Some people on this thread need to have a real look at themselves. And perhaps learn a little bit about respect. Some utterly bizarre comments on here.

They only clap the teams that either don't bring a big fan base, or they don't deem them to be a threat. Quite patronising really.

They only clap the teams that either don't bring a big fan base, or they don't deem them to be a threat. Quite patronising really.

Who are 'They'?

& Perhaps you can't hear the applause when the Away end is full, due to the loud cheering coming from that end, just a thought.

The people who clap the 'non threatening' sides. It's almost as if they feel sorry for them so clap them onto the pitch just because they don't have their own fans there to do it for them.

I think it'd be a glorious day, that most likely will never happen! Your possibly right they do show passion, sort of roll over and die passion. How many times have we seen opposing players celebrate and mock our fans, the majority of Super League dislikes us, why clap a club(s) that doesn't hold us in the same regard.

Would you like to see Wigan players clap opposing teams onto the pitch? I very much doubt it, so why do the fans? Afterall we're all in this together aren't we, as a club.

In the words of a famous number 7, this isn't netball!

You wonder why?

Frank, no disrespect but this is nonsense.

Warrington long had a reputation for being a bear-pit of a stadium. Yet no-one feared going there until Wire got a good team on the park, which is relatively recently. Same applied to Leeds. They've always had a good-sized, lively crowd - yet no-one considered Headingley a tough draw until the Loiners got their act together as a team - in fact back during our glory years, it was a standing joke how hyped the Leeds fans were compared to how uninspired their players seemed to be. They sent a chanting army covered in warpaint to Wembley in 1995 - we laughed at them then too.

Wigan send many more fans away than most other teams in SL. That's something to be proud of - especially as they do it during lean years as well as good ones (and what a lesson that should be to the rest of the game). If other fans mock or hate us in response, fine, let them - but it's all down to jealousy.

It's great to a have a big following - I think it's a sign of a healthy club, a real club - but fans don't win you trophies. If it's true that the Wigan faithful don't hurl frenzied insults at the visitors (which I'm not totally convinced about - a certain ex-Saints winger had a very good game against us last Friday, and I wonder if the personal abuse he's been subjected to so many times at the DW had anything to do with that), then I'm not too worried so long as our team puts the fear of God into them on the pitch.

And you know this is the reason? You've asked every person who claps the opposition onto the pitch why they do so?

I tend to agree - generally speaking Saints, Wire and Leeds don't get applauded by home fans.

Neither do you unless you are playing either us, Saints and maybe leeds. and I mean without the 'Big one' promotion. Your fans arn't doing much the rest of the time either. I'd rather have a smaller ground which always looks relitivley full and actually belongs to us rather than a ground far too big for the smaller games and at the beckon call of a fannyball chairman that couldn't give a toss about the rugby team that he allows to use HIS stadium.

And my view on the thread:

I agree with the O/P. Home fans should make the away teams feel intimidated, make them feel quiet and worried. Do that and you already have the away team on the back foot.

In terms of the sportsman ship comments its simple. as long as there is no violence and you shake hands at the end, have a drink and laugh about it, then that to me shows real sportsmanship. IMO it shows more sportsmanship than 30 seconds of clapping three times during the match (1st half, 2nd half and full time).

Well ... I knew there had to be some sad Wigan-hater somewhere who'd still be grasping at that old straw, but I'd have thought Wire fans would now have enough self-confidence about themselves not to be seeking solace in imaginary problems among their rivals.

Overall, we have something like a 50-year lease on the DW. Your Meccano set stadium will probably have fallen down by then.

So (according to you) we do for nearly a third of the teams we play.

What was your point again?

I've been blissfully unaware that there was any sort of issue regarding applause for the opposition team as they take to the pitch. Ever since I was first introduced to the game it was instilled into me that this was a matter of etiquette that should be undertaken regardless of your views regarding the opposition team and its supporters. Furthermore it is one of those phenomena that make rugby league games so vibrant and engaging. The people around me at the DW Stadium clap the opposition team on as a matter of course. We clap the opposition coaching staff as they make their way past us to their seats and we applaud the efforts of both teams at the end of the match. Personally I also applaud any piece of good rugby regardless of whichever team produces it. Admittedly, my applause for Wigan as they take to/leave the pitch and produce good rugby is rather more animated...
In any case, having now given it some thought I suspect that it is a combination of naievety, arrogance, ill manners, immaturity and ignorance of our sport's heritage that is behind any compulsion to question the applause for the opposite team. I'm not saying that everybody who refuses to clap as the opposition take to the pitch is naive, arrogant, ill mannered, immature and ignorant of our sport's heritage. Only that there is some measure of one of more of these aspects at play within their psyche.
There is actually no harm caused by clapping our opponents. They probably don't even notice. Nor do I suspect it has any real positive effect on their performance. On the other hand, I think that when we stop clapping our opponents we are in danger of losing something of inestimable value to our game.
Besides, listen to the arguments of those who think we should stop clapping the opposition team. These are the arguments of insecurity, worry and fear. Thats not how I choose to live my life.
I think I'll keep clapping, thanks.

i agree with every word, well written sir

Excellent post

So when we drew at your place last minute, We only just managed to beat you the other week and when you were beaten by cas did you applaud the winning trys/drop goals? I honestly can't see anyone applauding the moment they realise their team has lost. when the hooter goes of course you clap the players off but in the moment the game is lost i can't believe that anyone congratulates the other team.

You, my friend. Have hit the nail on the head, far more eloquently than I ever could. Kudos to you!

I applauded the Cas try when they went the full length as it was a good try. I then mentioned our poor defensive effort.

I have also applauded several well taken goals in football. If a high level of skill is shown it deserves applause.

=#0000FFYes.
=#FF00FFYes.
And...
=#00BF00Yes.

Not hysterically, not especially enthusiastically and sometimes ruefully but in each case the answer is yes, in a spirit of respect and as an acknowledgement of the efforts in each case.

'kin ell, you're a better man than me

I clap both teams on, I don't sit and think should I or should I not? I also clap a good try scored by any team playing. Its down to the respect I have for the players. It put it all into perspective at the weekend, my son was playing in a tournament at Chorley Panthers where the air ambulance was called for an 11 year old with a head and neck injury. Thank god he was fine but watching anyone of any age play this game has my full respect.

Things i do at the games i go to:

Boo Wigan and Saints, it's more a banter thing than any form of disrespect as i have plenty of friends who support both clubs.
But i do the kind of no clap thing in which you bring your hands together which qualifies loosely as a clap.
Other clubs i applaud.

Player injuries, the initial big hit and the player is groggy looking gets a big cheer but i always hope that it's the kind of impact injury that's shaken off after about 5 mins and does no damage beyond that. Anything else and i show genuine concern, yes, even Ryan Bailey.

A fair call
When a decision goes against you, if i agree with the call i'll always say 'right call' even if the rest around me cry foul.
Same with video ref, during the big screen replay, i say 'i wouldn't give that' against my own team.

Alway clap a good try no matter what the score or who the opponent is, again i've had funny looks for this but i don't care, if it deserves it , it gets it.