Stay up to date with notifications from The Independent

Notifications can be managed in browser preferences.

Warriors face threat of play-off fixture clash

Dave Hadfield
Thursday 23 September 2004 00:00 BST
Comments

Super League faces a major fixture headache if Wigan and Wakefield both win their play-off matches this weekend.

Super League faces a major fixture headache if Wigan and Wakefield both win their play-off matches this weekend.

If the Warriors beat St Helens and Wakefield win at Hull, they would be due to meet at the JJB Stadium the following weekend. But Wigan cannot use the ground on the Saturday because Wigan Athletic FC, with whom they share, are at home. Leeds, who play Bradford, have already sold tickets for Friday night on the basis that they will be televised by Sky in that slot.

"It is a potential issue for us and it is the sort of thing that can happen when clubs share grounds," said the League's spokesman, John Huxley.

Leeds say that they have sold 11,000 tickets as well as providing Bradford with 5,000 and that moving the match to Saturday would be "a logistical nightmare". "We were told by the League that we would be playing on the Friday. Perhaps Wigan could play on Sunday," said their spokesman, Phil Daly.

However, that would involve Sky changing their schedules. They have received no request to do so and would not look kindly upon one at this stage.

St Helens have taken the intriguing step of registering Jamie Lyon, the Australian Test centre who is due to join them next season, so that he could, in theory, play against Wigan this Saturday. "But he won't have trained with us and everyone here is fit, so it is very unlikely that he will play," said the Saints coach, Ian Millward.

Richard Horne, who will miss Hull's game with Wakefield tomorrow with a fractured cheekbone, has agreed a two-year contract extension that will keep him with the club until after the 2008 season.

Joe Vagana has signed a new two-year contract with Bradford and Widnes have re-signed Aaron Moule for another two seasons.

Join our commenting forum

Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies

Comments

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in