Went to my first live match ever last night - Wigan v Leeds

Impressions:

Absolutely no sense of tension or impending violence;
Went to the loos and did not risk cancer or getting off my head;
Great selection (for me) of 80s music;
Took my (very nice) pint to my seat to enjoy while I watched the game;
Nearly spilt my pint when the very impressive firework display set off;
Ball seemed to be in play for the entire game which is very unusual;
Not one dive on the pitch;
No arguing with the ref;
My adopted team won (as nobody likes Leeds)

All in all, an enjoyable experience, but with no emotional investment not a patch on the Turf obviously!

That's 1 more than I've ever been to.

Yer i have never been to a rugby league either

Tribesmen wrote: ↑

Sat Sep 20, 2025 1:23 pm

Yer i have never been to a rugby league either

I've never been to a game in either code.

Did you wear your shiny brown shoes and bootcut jeans with a gilet?

sjb wrote: ↑

Sat Sep 20, 2025 1:30 pm

I've never been to a game in either code.

Ok , there are times when you should be open to what you see sport wise , but the only thing i am upset with is i never went to an American basketball game ( NBA ) as did the 3 other major sports in the US

To be fair it was a dead rubber of a match. Nothing to play for. Both teams resting players ready for the playoffs.

If you want a real RL match, in two weeks time it will fingers crossed be Wigan vs Leigh for a place at Old Trafford.

Tribesmen wrote: ↑

Sat Sep 20, 2025 1:37 pm

Ok , there are times when you should be open to what you see sport wise , but the only thing i am upset with is i never went to an American basketball game ( NBA ) as did the 3 other major sports in the US

I'll stick to football & cricket thanks. American sports hold no interest for me whatsoever. Each to their own.

The only negative being that you had to watch rugby.

CaptainKirk wrote: ↑

Sat Sep 20, 2025 1:14 pm

Went to my first live match ever last night - Wigan v Leeds

Impressions:

Absolutely no sense of tension or impending violence;
Went to the loos and did not risk cancer or getting off my head;
Great selection (for me) of 80s music;
Took my (very nice) pint to my seat to enjoy while I watched the game;
Nearly spilt my pint when the very impressive firework display set off;
Ball seemed to be in play for the entire game which is very unusual;
Not one dive on the pitch;
No arguing with the ref;
My adopted team won (as nobody likes Leeds)

All in all, an enjoyable experience, but with no emotional investment not a patch on the Turf obviously!

I've been to a few Wigan games and always enjoy them. Is it still the same announcer bloke as at the Turf? He's far more suited to the razzmatazz of rugby league.

I’ve been to watch it a few times.


Absolutely crap

Inchy wrote: ↑

Sat Sep 20, 2025 2:45 pm

I’ve been to watch it a few times.


Absolutely crap

And Rugby fans will tell you the same of football and that it is full of ars@@les and idiot supporters…

Went to watch Wigan once in the grand final at OT. Excellent day, what impressed me most was the speed of the game live. I'd seen it on the tv a few times, but live, it was electric.

Bow wrote: ↑

Sat Sep 20, 2025 1:30 pm

Did you wear your shiny brown shoes and bootcut jeans with a gilet?

Doubtful, it was league, not union

Been once.
Seems like a war of attrition.
No cheating, however.

Off to Everton for the England v Australia test in November. Top level RL is a great sport to watch.

I’m also off to Everton’s ground for the test and love rugby league generally. Watch quite a few games live …this season been to St Helens, Wakefield, Oldham, Keighley and Perpignan (CatalansDragons).
As has been pointed out the game at Wigan last night was a dead rubber but the end of season play offs start next week and you’ll see games with much more intensity and crowd passion. I know Wakefield have already sold out the away end at Leigh next Friday night.
For me RL is a great second sport to follow, especially as it rubs through summer when there are no Burnley games. It’s a kind of sub-culture running along the M62 corridor and has a healthy disregard for the posher aspects of Rugby Union’s fan base.

sjb wrote: ↑

Sat Sep 20, 2025 1:18 pm

That's 1 more than I've ever been to.

It's one more than I will ever go to.

I've not been to a match in either code but I do marginally prefer Union to League (enjoy watching the 6 nations) but I wouldn't call myself a fan of either.
I've tried watching a League game and it just comes across as a war of attrition. A glorified game of British Bulldogs with one line of blokes trying to get past another and when they can't they kick it and the other team gets a go. Not for me. Just dull and repetitive. At least Union sort of flows.
NFL is similar in that respect but it has a lot more tactical nuance and variance to it and I have been to an NFL game.

Due to family connections I watched Salford at The Willows many times back in the late 70's and early 80's and have seen them at the new ground more recently too. I've also been to several other away grounds watching them. As was well discussed on another recent(ish) thread what's happened there this season has been appalling and catastrophic and last night fans even vented their frustration with a spontaneous pitch invasion which is very un RL like!

I went to Leeds v Wigan a few years ago, an entertaining evening and a pleasant atmosphere. No interest in who won but Rugby League is easy to follow and pick up. Never watched the public schoolboy code.

I’d say that going to watch a game of RL live can completely change someone’s view of the game. The commitment and athleticism of the players is immense. The game is very fast-paced and, as per the OP, the ball is in play pretty much continuously. There’s usually a very good relationship between players and fans in evidence .

Stalbansclaret wrote: ↑

Sat Sep 20, 2025 10:28 pm

I’d say that going to watch a game of RL live can completely change someone’s view of the game. The commitment and athleticism of the players is immense. The game is very fast-paced and, as per the OP, the ball is in play pretty much continuously. There’s usually a very good relationship between players and fans in evidence .

Yes,I'd go as far too say it's much better to watch than this premier league crap St Albans. Only time I watch football nowadays is when the Clarets are playing otherwise it's superleague for me. 100% committed and no quarter given. Looking forward to the play offs. Come on you Warriors.

As I'm in Australia nowadays, I've watched a few live NRL games. Fantastic game. Pace, strength and skill way ahead of Rugby League in England.

robinoz wrote: ↑

Sun Sep 21, 2025 6:52 am

As I'm in Australia nowadays, I've watched a few live NRL games. Fantastic game. Pace, strength and skill way ahead of Rugby League in England.

The Panthers were great today, they pulverised Canterbury.

Bow wrote: ↑

Sat Sep 20, 2025 1:30 pm

Did you wear your shiny brown shoes and bootcut jeans with a gilet?

Wrong code I think !

Following the thread title - rather than the subsequent posts - the first rugby game I paid to watch was the British and Irish Lions v. The Barbarians in 1977. ( yes - I am that old).
The Lions had just returned from a successful tour of New Zealand, and played the invitation Barbadians side as a fund raiser for the Queens Silver Jubilee.
The game was dismissed in some quarters as a meaningless exhibition match, but I was so pleased to see players of the calibre of Gareth Edwards, Phil Bennett, JPR Williams,Bill Beaumont, Willie Duggan and Jean Pierre Rives.
Maybe not quite up there with CT at Live Aid, but a very special sporting event as far as I’m concerned.

UTC.

Lip wrote: ↑

Sun Sep 21, 2025 12:46 pm

The Panthers were great today, they pulverised Canterbury.

Next weeks semi in Brisbane, Broncos vs Panthers should be an absolute belter. Can’t wait for it.

I’ve been to a few over the years, by comparison to the football the whole experience is much more relaxed, you can mix with the opposition and have. a laugh with them. It’s funny when you see a six foot something player not answering back to a five foot something referee, with all the players respecting the referee. For anyone that’s thinking of going for the first time just do it, you might end up wanting to go back for more.