Wane: ‘Wigan going to embrace NSW tour’

Shaun Wane says Wigan Warriors are going to make the best of everything on their New South Wales tour – from warm weather training to growing the brand.

The Wigan club will make history when they take their Super League game against Hull FC to WIN Stadium on February 10 – the first ever Super League game to be played outside of Europe.

And further history will be created when Super League and NRL sides meet in a double-header as Wigan face South Sydney Rabbitohs following Hull FC’s clash with St George Illawarra Dragons at the ANZ Stadium.

And Wane admitted that the tour will be beneficial for the club in a number of ways.

He said: “Playing South Sydney and Hull in Australia – if I got offered that (when I was playing) then I would have loved to do it.

“We go over there for 18 days and the lads can get proper trained into where it is nice and warm and where the ground is firm so it is a win, win for us.

“I like travelling, I like trips away and I like challenges. When Ian (Lenagan, Wigan chairman) took the Super 8s game down to Millwall when we played Catalans – I liked that.

“I like doing different stuff and spreading the word and I know it’s tough for the Wigan fans not to get down to the DW but the chance to spread the Wigan brand and game of Rugby League is more important.”

Wigan have made a good name for themselves as opportunists in recent years, taking games London to grow the brand and of course, now, the New South Wales tour.

And Wane thinks more clubs should do stuff differently in a bid to grow the sport.

He added: “I’m only in control of what Ian and Rads (Kris Radlinski) want to do and what I want to do and it would be great if everybody looked at it that way but I don’t think they do.

“My own club are very progressive in the way they think so me and the players are going to embrace it.

“We are going to go over there to try and win two games and get us off to a good start.”