'Like a Magic Weekend in a ghost town': Inside the venue for Wigan Warriors' restart

Willie Isa shares a joke with an official before kick-off

"Good set boys," barked Zak Hardaker to his team-mates. "Now defend. DEFEND."

Wigan restarted their Super League campaign in the same yellow kit as their last outing - at Salford five months earlier - but in very different circumstances.

Three matches at one venue on the same day. But with no fans. Like Magic Weekend had been moved to a ghost-town.

The sound of every collision echoed around the empty Headingley stadium. Players could be heard talking to each other, congratulating each other, motivating each other - with Hardaker just one of the dominant voices.

In the silent spells, you wonder if the players could hear Terry O'Connor's booming voice from his commentary position.

The artificial crowd noise on TV - while helping you forget about the restrictions - masks the surreal, echoey atmosphere inside Headingley.

There was still music after tries - AC/DC's Highway to Hell, so no complaints there - and a man on the loud-speaker confirming the scorers.

But the absence of fans made this feel like a team run - a very physical team run.

And it wasn't just the atmosphere which was different.

Officials, staff and media had to fill in an online health questionnaire on the morning of the game... having already completed a quiz on Covid-19.

They had their temperature checked before being allowed into the venue's new South Stand. The concourse was deserted, the bars closed. Everyone was told to keep on their mask until they were in their seats... socially-distanced, of course. It was good to see some reporters back from spells on furlough, though there were no handshakes, not even elbow bumps.

And after the matches, even the press conferences were done via Zoom links.

This was a big step back towards normality, albeit a new normal. And it will be this way for the next three weeks - two Super League rounds sandwiching Challenge Cup sixth-round ties - with officials waiting to see if limited crowds will be allowed back from September.

It was good to be back. Even if was very, very different.