'Huge for us' - Rochdale Hornets gain financial boost from Wigan Warriors tie as coach hails record crowd
Rochdale Hornets may have suffered a blowout 83-0 defeat to Super League heavyweights Wigan Warriors on Sunday afternoon, but coach Gary Thornton was quick to stress that the Challenge Cup third-round clash was about far more than the scoreline.
With a crowd of 4,248 packing into the Crown Oil Arena – the club’s biggest home attendance since 1998 – the occasion represented a major financial and commercial boost that could help shape the Hornets’ future.
Thornton admitted the gate receipts from such a glamour tie are invaluable for a semi-professional Championship club that continues to battle financial pressures. With Rochdale taking the full takings from the match, the benefits will be felt well beyond a single afternoon.
“It’s huge for us, it really is,” Thornton said. “It’s massive for Andy (Mazey, chairman), Jason (Wilson, director), Craig (Fisher, foundation manager) and Carl Halstead (director).
"It’s a huge benefit for us, and it sets us up for a couple of years, I guess now. We do struggle financially as a club, and if we could have days like this every season, it would be a different scenario.”
From a commercial perspective, the visit of Wigan – one of the most successful and recognisable brands in the British game – delivered exactly what Rochdale had hoped for when the draw was made. Thornton revealed the build-up had been weeks in the making, ever since the Hornets’ cup victory over amateurs Waterhead Warriors in the second round.
“As soon as we knew we’d beaten Waterhead and we got Wigan in the Cup, it was always going to be gearing towards this,” he added. “A massive success from the club’s point of view. A shame about the scoreline, but it is what it is.”
Thornton was also keen to thank the home support, noting the strong contingent of Rochdale fans who turned out to witness the occasion, saying their backing underlines the importance of high-profile fixtures in re-engaging the local community and generating renewed interest in the club.
On the field, the gulf between part-time Rochdale and full-time Wigan was stark, with the Warriors running in 15 tries in a ruthless display. Yet Thornton was gracious in defeat, offering glowing praise for a Wigan side he believes will trouble many Super League opponents this season.
“When you see them up close and in the flesh, what a side,” he said. “They are a really good team, aren’t they? They will turn a lot of Super League sides over this year. I’m not saying they will score as many points as they have today, but certainly they’ve built a really good squad of players.”
Despite the one-sided nature of the contest, Thornton heaped praise on his part-time players for their resilience and commitment over the full 80 minutes.
“It’s a gulf in talent,” he acknowledged. “They’re full-time professionals, and their decision-making and skill levels are so much higher. But I said to my boys afterwards that they didn’t give in. They didn’t throw the towel in or raise the white flag. From an effort point of view, I thought our lads were outstanding.”
The Challenge Cup run may be over for Rochdale, but the impact of hosting Wigan could be felt for years.