Warrington

[The 4 of Us]

What’s going on. This relates to the women’s team but seems symptomatic of a malaise or cultural issues across the club?

 

[LeytherRob]

14 minutes ago, The 4 of Us said:

What’s going on. This relates to the women’s team but seems symptomatic of a malaise or cultural issues across the club?

 

The fact that Warrington haven’t even posted it to their main social channels tells you everything you need to know about the attitudes within the club towards anything that isn’t the men’s side. Expect something similar for the Wheelchair team tucked away on their foundations page in the coming weeks as the coaches and players in that team have gotten completely fed up with the lack of support.

[Archie Gordon]

I think it's symptomatic of two things: Warrington, as a club; the lack of investment/attention/consideration given to the women's game generally.

On the latter, it seems likely to get worse as - according to what passes for a strategic review - SL clubs won't be expected to run a women's team in the future. 

[Dave T]

The running of the club is more important than winning a few games here and there. There was a time when Warrington were at the forefront of a lot of good that was happening in the game over here - I don't think we can make that claim at all. 

I wonder if this counts as an operational breach in terms of grading points.

[Spidey]

Is it an option for the men’s? Get this season out of the way once and for all

[Eddie]

The fact is it’s sometimes difficult for amateur teams to raise a team. The way Women’s SL is (ie 4 teams battering the others every week) players may lose interest and then with two games to go where else will Wire get players of the required standard from?   I don’t know if that’s what happened but it seems plausible. 

[Dave T]

12 minutes ago, Spidey said:

Is it an option for the men’s? Get this season out of the way once and for all

+1

[gingerjon]

1 hour ago, Archie Gordon said:

I think it's symptomatic of two things: Warrington, as a club; the lack of investment/attention/consideration given to the women's game generally.

On the latter, it seems likely to get worse as - according to what passes for a strategic review - SL clubs won't be expected to run a women's team in the future. 

The ladies section of the game is to have its own review.

This so far seems to exist of the words, "there will be a review".

[WN83]

It's always felt to me that Warrington's owners/leaders have a massive lack of patience but that has lead to 15-20 years of big investment, without them ever getting the Grand Final trophy they're desperate for, when showing some patience would've got them one by now IMO. 

I don't know enough about their womans side to say if that's the case with them but when I look at the mens side, there is a clear blueprint for long term success, that has been laid out by Leeds, St Helens and Wigan and obviously that is to show patience and commitment to youth development. Warrington have never fully took the plunge on that. They had a fantastic academy side around 10-12 years ago IIRC but very few, if any are still with Wire. They've invested in it over the years and again have a very good academy side now but you can put all the money in the world to it and it still won't pay off if there is not enough patience with these kids and replacements keep being brought in from outside the club. 

I do sense attitudes towards that have been changing, with some really good opportunities for the likes of Lindop, Holroyd and the younger Thewlis being given out this past couple of years but it won't happen overnight and I then look at a signing like Pangai Jnr and sigh a little. To bring young players through, they need good role models/professionals, as well as good quality senior players around them but too many of the signings from outside the club are big name, quick fixes, that seem to stroke the ego of a guy like Fitzpatrick. 

They need to sit down and decide where they want to go over the next ten years IMO and realistically there are people running the club/team that aren't fit for purpose of building a successful and sustainable team/s. Those issues with the mens team in the last decade+ make me think the womans team is going to be a total after thought. 

Edited September 5, 2025 by WN83

[ELBOWSEYE]

1 hour ago, The 4 of Us said:

What’s going on. This relates to the women’s team but seems symptomatic of a malaise or cultural issues across the club?

 

They had problems with the women's but that is not across the whole club, the first team situation is well documented but despite poor form this season they played in two successive CC finals. The Acadamy is unbeaten this season, the reserves are one game away from the grand final. So not across all areas.

[daz39]

From what i have picked up talking to various people connected to the womens game Warrington never took it seriously as they solely focus on 1st team success but had to provide a team as a condition of being in Super League, they therefore packed their womens team with local community players rather than those more experienced, obviously these girls have either moved on, lost interest or gone back to the community game.

The whole womens game needs a revamp rather than just a 4 team comp every year.

[Hopie]

Women's, Men's, Wheelchair. All 3 versions of Super League have had a club fail to fulfill their fixtures this year. Not a great sign for the overall strength of the game.

[RigbyLuger]

4 minutes ago, Hopie said:

Women's, Men's, Wheelchair. All 3 versions of Super League have had a club fail to fulfill their fixtures this year. Not a great sign for the overall strength of the game.

Depends on what the reasons are behind them

[Just Browny]

2 hours ago, ELBOWSEYE said:

They had problems with the women's but that is not across the whole club, the first team situation is well documented but despite poor form this season they played in two successive CC finals. The Acadamy is unbeaten this season, the reserves are one game away from the grand final. So not across all areas.

Yep. This is a rubbish situation and it's clear that the women's team is nowhere near the top of the priority list, which is a real pity given the contribution Warrington has made to the development of other parts of the game - eg PDRL, LDRL.

I dont think it necessarily reads across to "there's a malaise across the whole club". This situation could still come about if the men's team were performing well.

[Wollo Wollo Wayoo]

With the raft of suspensions added to Hull FCs injury list Warrington should have a chance of a win next up.

[lacuna1]

On 05/09/2025 at 13:12, RigbyLuger said:

Depends on what the reasons are behind them

Salford is a case on its own though. They are going to the wall unfortunately. Happens in football too even with all that money around. 

 

The women's and wheelchair is probably down to a lack of interest, therefore a lack of money. I know a few do but how many of us are actually bothered about the women's or wheelchair game? Call me a misogynist or whatever, I'm not, I just have zero interest whatsoever and bet most rugby league fans are the same. It's like when Sky and the BBC build up women's football into something it isn't, completely over egging the pudding and trying to fool fans into thinking it's great entertainment when the fans can see that it's non league level at best and that's being generous.

[Dave T]

1 hour ago, lacuna1 said:

Salford is a case on its own though. They are going to the wall unfortunately. Happens in football too even with all that money around. 

 

The women's and wheelchair is probably down to a lack of interest, therefore a lack of money. I know a few do but how many of us are actually bothered about the women's or wheelchair game? Call me a misogynist or whatever, I'm not, I just have zero interest whatsoever and bet most rugby league fans are the same. It's like when Sky and the BBC build up women's football into something it isn't, completely over egging the pudding and trying to fool fans into thinking it's great entertainment when the fans can see that it's non league level at best and that's being generous.

It doesn't say much for our mens version of our sport then really does it? 

[RigbyLuger]

1 hour ago, lacuna1 said:

Salford is a case on its own though. They are going to the wall unfortunately. Happens in football too even with all that money around. 

 

The women's and wheelchair is probably down to a lack of interest, therefore a lack of money. I know a few do but how many of us are actually bothered about the women's or wheelchair game? Call me a misogynist or whatever, I'm not, I just have zero interest whatsoever and bet most rugby league fans are the same. It's like when Sky and the BBC build up women's football into something it isn't, completely over egging the pudding and trying to fool fans into thinking it's great entertainment when the fans can see that it's non league level at best and that's being generous.

Sky and the BBC show both womens and wheelchair RL. If the clubs don't realise there's an opportunity there, then more fool them. Not going to cost fortunes either 

[The Blues Ox]

On 05/09/2025 at 10:19, Eddie said:

The fact is it’s sometimes difficult for amateur teams to raise a team. The way Women’s SL is (ie 4 teams battering the others every week) players may lose interest and then with two games to go where else will Wire get players of the required standard from?   I don’t know if that’s what happened but it seems plausible. 

This all started before the season as a load of players left to the point that there was strong rumors that Warrington would not even have a team come the start of the season. As it were they took players from League 1 sides and although they were decent players at that level, they were a million miles off the standard required to play SL week in week out and this has resulted in a lot of injuries and players losing interest and having to promote players from their 19's team who also were nowhere near ready. To put it in to prespective, the team that Warrington have been putting out would struggle in League 1 and I feel it would be a mistake for the RFL to let them join the Championship at this point because there is no evidence that the club want to have much to do with them apart from ticking boxes.

[lacuna1]

7 hours ago, RigbyLuger said:

Sky and the BBC show both womens and wheelchair RL. If the clubs don't realise there's an opportunity there, then more fool them. Not going to cost fortunes either 

An opportunity that lose money though. It's never going to yield profits 

[Ivarr the Boneless]

I'm involved in a non league.foitball side that has a Step Four women's team. Since coming on board they have made a substantial contribution to the club.

Whilst there was some support base cross over,  a large chunk of their fans - they have pulled 1k on occasions - are new to the club. Family units with daughters are very common. This opens up sponsorship opportunities. The  current men's main sponsor is a firm who first became involved with the club via sponsoring the women. That's a substantial deal.

Sone of those who arrived at the club via women's football now also watch the men.

The women's XI also ensure the ground and club house are open, and earning, regularly on Sundays.

If you view a women's set up solely as a cost, it's almost inevitable the end product will struggle. If you back them they may just bring something surprising to the party.

Arsenal are currently reaping the rewards for taking women's football seriously, well before most other teams. Arsenal's women's team are now one of the best supported sports teams in London. There's a real chance their gates will overtake the mens RU teams this season. They've long since blown the RL sides out of the water.

 

[Eddie]

7 minutes ago, Ivarr the Boneless said:

I'm involved in a non league.foitball side that has a Step Four women's team. Since coming on board they have made a substantial contribution to the club.

Whilst there was some support base cross over,  a large chunk of their fans - they have pulled 1k on occasions - are new to the club. Family units with daughters are very common. This opens up sponsorship opportunities. The  current men's main sponsor is a firm who first became involved with the club via sponsoring the women. That's a substantial deal.

Sone of those who arrived at the club via women's football now also watch the men.

The women's XI also ensure the ground and club house are open, and earning, regularly on Sundays.

If you view a women's set up solely as a cost, it's almost inevitable the end product will struggle. If you back them they may just bring something surprising to the party.

Arsenal are currently reaping the rewards for taking women's football seriously, well before most other teams. Arsenal's women's team are now one of the best supported sports teams in London. There's a real chance their gates will overtake the mens RU teams this season. They've long since blown the RL sides out of the water.

 

Likewise at the Anglian Vipers the ladies team are as much an integral part of the club as the men, and have received more press coverage, though obviously at that level it’s not about making money. 

[Dave T]

On 05/09/2025 at 13:26, Just Browny said:

Yep. This is a rubbish situation and it's clear that the women's team is nowhere near the top of the priority list, which is a real pity given the contribution Warrington has made to the development of other parts of the game - eg PDRL, LDRL.

I dont think it necessarily reads across to "there's a malaise across the whole club". This situation could still come about if the men's team were performing well.

You make a good point, it is important that we look at the club more holistically rather than knee-jerk. Im somebody who is disappointed with the way we run as a club right now - I do find we have gone into our shell and appear to be much less progressive and forward thinking than previously, but it doesn't mean that the club is the s***show they sometimes get labelled as.

The last couple of years has seen us make Wembley twice, have one 3rd place finish (losing an unbelievably close semi final) and a rubbish 8th this year. But we have just made the reserves Grand Final and our Academy have been superb. Crowds are also holding up really well despite the feeling of treading water.

We do need to work hard on things like the Women's team, we can't let this drive the public perception of the club - do things properly or not at all.

[RigbyLuger]

5 hours ago, lacuna1 said:

An opportunity that lose money though. It's never going to yield profits 

Like the men's game then.

[the man]

For Barrow, the women's team contributed £30K profit in 2024 with income from gate receipts and sponsorship against outgoings of coach and players expenses, coach travel, medical staff. match day costs, playing kits and training wear. 

You could argue that some of the sponsors would have supported the club if there was no women's team but some specifically wanted to be associated with the women's game. There are also club costs that they would have added to , like utility bills, but this is probably offset by increases in food and beverage sales on match days.