If this was any other club a big fine would be handed out, but Wigan will get off scot free. Huddersfield and Hull mutually agreed to move our game next week to a Thursday night to help the pitch recover for football, but this was done weeks ago not 24hours before a match. RL is again left looking tinpot.

At least it gives Widnes another week to find a new halfback without a game harming their points difference

Wigan turned blue & white a good few years back now.

Should have moved the game to Widnes and played the return game at Wigan.

Agreed. That said I'm happy we've got a rest after the WCC but worried it will come back to bite us if we have to squeeze in an extra fixture at the business end of the season.

Perhaps even move this match to Widnes, and keep the second fixture at Widnes too meaning Wigan forfit their home fixture against Widnes during the 23rds to compensate Widnes for messing them about. Widnes will find it much harder than Wigan trying to squeeze a fixture in mid-week later in the season, they have less depth in the squad and will likely be involved in the run up to the middle 8s dog fight.

I think the return game would still have problems in that I,ve read that they are relaying the pitch on that date. Under the operational rules a postponed game is usually scheduled mid week straight after the weekend, but it doesn't give confidence that Wigan would honour that anyway.
So under these unusual circumstances both games should be played at Widnes

On the surface it does not look good. But i'm prepared to wait for some more information to come out before jumping to a conclusion. For example, twitter is alight with the fact Wigan did this without Widnes or the RFL knowing. We don't know the rfl were not involved.

Lets wait and see what comes out.

I'm torn, had Wigan +16, which I think would have come in, but sky have now agreed to show a much better game.

Why don't Cas play in a stadium fit for the 21st century?

I'd have thought that the game at the KC at the weekend is bigger than Wigan athletics game and there was no sign of anyone wanting to call off last nights match. Wigan RL must have a binding agreement in place to cover off this eventuality.

They at least play in one that they own, and can use whenever they need to, rather than at the whim of a football club chairman.

I tend to agree that this fixture should have been reversed to be played at Widnes - seems to be the fairest solution?

It could, although I think you'd be more worried still were you a Widnes fan.

Can't see the RFL not being a party to the postponement. Won't it be they with whom Sky have the TV contract? It must surely have been agreed with everyone barring possibly Widnes.

Why didn't they build proper drainage into that space age stadium you are 2nd rate tenants in?

Under investigation by the RFL.
let's see which wrist they get a slap on, left or right.

Is there any factual basis to this or is it just some froth on twitter?

Give the 2 points to Widnes if Wigan "can't play"

Agreed.

Only way to call games off is an official pitch inspection which deems the pitch unsafe.

You can't have a club deciding they're not going to fulfil a professional fixture in the elite competition just because they don't fancy it.

Still, it's the Pies. I think we all know sod-all will happen.

How's that fair to other teams who actually have to win games to earn their points? Could lead to a healthy boost to Widnes's crowds if the 2 points puts them into the super 8s and a big reduction for one of their rivals who drops into the middles as a result. After all, it was a game they might well have lost.

To be fair none of us know the details of the tenancy agreement between Wigan FC and Wigan RL albeit through the franchising scrutiny a few years ago I guess the RFL do, and it should state clearly who has primacy in these matters, so the RFL should be aware of that.

Worth noting that the Wigan fans (on their boards) have been pretty unhappy about the cancellation too.

There is no good answer except forcing the game to go ahead and telling the Latics to wear longer studs.

If the host location is switched, with Widnes playing away at Wigan later in the year, this will harm Widnes, as people haven't planned on visiting there tonight and their home fixture crowd will be lower than the one scheduled later in the year.

If the two points are given to Widnes, this impacts on other teams who expect to be competing against Widnes for the lower Top eight slots.

If the postponement is allowed, this harms Widnes, as they forced to play two games in one week, unless both suffer an early cup exit.

Widnes can't play at Wigan later in the year as the football pitch is being relaid.

If the game is simply played at Widnes but classed as a Wigan home fixture, that gives home advantage twice to Widnes, so unfair to other teams around them.

All this has shown is that the supposed world champions are second tier in a town that has little interest in football.

Annnnd, game on again https://www.loverugbyleague.com/post/wi ... igan-game/

Annnnd, game on again https://www.loverugbyleague.com/post/wi ... igan-game/

GAME ON. Fixture reversed, KO 8pm at WIdnes. £10 entrance and Wigan paying for any commercial revenue loss to WIdnes. What a farce. www.widnesvikings.co.uk/article/ ... n-warriors

GAME ON. Fixture reversed, KO 8pm at WIdnes. £10 entrance and Wigan paying for any commercial revenue loss to WIdnes. What a farce. www.widnesvikings.co.uk/article/ ... n-warriors

Quote ="Clearwing"Is there any factual basis to this or is it just some froth on twitter?'" Here's a report from The Guardian: https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2017/ ... gue-switch However I can't see anything that validates the report, it almost reads just like the collective "facts" that have been posted on these boards.

Quote ="Clearwing"Is there any factual basis to this or is it just some froth on twitter?'" Here's a report from The Guardian: https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2017/ ... gue-switch However I can't see anything that validates the report, it almost reads just like the collective "facts" that have been posted on these boards.

Statement from both Widnes and RFL. Could be an expensive night for Wigan. And I hope the reverse fixture in July fouls the newly-laid football pitch.