Brad Singleton: What’s the point of Easter? Play the legends!
Photo: Ed Sykes/SWpix
Wigan prop Brad Singleton has joined calls to end the Easter double-header and believes having a retro legends game instead could appease clubs hungry for Bank Holiday ticket sales.
Players including Ryan Hall have voiced their growing concerns for the unnecessary demands on players when asked to play twice in four days and then again the following weekend.
Super League coaches are also in almost unanimous agreement that the concept is counter-productive.
And Singleton told Love Rugby League that the Easter schedule needs to be scrapped.
”Two games in four days is probably not an ideal way,” he said on this week’s Love Rugby League podcast.
“I just feel there are two versions of this. Once the fixture is made I feel like we can’t moan about it. You won’t hear me moaning.
“But the reality once we are through it is what is the point of that? The way you feel after those two games, the standard of that game and injuries for that weekend, I just don’t feel like it’s necessary.”
Time for a Retro Round?
The 29-year-old suggests there would be other workable solutions for clubs desperate to serve their fans over the holiday weekend.
He said: “Why don’t they do a retro round? Lancashire v Yorkshire with legends and I’m sure the crowd won’t be too dissimilar.
“You’d get a similar crowd for a one-off. If Sean O’Loughlin was running out at the DW again people would be paying to see it.”
Brad Singleton wants to retire at Wigan
The Ireland international wants to retire at Wigan and has set his sights on reaching 300 Super League games before he goes into coaching.
The in-form prop believes the Warriors are on to a good thing under head coach Matt Peet and is desperate to remain part of the feel-good factor at the DW Stadium.
“I’m 29 and I have got in my head – having played 180 for Leeds – if I can get to over 120 for Wigan, I’ll be happy there, to do 300 games at Leeds and Wigan,” he told the Love Rugby League podcast.
“I want to get to 34 and retire and see out my days at Wigan as it’s an incredible club. They have been fantastic and if there was a role at Wigan that would be fantastic as well.”
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