Re: What have we learned from Aus? : Sun Feb 18, 2018 9:34 am  

Quickening wrote:

That it is getting to the stage where academy teams in the NRL could beat the best super league teams.

It really isn’t!

Hull could and probably should’ve beat a really strong St George outfit and Hull had a number of players missing. We beat Cronulla pretty convincingly last season. I also wouldn’t read anything in to that Souths game yesterday. It was every inch a friendly with us using 27 players. The starting players looked like they thought it was as pointless as I did them doing about 20 minutes before we went on to break the world record for substitutions in one game!

Of course the NRL is in front but I wouldn’t go over the top.

Re: What have we learned from Aus? : Sun Feb 18, 2018 10:45 am  

So, what have we learned from Aus?

SOME Wigan fan will always find something to moan about................

Re: What have we learned from Aus? : Sun Feb 25, 2018 11:50 am  

What we (Wigan fans) should learn from Aus is to start saving for 2020 for the next "adventure". It's almost certain to happen from what I heard when I was there.
Don't miss the opportunity it's a fabulous trip, just got back yesterday after spending the last five days in Perth.

Now that would be a great place for a RL game although much quieter than Sydney, but a fascinating place to visit.

Re: What have we learned from Aus? : Sun Feb 25, 2018 12:09 pm  

Rogues Gallery wrote:

What we (Wigan fans) should learn from Aus is to start saving for 2020 for the next "adventure". It's almost certain to happen from what I heard when I was there.
Don't miss the opportunity it's a fabulous trip, just got back yesterday after spending the last five days in Perth.

Now that would be a great place for a RL game although much quieter than Sydney, but a fascinating place to visit.

The club has banked the money from this jaunt. Now they need to focus on creating a team that is worthy of promoting the Wigan name.

Re: What have we learned from Aus? : Sun Feb 25, 2018 5:44 pm  

Rogues Gallery wrote:

What we (Wigan fans) should learn from Aus is to start saving for 2020 for the next "adventure". It's almost certain to happen from what I heard when I was there.
Don't miss the opportunity it's a fabulous trip, just got back yesterday after spending the last five days in Perth.

Now that would be a great place for a RL game although much quieter than Sydney, but a fascinating place to visit.

Brian, looks like you had a great time. Did you stay with friends or in hotels?

What would you say the budget is per person for the trip across, flights accommodation & spends?

Not interested in the official club tours as I feel they are overpriced anyway.

Re: What have we learned from Aus? : Sun Feb 25, 2018 8:14 pm  

Great publicity and I enjoyed watching the games on TV.
However Wigan, Hull and Leeds all lost their games when returning to the UK.
Coincidence? I think not.

Re: What have we learned from Aus? : Sun Feb 25, 2018 8:16 pm  

We have learnt that we will likely lose the following match after returning.

Re: What have we learned from Aus? : Sun Feb 25, 2018 10:07 pm  

MattyB wrote:

Brian, looks like you had a great time. Did you stay with friends or in hotels?

What would you say the budget is per person for the trip across, flights accommodation & spends?

Not interested in the official club tours as I feel they are overpriced anyway.

Matty we went with Catalan Sports Tours and I can’t speak highly enough of them. It appears a lot to pay out but there was a full itinerary of events, many of which included meals and drinks. We paid £2,500 each for 3 nights in Sydney, flights up to Surfers Paradise where we spent 4 nights in a 4 star hotel, flights back to Sydney and another 3 nights there befor coming home. All transfers and top priced match tickets were included. Trips included in the price were trip to Coogee Beach, watching Souths train, NRL museum, Bondi Beach with BBQ, outback Australia night (a bit like a rodeo), Australia Zoo (Steve Irwin), a catamaran cruise to Stadbrook Island (food included), Sydney Harbour RL legends cruise with 4hrs drinks and food. The speakers were Craig Fitzgibbon, Royce Simmons, Michael Maguire, Laurie Daley and Pat Richards, all hosted by Stevo!
It was fabulous and in my view great value for money. Spent about £800 but could have spent less.

I wouldn’t hesitate to go with them again! It was so well organised and the hotels were in prime locations.

Re: What have we learned from Aus? : Mon Feb 26, 2018 12:26 pm  

Bigredwarrior wrote:

Matty we went with Catalan Sports Tours and I can’t speak highly enough of them. It appears a lot to pay out but there was a full itinerary of events, many of which included meals and drinks. We paid £2,500 each for 3 nights in Sydney, flights up to Surfers Paradise where we spent 4 nights in a 4 star hotel, flights back to Sydney and another 3 nights there befor coming home. All transfers and top priced match tickets were included. Trips included in the price were trip to Coogee Beach, watching Souths train, NRL museum, Bondi Beach with BBQ, outback Australia night (a bit like a rodeo), Australia Zoo (Steve Irwin), a catamaran cruise to Stadbrook Island (food included), Sydney Harbour RL legends cruise with 4hrs drinks and food. The speakers were Craig Fitzgibbon, Royce Simmons, Michael Maguire, Laurie Daley and Pat Richards, all hosted by Stevo!
It was fabulous and in my view great value for money. Spent about £800 but could have spent less.

I wouldn’t hesitate to go with them again! It was so well organised and the hotels were in prime locations.

You lucky devil!
If your budget can stretch to the organised activities I believe that it is the best way to do it so good on you.
Couldn't make the 2014 trip or this years but will every effort to make the next "tour" as I am sure that will almost occur again.

Re: What have we learned from Aus? : Mon Feb 26, 2018 12:36 pm  

Itchy Arsenal wrote:

You lucky devil!
If your budget can stretch to the organised activities I believe that it is the best way to do it so good on you.
Couldn't make the 2014 trip or this years but will every effort to make the next "tour" as I am sure that will almost occur again.

I was very lucky indeed mate but it came with mixed emotions to be honest. My Mum died in June last year and my Dad struggled with it after being married for just short of 50 years. The trip was announced shortly after the funeral and my Dad wanted to do it as it gave him something positive to focus on so he used what little savings he had and paid for us both to go, with the ‘can’t take it with you’ attitude. It was 2 weeks of creating amazing memories with my Dad that I’ll never forget and will always appreciate. The rugby was an added bonus but I’d obviously have preferred for my Mum to still be with us. I’m sure she’d have been proud that my Dad did something meaningful though!

As I said, for any 1st timers, I’d highly recommend Catalan Sports Tours, they were spot on!