Frank Endacott believes he has got Wigan’s feet back on the ground after what many who were there, are calling the best and most exciting rugby league match they have ever seen.
The last-second victory over Bradford last Sunday left a sense of euphoria, “but the elation only lasts 24-hours and then it’s back to reality,” said the Wigan coach.That reality tomorrow consists of a Warrington side out of play-off contention, but still with the ability to be awkward spoilers.”They’ve got nothing to lose, but that’s when they’re most dangerous,” Endacott said.Wigan will be paying particular attention to Allan Langer, whose first season at Warrington might have been a disappointment in terms of results, but who still commands great respect.”You can still see the brain working, even if maybe the legs aren’t,” said Endacott. “They would have won only half the amount of games they have without him.”Endacott is likely to use Tony Smith from the bench again as a substitute hooker, after the success of that ploy against Bradford. Warrington have their own regular hooker back now that Danny Farrar is fit again.Victory would keep Wigan at the top of Super League, which with the play-offs now looming, carries obvious advantages in a week off and a subsequent home draw.”There’s still a lot of work to do, but if we win our matches, we stay top,” said Endacott.Bradford’s recuperation is at a ground where they have had recent problems. They dropped a point in a stormy 20-20 draw with Halifax at the Shay just four weeks ago, a match that ended with Robbie Paul in hospital with two broken ribs and a punctured lung.With perfect timing, the player who was suspended for using his knees in the tackle which injured Paul, Andy Hobson, returns for this game and Halifax’s self-declared policy of roughing-up the opposition is sure to give Bradford another test.They should not expect any luxury at the partly rebuilt Shay; Stuart Raper, whose Castleford side was beaten their last week, described the facilities as “pathetic”.Castleford play host tomorrow to the London Broncos, in their first match since the sacking of John Monie.

Tony Rea, the chief executive who has taken over as coach for the last three games of the season, cannot make many changes from a depleted squad, although Dom Peters is fit to replace Rob Smyth, who damaged a knee in training, on the wing.Victory for Cas would make it mathematically certain that they will be in the play-offs, thus putting Hull, who are at Salford, out without any lingering doubt of advancement. Wakefield, who are expected to enter into a voluntary agreement with their creditors next week, are at Huddersfield/ Sheffield.. Leicester are used to being first in rugby, writes David Llewellyn. They won the inaugural Courage League in 1988, and they were also ahead of Bath in winning a hat-trick of Cup finals, so it should come as no surprise that they have recorded another first. Leicester are used to being first in rugby, writes David Llewellyn. They won the inaugural Courage League in 1988, and they were also ahead of Bath in winning a hat-trick of Cup finals, so it should come as no surprise that they have recorded another first.
Chairman Peter Tom yesterday announced that the Tigers have made a pre-tax profit in the financial year to 30 June 2000.

“This is the first time that any Premiership club has recorded a profit in the new era of professional rugby,” Tom said.The balance sheet revealed a 12 per cent increase in turnover to £5m, and Tom explained: “This increase in turnover reflects the strong and continuing growth of our supporter base and the increase in income from sponsorship and commercial activities.”The Tigers’ famed following now numbers some 10,000 season ticket holders and average attendances at league matches in the period covered by the accounts were 11,700.The sponsorship and commercial side has increased 18 per cent to £2.6m, and operating costs have been cut by £1.16m.. The best way that Gloucester can regard their first Zurich Premiership visit to Rotherham would be to view Clifton Lane as a home from home. The Cherry and Whites can certainly expect the same sort of reception from the Rotherham equivalent that visitors to Kingsholm receive from the notorious ‘Shed’. The best way that Gloucester can regard their first Zurich Premiership visit to Rotherham would be to view Clifton Lane as a home from home. The Cherry and Whites can certainly expect the same sort of reception from the Rotherham equivalent that visitors to Kingsholm receive from the notorious ‘Shed’.
Rotherham fear few, if any. Bedford went there at the end of last season as a Premiership One club, they left it as second class citizens, relegated after failing to better the Yorkshire club’s points aggregate over the two legs of the play-off.Gloucester arrive there today in a similar situation to Rotherham Two games, two defeats. But where Rotherham have finally been able to field key players for this match, Philippe Saint-André, the Gloucester coach, has a team’s worth of players on the casualty list.His problems were exacerbated further when Jawad Djoudi, their Moroccan international hooker, was banned for 10 weeks last Wednesday for a head-butt on Saracens wing, Darragh O’Mahony.Saint-André, while accepting Djoudi’s punishment as something the player deserved, still feels the suspension punishes the club more than the individual.

He has fined Djoudi around £1,000 for the moment of madness.And, by a neat twist of irony Saint André, the former France international wing, has managed to persuade Saracens to part temporarily with one of their hookers, Marek Kwisiuk, to provide cover for the middle of the front row, since Chris Fortey is injured.At least Andy Gomarsall, signed from Bedford over the summer, finally makes his debut for Gloucester, after injury forced him to miss the play-offs. His aggression and experience will provide some threat from behind the scrum, but this one promises to be close.”We are expecting a very physical, very tough match,” said Saint-André.”This game at Rotherham will be a real war and it is a match we must win, but we know it is going to be very hard.”Last year we started so well, but this season it has not been good We have anything from 14 to 17 on the injury list. But we have also been playing good rugby, particularly for 35 minutes against Saracens.”Unfortunately that was a match which saw Gloucester concede 50 points. And Saint-André, having watched Rotherham run Bristol desperately close in the first match of the season, was impressed by what he saw of the Premiership newcomers “They displayed a good spirit and they have a lot of pride. We will not be able to let up for 80 minutes, maybe 85 even.”For their part, Rotherham are pleased with their start overall.