Wigan Warriors - wiganrugbyfans.com • Re: Director of Rugby
MattyB wrote:
I'm going to try to answer my own question here. Not only do I think success on the pitch has an affect to attendances but also the players who have contributed to that success:
Exciting, talented players that put bums on seats. During our glory years we had these in abundance.
Starting off with Gill, Ferguson & Kenny.
Then Hanley, Gregory, Robinson, Offiah.
During the Maguire years we had Sam Tomkins and Charnley genuine World Class players. I also think the 'Melbourne Three' contributed to the resurgence in attendances.
Does anyone remember that challenge Cup semi final against Saints at the HJ. Still to this day probably the best atmosphere I've seen from our supporters away from home.
Farrells last minute win on Good Friday in front of a full house? You couldn't get a ticket 2 days before the game.
Now look at our squad and honestly name me a player that genuinely excites.
I'm struggling. Burgess now and again possibly? We have a few backs that can get us going now and again. But the in effectiveness of the forwards compounds this, we can't get out of our own thirty these days.
I also think the constant threat of losing good players adds to this.
Whatever it takes, Wigan have got to find a way to emulate Saints and Leeds and hang onto their star players. It always seems inevitable with us that, when a great player emerges, he won't last long.
One of the most exciting things about the mid-80s (especially, as you say, after the dismal 70s) was the way we stood and watched as a great dynasty was slowly built, more and more quality player added each year, the team getting stronger and stronger and feared ever more widely, until suddenly we were World Champions and had more stars than there were in Heaven.
It was impossible not to get caught up in the fenzy all that created, and while I know we can't have that again, I fear now that any really promising kid comes along, and we're going to lose him within a year or so. It's very deflating and gives you doubt and uncertainty rather than anticipation of great things to come. I wonder if that's behind the fall away of support in some quarters.
Statistics: Posted by Cruncher — Mon Apr 29, 2019 2:08 pm