Wigan Warriors star Harry Smith has spoken about the infamously small in-goal areas at Old Trafford ahead of the Super League Grand Final.
It was announced earlier in the week that Rugby League Commercial and the RFL had managed to secure a deal with Manchester United to ensure that the Grand Final remains at Old Trafford until at least 2027, but it’s a very controversial venue.
Many have labelled it ‘too big’ with 2017 being the last time that a crowd of 70,000 was eclipsed and 64,102 being the largest attendance in the past five years. However, this year it does seem ticket sales are tracking beyond 65,000 with the largest crowd since 2017 expected.
The other major criticism of Old Trafford is the in-goal areas which are approximately half the size of those at most Super League grounds, followed by a sharp drop-off to the advertising hoardings.
Watch on Shots! as we preview the Super League Grand Final
Catalans’ Tom Johnstone had a nasty-looking collision in 2023 with fans airing concerns and those have been raised by TalkSport radio hosts Paul Hawksbee and Andy Jacobs, who spoke with Wigan Warriors’ Harry Smith.
Speaking about Old Trafford, they noted: “The only thing about Old Trafford I always worry about is that the in-goal area is so small. It just trails off and then it just dips down or drops down. I know rugby league players are very hard, but still.”
Harry Smith has now given his response to the controversial topic.
What Wigan Warriors star had to say about Old Trafford in-goal and facing England teammate
“Luckily I’ll probably be doing the kicking so I won’t be going for any balls when it goes near the end goal”, the Wigan Warriors’ playmaker quipped, before conceding that the club had practised differently all week in preparation.
“We have spoken about it as a team, you do have to practice that because it’s very different. Not many in-goals are that small so it’s something to think about and use to your advantage or your disadvantage.”
Hull KR had done the same with images on social media highlighting the vastly reduced in-goal area at Craven Park as the team practised.
The man tasked with kicking for the Robins will be newly-crowned Man of Steel Mikey Lewis, a player who Smith partnered in the first two Tests against Tonga in 2023.
Asked about Lewis, the Wigan Warriors man said: “He’s been brilliant, he’s my opposite number so it’s going to be a good challenge going against him. If one of us plays well, it leads to the team playing well.
“He’s a good lad. I managed to play with him at England last year. He’s a very good player and has got a bit of a story to the way he got to the professional game. So yeah, credit to him and I’m sure his family will be proud tomorrow.”
Harry Smith and all of the Wigan Warriors set-up will be proud if they can lift the Grand Final as it would mark their fourth piece of silverware this season, making Matt Peet’s side just the sixth in history to achieve the feat.
Smith conceded that it’s a prospect that has been discussed: “It’s been spoken about within the camp. After we managed to secure the League Leaders’ Shield, it was put out there and we’ve been speaking about creating history in the sport.
“Not many people get to do that, not many people get to win just one trophy so we can have our little bit of history within the game. It would be amazing.”
Wigan Warriors will take on Hull KR at Old Trafford at 6:00 pm on Saturday, 12th October.
LEN ARMSTRONG
October 12, 2024 at 9:08 am
I love the sportsmanship coming out of Wigan from Matty Peet down giving credit where it’s due to opposition not bad mouthing in speaks volumes in these days when so much is said to try to undermine others well done warriors leading the way.
P
October 12, 2024 at 10:16 am
Wigan by 12