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The reason people applaud is due to sportsmanship. Something that is being forgotten due to the all-conquering might of professional soccer.

Barmy Salami wrote:

When was the last time, at Odsal, Bradford fans clapped Wigan onto the field.

Every time I've seen you play there. You're welcome.

I've always said this. It does my head in. It's not a game of chess! And we don't clap Wire, Leeds or Saints onto the pitch, as they are a threat. People only ever clap when the teams either haven't brought any fans like Catalans, London or Crusaders, or if they pose no threat and everyone feels sorry for them.

It's not down to sportsmanship in the main. Fair enough to those who clap every team every week but that wasn't the case last night. I have never seen an away side get a standing ovation coming on to the pitch. It was pure patronising sympathetic applause in the main.

Katrina wrote:

People only ever clap when the teams either haven't brought any fans like Catalans, London or Crusaders, or if they pose no threat and everyone feels sorry for them.

Got that wrong last night!! I had a good chat with a few Wigan fans in the North stand and all wished us well. I usually clap the opposing team if they put in a fantastic performance, don't tend to clap beforehand though. Been a tough few weeks though.

Ever since I first started watching the game in the early 1980s it has been customary to clap both teams as they take to the pitch, particularly at home games where, as a representative of the home club, you are acting as a host to the visiting team and its supporters. It is a simple gesture, but I think an important one. It has always been part of my experience of rugby league matches, as has applauding any good play or tries scored by the opposition team, standing respectfully for the anthems of other nations etc. These things are the foundations of our game - foundations built from sportsmanship, shared values and the sense of solidarity that helps rugby league to be a "family" game on so many different levels. These things have been fundamental to our survivial and development as a sport and I would not wish to see them slipping away from us. Rather, they are values that I believe we should be upholding and actively promoting.
I wasn't at the game last night and so I did not witness the event, but the thought that our fans gave the Bradford team and its supporters such a warm welcome, bearing in mind their club's current predicament, is one that makes me happy. They are, after all, part of our rugby league family.
What is the percieved danger of such gestures? That somehow such gallant conduct will result in our team suffering more losses? I find that to be a naive and somewhat shallow view. You could even argue that it has the slight whiff of sour grapes following Wigan's loss.

That's where the applauding after the final hooter comes into play. Why do we 'boo' Saints and Wire, when one of the biggest cheers of the night was Bradford coming onto the field.
The applause seemed sympathetic and patronising. 'Aww, here's Bradford, aren't they cute, let's all clap them.'

Does anyone in this thread really think that an applause or boo makes a jot of difference to the players?

[Wigan28/Leeds18 Andy]

Unfortunately I couldn't make the game last night as I didn't leave London until 7.30 - so thank you Bilko for the updates on Twitter.

I would have applauded the Bulls onto the field last night to not only show sympathy to the plight of the players and fans because of things completely out of their control done to their club by morons, but also to show solidarity with them.

[bewareshadows]

I can't say I've ever clapped the opposition onto the field.

If a team scores a good try then fair play I may give a quite clap and say it was a good try, but that usually falls on deaf ears. I will not always clap the opposition off, but if it's been a tough game I generally will.

I tend to clap the winners at finals, but it's got a bit much recently.