  I couldn’t of said it better myself.  Hopefully Wigan Warriors fans take both those sentiments to heart and support Wigan Athletic not just in the final, not just in the upcoming matches to save them from relegation but forever more.

In how many other teams are their chairman from their own home towns?  I can’t think of many, never mind two from the same town as both Dave Whelan and Ian Lenagan are.  I know of some people who won’t support Wigan Athletic as long as Whelan is their chairman.  How can your hatred of one man stop you from supporting your own home town team?  I suppose it was the same for Latics fans when Maurice Lindsay was the chairman of Wigan Rugby League, but one mans comments shouldn’t count for every Wigan rugby league fan.  And it’s the same for Dave Whelan, his comments don’t count for every Wigan Athletic fan.  Lets not forget that Dave Whelan was also Wigan Warriors chairman not such a long time ago also.

Hoody designed and produced by Kaylee Designs (www.kayleedesigns.com)

I know in the past wedges have been driven between the two teams, it felt that you couldn’t and you shouldn’t support both teams but lets not look to the past, lets look to the future and get behind both teams in their own search for success.  You can support both teams in Wigan, you won’t get penalised for it or pelted with stones if the other supporters find out.  It’s not wrong, don’t feel dirty, be proud as I am, put your hand up, shout if from the rooftops, do whatever you feel comfortable with, just do it.

2 teams + 1 town = proud WIGANERS!

*** This article first appeared in issue 42 of Mudhutter Football Express (a Wigan Athletic fanzine).  You can follow Mudhutter Football Express on twitter @mudhutter and purchase the fanzine here :- www.mudhutter.co.uk ***

Magic Weekend of Illusion

I don’t mean to be negative, and this is my first negative / controversial article, but what exactly is the point of the Magic Weekend?  I don’t agree with where the so called “Magic Weekend” was held this year and the extra fixture it creates.

Let me start with the first point, the location.  Last year (2012), this year (2013), and next year (2014), the location of the Magic Weekend is Manchester City Football Clubs home ground, The Etihad Stadium, in east Manchester.  I haven’t got anything against Man City, in fact Wigan Athletic beat them 1 - 0 in the FA Cup Final in May 2012, I have got an issue with the location of the Magic Weekend being in Manchester.  Manchester, the north-west of England, which is already saturated with a number of Rugby League clubs.  Manchester, the north-west of England, which is within the heartlands of Rugby League.

When the Magic Weekend was first created back in 2007 the concept was to promote rugby league to a wider audience, to brand new fans, thus making more people interested in the sport, grow the audience of the greatest game of all and create rugby league clubs away from the M62 corridor.  

Therefore in 2007 Millennium Magic (as it was called then) was held at the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff.  Millennium Magic was also held in Cardiff in 2008.  In 2009 and 2010 the weekend was rebranded the Magic Weekend as the event moved to Edinburgh and was held at Murrayfield.  Murrayfield should hold a place in every Wigan Warriors fans heart as it as here where in 2002 Wigan Warriors beat St Helens 21 - 12 in the final of the Challenge Cup!  In 2011 the weekend moved back to the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff.

In the 5 years from the initial idea in 2007 to holding the weekend in Manchester in 2012 I believe that the RFL have lost focus in the concept and now just stage the event purely to make money.  Don’t get me wrong I know that money makes the world go round but when did sport become business?  The RFL shouldn’t be concerned with turning a profit, they should just be concerned with breaking even.  Where does the profit go?  I certainly don’t think it gets ploughed back into the game, it probably makes fat cats get even fatter.

My opinion is that the weekend should be held away from the heartlands, to revert back to the original concept of introducing rugby league to brand new fans.  I would love to see the weekend being held in Newcastle for example.  St James Park holds 52,387 and it is in the middle of the city centre.  The north-east hasn’t got a team in the Super League, rugby league isn’t very well known over there but I’m sure that the Geordies would go mad for the game.  To me the Magic Weekend should be all about promoting rugby league in new areas to new fans.

If the statistics are anything to go by the fans currently don’t want the concept either in its present state.  On Day 1 the attendance was 30,793.  The corresponding fixtures produced an attendance of 41,286 and that’s including a London Broncos home game.  On Day 2 the attendance was 32,953.  The corresponding fixtures produced an attendance of 28,702 which is higher but how many of the fans had purchased a weekend ticket and how many fans had purchased a ticket who had never seen a rugby league game before?  My guess is that most of the day 2 fans had also attended on day 1 and 99.9% of them had seen a rugby league game before.  I would love to see the number of individual ticket sales instead of just seeing the total attendance figure of 63,746.  I’m sure it would paint a very different picture.

My other bug bear in that the Magic Weekend creates another fixture in an already crowded fixture list.  I believe that rugby league players in this country already play too many rugby league games and they also play more games than their NRL cousins.  I know that they all full time athletes and this is their job but in how many other jobs are there collisions to the equational of a car crash every 10 seconds?

The Magic Weekend fixture should be part of the regular 26 weekly rounds.  I don’t think that there should be an extra fixture created just for it.  I love watching Wigan Warriors play, and 9 times out of 10 beating, St Helens but in recent years we have had to play them up to 5 times a season and even to the most die hard of fan that tens to drum down the only official derby in the world of sport, apart from the Epson derby of course.

I know that people will complain and say that it will be unfair to half of the super league teams that their side will lose a home game.  But it will only be every other season, the other half of the super league teams will also lose a fixture the alternative season so I’m sure we can all argue on that.  More so when Wigan Warriors lose a home game for the Magic Weekend then the season ticket price would be cheaper, bonus!  Or another idea would be to include the Magic Weekend fixture as part of the season ticket, and thus getting into St James Park for free, belting!

Why do Championship rugby league sides miss out on the Magic Weekend?  I don’t think that’s fair.  If the Magic Weekend concept is to showcase the sport to a wider audience then I think it should also include the Championship sides.  I went to watch Leigh Centurions play on day 2 of the Magic Weekend, I’m not two faced, and I didn’t think that it was very fair for the club and their fans for them to be playing on the same day.  What if their fans wanted to go to day 2 of the Magic Weekend?  Then they would of had to of chosen between their own club and the concept.  I certainly would of known where my priorities lie.

As the Magic Weekend is normally played over a Bank Holiday weekend then I don’t think it would be a problem for the RFL to include the Championship sides.  They could play the 14 rugby league games, which includes the Championship club games, over 3 days.  5 games on the Saturday, 5 games on the Sunday, and 4 games on the Bank Holiday Monday, thus allowing fans to get back home for work the next day.

Until the RFL revert back to the original concept of the Magic Weekend which is to promote the sport to a wider audience by moving it out of the rugby league heartlands and it stops becoming a money making exercise by being an extra fixture in the super league diary then I’m afraid I’m out.

#AgainstModernRugbyLeague

Club or Country in Rugby League?

It’s the age old question, club or country?  Do you just want the rugby league club you support to be successful or do you also want your country to be successful also?

Do you wince when your club players are picked for a mid season international and hope that they don’t get injured for the business end of the season?  Are you club over country?

Or are you happy when your club players get picked for international duty?  Isn't playing for your country the pinnacle of sporting achievement for players?  Doesn’t everybody wants to see their club players playing for their respective countries?

I understand that the clubs pay the players their wages and of course they don’t want to see their players out injured but players can also get injured playing for their club week in, week out.  

I’m all for international rugby league as I believe for the sport to grow in this country, and world wide, then of course we need the sport to be played on the biggest stage.  Growth in international rugby league is more important than growth in club rugby.  After the international game has grown and been promoted to a wider audience then I believe club rugby and the game in general will grow more as a result.  It’s the whole chicken and egg argument though, some people will argue club rugby needs to grow before the international game.

Supporters need to take off their blinkers and see the bigger picture.  The club you support isn’t the be all and end all of rugby league.  There are other games out there being played, other competitions than just the ones your club are involved in.  International games are the prime example of how to promote the game to a wider audience.  

TV viewers that have never sat down to watch a rugby league game before are more likely to watch England v Australia than say the likes of Castleford Tigers v Hull KR.  After they have an interest in the sport then they may watch the mediocre games on TV and then attend games themselves.  This would increase attendance and money coming into the sport, for which we are in dire need of.

I believe we should all be behind international rugby league more than ever this year as, I’m sure you already know, the Rugby League World Cup is being held on these shores in October.  For England Rugby League and for the World Cup to be a success in this country then I believe that we have to win the thing, or at the very least get to the final, nothing else will do.  I’d give up Wigan Warriors winning anything this year for England to win the World Cup!

We must raise the profile of the rugby league game in England and get much more exposure, and money, otherwise I fear that rugby league will be a semi-professional dying sport in less than 15 years time.  As you can see by my comments above it’s my point of view that rugby league needs international games to grow.

Come October I’ll be pulling on my England Rugby League shirt and roaring the lads to success.  In 2025 there may not be a World Cup, there may not be international games, there may not be rugby league .......

What Wigan Rugby League Means To Me

Wigan RL to me isn't just a team, it's a way of life.  I got my girlfriend (now the missus) into Wigan RL.  Both of our daughters are also massive Wigan RL fans.  All four of us are season ticket holders and we love going to the DW Stadium to watch Wigan RL.  We even moved house so that we could be closer to the ground.  It's something that we all enjoy together as a family.  Win, lose or draw we come away with smilies on our faces after watching our home town club play.  Wigan RL is the greatest team in the greatest game of all!

*** This article first appeared in issue 3 of Cherry & White (a Wigan Warriors Fanzine).  You can follow Cherry & White on twitter @CherryWhiteZine and purchase the fanzine here :- cherrywhite.bigcartel.com ***

Wigan Warriors 2012 Super League Stats Review

As we are now in full swing of the 2013 Super League XVIII (18 for those without a Latin ‘O’ Level) season I thought it would be a bit of fun to look back at last years regular season stats.

You will be well aware that we finished top of the Super League with 42 points, 1 point clear of second place Warrington Wolves, and with a massive points difference of 545!  Wires points difference was only 370, giving Wigan a large margin of 175 points over them.

Wigan Warriors were the best in attack AND the best in defence in Super League in 2012.  We scored 994 points and only conceded 449 points.

But where did all these points come from, who made the tackles, who made the metres, who scored the tries I hear you ask.  Well, with a few fancy graphics and charts please let me show you.

I’ll start with tries.  Who scored the most tries, how many and who else were big try scorers in the Warriors team.

As you can see Josh Charnley topped the Wigan Warriors super league PIE chart with 31 tries followed very closely by Sam Tomkins with 28 tries.

Next we’ll look at tackles made.  As you can see Micky Mac made a massive 746 tackles, that’s on average almost 28 tackles per game.  Second was H with 584, a big 162 tackles behind Micky.

Sam Tomkins made the most metres with a mammoth 3438 metres made.  Jeff Lima was second with a very impressive 2910 metres, he will be missed by Wigan in 2013.

As you can see from the simple table above Josh Charnley was Wigan's top points scorer.  Pat Richards was second, missing a huge chuck of the season with a knee injury.

I hope these simple stats show how Wigan Warriors were a force to be reckoned with in the Super League 2012 season.

*** This article first appeared in issue 3 of Cherry & White (a Wigan Warriors Fanzine).  You can follow Cherry & White on twitter @CherryWhiteZine and purchase the fanzine here :- cherrywhite.bigcartel.com ***

Banish the Exiles

England v Exiles, what’s that all about?  England v NRL rejects more like.  Don’t get me wrong Super League has some good Australian / New Zealand rugby league players that either used to play in the NRL and / or could play in the NRL.  Unfortunately those players are very few and far between now due to the increased NRL salary cap. I could probably count on one hand the players I am referring to that are in this years Exiles squad.  In my opinion they are Pat Richards and Joel Monaghan.

The ex NRL rugby league players now that come over to the Super League either can’t get a game in the NRL anymore or are the end of their careers and just want a big final paycheck before they retire.  In most cases it’s both of the above.

If I had my way I would like to see a return of the old Lancashire v Yorkshire rugby league War of the Roses games.  Player eligibility for the War of the Roses was based on the player's region of birth.  Even players born outside of Lancashire and Yorkshire were also eligible for selection, based on the region where they first played rugby league at a professional level.

Why not go back to the historical and traditional War of the Roses rugby league games?  They were first played back in 1895 and were only stopped as recently as 2003.  If Lancashire v Yorkshire doesn’t suit anymore what with rugby league now being played in every county in England then an England v England rugby league game would be the preferred option in my belief.

In an England v England game you would see 34 English players all vying for an England shirt come the World Cup.  You would see not just one full back in say Sam Tomkins but you would see two in a Sam Tomkins v Zak Hardaker or Greg Eden full back battle.  Competition for places is what we need in for a competitive England squad.  Not just picking the same old players, with some of them playing out of position, year in year out.

At stand off and scrum half you could see Danny Brough and Richie Myler v Jonny Lomax and Matty Smith.  You would see four centres instead of two, two loose forwards instead of one, you would see 34 English players instead of 17!  To me the idea is a no brainer.

Another thought is that the two coaches of the two sides takes it in turns to pick their English players, like the captains did when you were playing football / rugby league growing up.  My only concern is that Ryan Bailey might spit his dummy out big time and take it out on a smaller rugby league player when he’s picked last!

Now where’s the phone number of Nigel Wood so I can put my ideas to him, I might even tempt him with a meyt n prater pie, or 5!

Forty-20 Magazine Talking Rugby League Forum

I was searching twitter looking for an UK RL fan club fans forum event after reading, in the May issue of Forty-20 magazine, about the fan club and the forum that it recently held in Bradford.  

Unfortunately there isn’t a date set for an UK RL fan club fans forum, for the right side of the Pennines, set yet.  I was disappointed but would keep my eyes peeled for the information when @Forty20Magazine popped up in my mentions stating that it wasn’t an @UKRLfanclub event but would a Forty-20 Talking Rugby League fans forum do for me?

I read the link Forty-20 sent me and it sounded like just the event I was looking it.  The link declared :-

It was an opportunity to hear and question a panel of expert writers about Rugby League.  Phil Caplan, the chair of the panel, is co-director of Scratching Shed Publishing and the founder of the Rugby League Magazine “Forty-20”.  Dave Hadfield, is the Rugby League journalist for the “Independent”.  Ray French is a well known commentator and former international player both for Rugby League and Rugby Union.  Tony Hannan is a journalist and author of several books on Rugby League.  This is the first of several panel events that will be taking place this year.

The forum was organised by Try Reading which is a new project for public libraries.  It aims to celebrate and promote the sporting event of the year - the Rugby League World Cup 2013.  At the same time TRYing to get more people into reading and writing.  The project is being funded with an award from the Arts Council England which meant that the forum was free, even better.  I’m sure that just a normal evening with Ray French as an after dinner speaker would cost a pretty penny so for this forum to cost nothing was a bonus indeed.

The forum was held in Urmston Library, Urmston, Trafford, Manchester.  As I over estimated the traffic on the M61 and the M60 my mate and I arrived in Urmston with just over an hour to spare.  With never venturing to Urmston before the only way to kill time prior to the forum starting was to head to the nearest pub!

We stumbled upon The Chadwick which could have been lifted directly from the set of Coronation Street as it felt just like The Rovers Return as soon as we stepped inside.  Everything from the Mancurian accents to the locals who knew each other to the decorate reminded me of the Rovers.  Gutted when I realised that Newton and Ridley wasn’t on tap so I had to settle for a pint of Courage, Dave Hadfield would have been proud.

After finishing our ale, and without being beaten up by the fierce locals (which is always a bonus) we made our way to the library, which is a new build in the heart of Urmston.  We were guided into a light and airy function room by a stereotypical librarian who once everyone was settled down introduced the event.  When she was finished Phil Caplan introduced the panel and himself, which included as a poor mans Jack Dee, which caused the room to roar with laughter.

The panelists then read an extract from their books, with the expectation of Tony Hannan who read a piece he had written about the internet in 1997 for the Rugby League Express newspaper.

There followed a question and answer session where Phil Caplan asked the panel in turn a number of rugby league questions including about the upcoming Rugby League World Cup, referees and their experiences in Rugby League.

After a very interesting and informative Q & A Phil Caplan opened questions to the floor.  Thoughtful questions were asked regarding commentators, which parts of the world the panel would love to see Rugby League being played, who the panel thought was the young Rugby League player of the year so far, to name just a number of the questions that were asked.

Phil Caplan then wrapped up the forum and invited the audience to purchase a number of books that the guest had written.  I bought Down and Under by Dave Hadfield and What’s a bear to wear by Tom Palmer (for my daughters).  My advice to you readers of this article, attend as many of these Try Reading events / forums as you can, an excellent evening was had by all and take plenty of money, you will want to buy every book that the panel has written.  Truly brilliant speakers and writers. 

Rugger in the Ring

On a bitterly cold Wednesday night in late February I was queueing up outside the Premier Suite of the Reebok Stadium, Bolton, to watch “Rugger in the Ring”.  Rugger in the Ring pitted eight ex rugby league players together to take part in a prizefighter style boxing bout to find the hardest man in rugby league.

The ex players were :-

•   Tim ‘The Timebomb’ Street (Leigh, Swinton, Oldham, Hull FC and Lancashire Lynx),
•   Mick ‘Butch’ Cassidy (Wigan, Widnes and Barrow), 
•   Keith ‘The Chief’ Senior (Sheffield Eagles and Leeds), 
•   Lee ‘Raging Bull’ Radford (Hull FC and Bradford), 
•   Paul ‘The Saint’ Sculthorpe (Warrington and St Helens), 
•   Ian ‘Real Steel’ Sibbit (Warrington, Salford and Bradford), 
•   Sean ‘Wild Cat’ Casey (St Helens, Whitehaven, Swinton), 
•   Alan ‘The Assassin’ Hunte (St Helens, Wakefield, Hull FC, Warrington, Salford).

The competition constituted of quarter finals, semi finals and a final.  The quarter finals and semi finals were three one minute rounds and the final was three one and a half minute rounds.  In the first quarter final bout Mick Cassidy beat Tim Street.  Bout two was won by Lee Radford who beat Keith Senior.  Lee Radford was the favourite heading into the competition.  Boxing bout three was won by Paul Sculthorpe who beat a very unlucky Ian Sibbit.  The last of the quarter finals was won by Sean Casey who beat Alan Hunte.

After a short interval in which the ex players were able to catch their breath, a few of them were blowing heavily and I wasn’t surprised as they were really going for it, and the punters were able to recharge their plastic pint pots the semi finals started.

Lee Radford beat Mick Cassidy in a great battle which both boxers didn’t deserve to lose.  I was gutted as I wanted Mick to win the competition and pick up another trophy.  Unfortunately it wasn’t to be.  Radford, the favourite, was in the final.

In the second semi final Sculthorpe was up against Casey.  Scully got a good couple of shots on Casey nose and the blood began to flow.  This was another epic bout in which both boxers didn’t deserve to lose.  The so called ‘Saint’ did enough to win and was through to the final.

Following the semi finals an auction took place in which the 1200 crowd could bid on a number of items including a meal for four with Paul Sculthorpe at a restaurant of their choosing (not exactly a prize I would want), a rugby league team training day with Sean Long and Martin Gleeson (beat you could of picked up a couple of betting tips also) and the last lot was for a box at the rugby league World Cup final at Old Trafford in November!  Regrettably it was out of my price range as it finally went for £2,100, bargain!?!

A short video about Joining Jack (which the evening was raising money for) was shown on the big screen.  It was a very humbling film in which Andy Johnson talked about his sons battle with Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy.  As the film was being shown you could of heard a pin beingdropped, everybody stopped what they were doing and watched.

The final was between Paul Sculthorpe and Lee Radford.  The first two rounds were very close but I felt that Radford just shaved them.  In the third and final round Sculthorpe needed to pull something out of the bag if he wanted to win the cup.  And pull something out of the bag he did.  He hit Radford with a cracking left hook that put him on the canvas with an almighty thud.  As soon as Radford him the deck the crowd were on their feet.  It really was a fantastic punch any boxer would of been proud of, never mind one who had only been boxing for the last 12 weeks.  The referee gave Lee a standing eight count, in which he did well to clear his head with, and then he went back for more punishment.  The fight didn’t last much longer when the ref stopped it again to save Radford from further pounding and declared  Sculthorpe the winner.  All in all the third round only lasted a mere 38 seconds.

It was a brilliant night, well done to all the fighters, but especially (and I hate to say it) congratulations Paul Sculthorpe on winning Rugger in the Ring and being crowned the hardest man in rugby league.

*** This article first appeared in issue 3 of Cherry & White (a Wigan Warriors Fanzine).  You can follow Cherry & White on twitter @CherryWhiteZine and purchase the fanzine here :- cherrywhite.bigcartel.com ***

10 things St Helens can do now they're out of the Challenge Cup!

Written by me, designed by Jonny Ashton (@JonnyAshy)

*** This article first appeared in issue 3 of Cherry & White (a Wigan Warriors Fanzine).  You can follow Cherry & White on twitter @CherryWhiteZine and purchase the fanzine here :- cherrywhite.bigcartel.com ***

Never Watch Alone

I first heard about Never Watch Alone at a Riversiders (Wigan Warriors official supporters club) meeting.  Never Watch Alone is run by Embrace Wigan & Leigh, a Wigan based charity who help people with disabilities and their families that need support, advice and information.  Over the years (since 1999) they have helped thousands of people navigate services and lead an inclusive life.

Never Watch Alone aims to bring the local community together through football and rugby league.  It enables supporters with a learning disability to attend matches alongside their fellow supporters.  As I normally attend Latics games on me todd as me mates are rugby fans, I’m fanatical about sport, I love Latics and I’m a people person I decided to sign up to this very important cause and become a buddy.

Buddying up, as a friend, not a carer, enables me to live out my passion watching Latics at the DW with someone else who also shares the excitement of live football.  I didn’t have any prior experience, none is necessary, all I have is a genuine love of Wigan Athletic.

I was buddied up with Kieran who is a very lovely lad.  I met him, his Dad and Angela Seddon, who is the Never Watch Alone co-ordinator, at Maccie Ds the day before the Liverpool game to get to know him and make sure that we got on before the game the following day.  We got on like a house on fire and arranged to meet for the match.  It was a win-win situation for both of us, Kieran got to attend the game where he wouldn’t normally of got the chance, “to get out of the house” (his words, not mine) and I got to go with somebody.

We watched the 4-0 drubbing of Latics that day but luckily enough it didn’t put Kieran, or myself for that matter, off watching Latics again in the future together.  We arranged to meet again for the home game against Newcastle.  Before the game we organised to meet Dave (a fellow buddy) and Darryl (a fan) at Sharpy’s for some jackbit and to enhance both our social circles.  All four of us had a great time with the main conversation being about the previous weeks quarter final game against Everton and the upcoming semi-final at Wembley!

The Newcastle game was a happier affair than the Liverpool game with Koné scoring in the last minute.  Kieran was over the moon with the result, not just because his team won, but because he was there to witness it live with 22,296 fellow fans.

If you are interested in helping a fellow fan like Kieran or you would like to know more about Never Watch Alone then please contact Angela on 01942 233323 or e-mail a.seddon@embracewiganandleigh.org.uk

Playing Away in Bradford

Wigan Warriors are playing away in Bradford on Sunday 14th April at 3pm, unless Sky have changed the date and time after this zine went to press, against Bradford Bulls at the Provident Stadium.  I can remember the good old days when stadiums never had sponsorship deals and didn’t change their names every 5 minutes but I suppose times change and here is where we are.  I can also remember times when the RFL didn’t have to bail out rugby league teams and rent back their own ground to them.  Scrap the franchises, they aren’t working, and bring back promotion and relegation I say.  I’ll save that argument for another issue, we are playing away in Brat-ford here!

Bradford is famous for the birthplace of the composer Delius (no, I have never heard of him also), the author and playwright J.B. Priestley (I’ve had heard of him, I did An Inspector Calls in English at High School), the novelist John Braine (not hear of him either).  He wrote Room at the Top, he obviously wasn’t at Odsal on the 5th May 1954 when a record 102,569 spectators packed in to watch Halifax v Warrington in a Challenge Cup Final replay.

The Bronte Sisters were born in the village of Thornton, a suburb to the west of Bradford.  They moved on to live at Haworth (north west of Bradford) where they wrote Jane Eyre and Wuthering Heights, which sounds like our maud when she goes upstairs for some bedroom olympics with yours truly. ;-)

Odsal, as the Bulls home ground was previously called, isn’t a million miles away from the National Media Museum which is FREE!!!  Here you can explore the exciting world of television and learn how it's made in Experience TV. Get behind the camera - or in front of it, and have a go at being a newsreader or a camera operator in our studio.  Even have a go at being a commentator and see if you can do a better job than Eddie and Stevo.

While you are in Bradford you could eat some of the best curry in the UK, they claim.  Bradford has a well-earned reputation for some of the best Asian restaurants in the country. There are many award winning restaurants to choose from including the Aagrah, Omar Khans. Mumtaz and Aakbars.  I doubt any of these restaurants curry would taste as good as the curry I had once in a pie in Wigan.  I kid you not, a curry pie!

Why not visit City Park?  It’ s Bradford's brilliant new high-tech water feature, the largest of its kind in the UK.  City Park has many moods. It can be a cool, tranquil and misty space, a huge, reflective watery mirror, a bubbling, squirting, and splashing fountain display, a brilliantly lit aqueous interactive laser artwork or a thunderous water spout, shooting over 30 metres into the air.  City Park is a great place to relax, meet friends or family and enjoy a breath of fresh air. Enjoy some alfresco dining in the surrounding cafes and restaurants.  City Park is a lot like our own Mesnes Park, but with water and without a statues shoe to rub, sad times.

Bradford district has many real ale houses serving a wide range of guest ales. Try the Symposium Ale & Wine Bar in Idle or Sir Titus Salt in Bradford city centre, a former swimming pool. Also not to be missed is Fanny's (easy now, I’ll do the jokes) Real Ale & Cider House, a popular pub in the UNESCO World Heritage Site Saltaire or try Bar t'at in Ilkley, a comfortable bar serving an excellent selection of real ale and good food.

Another good pub in Bradford is The Top House, just t’other side of the ground.  It can get pretty packed on match days but it’s very local and quite cheap.

The stadium holds a now unused speedway track and the corners of the pitch curve up in the in goal area.  It holds 27,491 fans and has only one roof, no roof for the away supporters, oh I do love playing away!  Da da da daaaaa da da da daaaaa da da da daaaaa da da da daaaaa ....... cherry and white ....... it’s in our blood .......

London Calling

My Verdict from the East Stand

WIGAN WARRIORS 48 - LONDON BRONCOS 18, SUNDAY 24TH FEBRUARY 2013

I must admit that I do like Sunday afternoon games.  Maybe it’s because I’m always rushing home from work on Fridays, grabbing some tea, and then going straight to the game feeling tired after a hard week at work.  I also prefer afternoon games rather than night games as I have a young family and I can relax more, the kids don’t complain they are tired and don’t fidget half as much.

Even saying all that I don’t enjoy games as much when the club shuts the north stand and puts the away supporters in the northern side of the east stand.  It leads to a flat atmosphere, the home supporters don’t have any banter with the away supporters as their aren’t very many there at all.  Fans can’t bounce off each other, chant at each other, I don’t like it!

Unfortunately in the first half especially I thought that the referee, Robert Hicks, spoilt the game as a speculate.  In my opinion he set his stall out very early in the contest blowing for a very soft penalty when he could of let the play go.  This meant that every time a player was slightly late getting up after tackling then he would be penalised.  The game descended into a penalty-a-thon, the game didn’t flow at all, it was very stop start.  Hicks would blow for a penalty every set of six it felt like, it wasn’t just Wigan, it was London who were giving away the penalties also.

I wasn’t surprised then when Sam Tomkins was sin binned for back chat on sixteen minutes.  Sam claimed that he had one foot over the dead ball line when he knocked a grubber kick out, and he probably did, which within the new rules would of given Wigan a tap on the twenty.  The referees didn’t agree and gave a drop out.  Sam gave Hicks some verbal abuse and was sent to the sin bin, a correct decision to the letter of the law, which Hicks was certainly playing to today.  It’s just a shame that Hicks didn’t play to the same letter of the law when Sam knocked the ball out.  Anyway, I suppose we all make mistakes, Hicks made a mistake in not giving the tap, Sam made a mistake in abusing him.  Sam needs to clear up that side of his game, I know he wants to win every game but he needs to learn to bite his lip.  I can remember Sam being sin binned for giving back chat when Little Britain's Daffyd, sorry, I mean, when Steve Ganson was the ref.  Ganson was speaking to Tomkins about something or nothing during a game, Tomkins asked him was he upset because St Helens had just lost (as the Saints result had just flashed up on the scoreboard), Ganson mustn’t of liked this as he sin binned Sam.  Thinking about it I suppose we can let Sam off with that one!

In the first half Wigan were dragged into the game that London wanted to play.  We were dragged down to their level.  We were very sloppy with the ball in hand, passes weren’t sticking and kept hitting the deck, and our defence wasn’t the best either.  We weren’t meeting the London players, we kept standing off them and gave them time and space with the ball in hand.

I was glad when the hooter for half time sounded.  The painters and decorators would of been needed in the home dressing room this week after the half time team “talk” that Shaun Wane gave the players I’m sure.  

In the second half Wigan came out and played much better.  Stuart Cummings, The Match Officials Director, (posh name for the boss of referees) must of given an half time talk to Robert Hicks as in the second half he refereed much better and let the game flow.  After all of the penalties given in the first half I was surprised that the ref didn’t give either side a team warning.  In the second half the ref didn’t disappoint, at first glance I thought Hicks had cracked up and was starting to “Gangnam Style” in the middle of the pitch, then I realised that he had in fact put the entire London side on a team warning.  He must of finally grown some balls as when the Broncos infringed again Matt Cook was sent to the sin bin.

The Warriors kept the Broncos scoreless in the second half, winning it 26 - 0, which is a fantastic achievement in this level of Super League.  All in all it wasn’t a bad Wigan display, in the second half at least, and this was without Wigan hitting top gear.  I think they barely needed to get it out of third.

Pat Richards was the sponsors man of the match.  I don’t know which game they were watching but it certainly wasn’t the same game I had just witnessed.  They were probably too busy munching on prawn butties.  I would of given the man of the match to Iain Thornley but then again what do I know?!?  Onwards and upwards Wigan, onwards and upwards!

Wigan Warriors 48	---	London Broncos 18
Tries (9): Iain Thornley 2 Josh Charnley 2 Mike McIlorum Sean O'Loughlin Sam Tomkins Pat Richards Blake Green	---	Tries (3): Liam Colbon Keiran Dixon Chad Randall
Goals: Pat Richards 6/9	---	Goals: Michael Witt 3/3

*** This article first appeared in issue 2 of Cherry & White (a Wigan Warriors Fanzine).  You can follow Cherry & White on twitter @CherryWhiteZine and purchase the fanzine here :- cherrywhite.bigcartel.com ***

Do you know about the Wigan Warriors Coat of Arms?

Have you ever wondered what all those things mean on the Wigan Warriors coat of arms?  If you have then carry on reading, I’m going to tell you.  If you haven’t then carry on reading, I’m going to tell you anyway.

It’s interesting to note that Wigan didn’t have a coat of arms until 1922 when they were granted one by the College of Arms to the Mayor, Aldermen and Councillors of the County Borough of Wigan.  Don’t ask me who all these blokes were but I think you’ll agreed that they did a belting job on producing a coat of arms for Wigan.

The first thing you may notice in the coat of arms is the head of a King.  This isn’t just any old picture of a King, it is in fact modelled on the portrait of King Edward III.  However, as this is Wigan's coat of arms it actually symbolises King Henry I.

Underneath the head of the King is a Royal Lion who is guarding the King.

The red shield containing the picture of a castle and a crown is next.  The castle is a Norman castle and the crown is a medieval royal crown.

Either side of the shield stand two Royal Lions each holding branches, with berries, of the mountain ash tree or Wiggin tree as it’s also known.

The motto “Ancient and Loyal” is in keeping with the coat of arms. Wigan described itself as the "Ancient and Loyal Borough", a title originating in the 1663 charter of King Charles II which described the town as an "ancient borough" and noted its "loyalty to us". 

So next time you put on that famous cherry and white jersey just take a second to remember all the history and meaning behind our famous badge.

*** This article first appeared in issue 2 of Cherry & White (a Wigan Warriors Fanzine).  You can follow Cherry & White on twitter @CherryWhiteZine and purchase the fanzine here :- cherrywhite.bigcartel.com ***

Playing Away in Huddersfield

On Sunday 17th February 2013 I’m sure you will all know that Wigan Warriors are playing away against Fartown, sorry I mean Hudderfield Giants at the Alfred McAlpine Stadium, no the Galpharm Stadium, sorry what ed it’s now called the John Smith’s Stadium.  Oh I give up but you get the idea.

But what else is there to do in Huddersfield before we watch the Warriors slay the Giants I hear you ask.  Well let me tell you.

Rugby League was born in Huddersfield in 1895 at the George Hotel.  Within the hotel you can visit the Rugby League Heritage Centre which displays rare rugby league memorabilia including shirts, medals, trophies, caps, programmes, pictures and photographs.

Whilst in Huddersfield you can also visit Castle Hill and Victoria Tower.  Castle Hill stands over 900 feet above sea level and houses one of Huddersfield's most noticeable landmarks Victoria Tower.  The tower officially opened in 1899 and is still open to the public on certain days of the year. Castle Hill is worth a visit, particularly on a clear day when the Huddersfield skyline can be seen for miles. There are free spaces to park cars beside the tower and several public footpaths connected to the local countryside.  It’s not exactly the Angel of the North but it’s free!

You could also visit Greenhead Park which is Huddersfield's main park.  It might be a bit cold in February but it’s ideal for picnics, sporting activities and quiet walks.  Facilities include 5-aside football, band stand, basketball and tennis courts, bowling greens, cafe, children's playground, donkey rides, miniature railway, ornamental gardens, paddling pool, public toilets and skate park.  I bet it doesn’t have a statue with a shoe to rub like in our very own Mesnes Park.

Last but by no means least where can you have a good drink in Huddersfield I hear you ask.  Well let me tell you.  

The Rope Walk - This is by far the closest pub to the ground, situated in the UCI cinema complex next to the stadium. There's usually a friendly atmosphere in here. Mainly home fans drink here, but some away fans pop in for a drink as well. This place is perfect for a few drinks before the game or for a meal to calm your nerves. 

Slubbers Arms - Situated just off Bradford Road, this place is great for a nice, peaceful drink before the game. This is a real ale pub, so the beer is of a very high quality. 

Head of Steam - This pub is situated actually in the train station itself, so it nearly always has a few in before the game. It has a friendly atmosphere and away fans are always welcome. 

The Crescent - A bit rough but aren’t all the best pubs.  The pub is situated on Northumberland Street in the town centre. A bit of a walk to the ground but ideal if you are going to the game on the train.

The Peacock - Situated on Leeds Road, within 5 to 10 minutes of the ground, this pub is ideal to go to for a quick drink before the game. They have a large screen TV with Sky Sports available.

The stadium is shared with Huddersfield Town Football Club which holds 24,500 fans under one roof, oh I do love playing away!  Ohhhhhhh, bouncy, bouncy!!!