We'll play anywhere, says prop Joe Bullock

That’s the view of prop Joe Bullock as he counts down the days until he can start playing again.

The first full round of fixtures is expected to take place in mid-August, with the early batch of games held behind-closed-doors - and likely at two or three grounds.

Leeds’ Headingley, Warrington’s HJ Stadium and St Helens’ Totally Wicked Stadium have been suggested as possible venues to stage the restart matches, to reduce costs and ease the logistics of returning to play safely following the coronavirus pandemic.

Warriors coach Adrian Lam has already called for organisers to consider how many games the host clubs play at their own grounds.

But with no fans back until at least September, Bullock has questioned whether anyone will have home advantage.

“I don’t think it will matter. It’s just a pitch - if it was at Aspull Rugby Union it doesn’t matter,” he said.

“The main thing which gives you home advantage is the crowd, and that won’t be there.

“The other thing is if there’s something about the ground - the slope at Batley, the shortened pitch at Cas’ - that would be an advantage for those teams playing there, because they’re used to it.

“But if it’s on a full-size pitch, Wigan or Hull or Aspull Rugby Union, it doesn’t matter where.”

Bullock impressed many in his first season with Wigan last year, after making the step up from part-time rugby with Barrow.

Since the season was paused in mid-March he has trained to make the most of the time off.

“I’ve become a self-qualified DIY man, learning skills I never knew I had,” he smiled. “I’ve kept as busy as I can and trying to keep as motivated as I can.

“The first few weeks I was fine, I enjoyed the time off because we don’t normally get so much time off, and obviously not in the summer.

“I’ve been doing a lot in the garden and I even made a weights bench out of some flags, I’ve been training quite a bit.

“It feels like we won’t be far away until we’re back at it.”