Andy Mazey: Wigan are the blueprint

Rochdale Hornets chairman Andy Mazey has spoken in glowing terms of the club’s Betfred Challenge Cup opponents Wigan Warriors ahead of the forthcoming and eagerly-anticipated third round tie at the Crown Oil Arena on Sunday 8 February.

Wigan, 21-time winners of the Challenge Cup, will face the Hornets this coming weekend as they begin their latest quest for silverware against a Hornets side boasting an unbeaten start to 2026.

Mazey said: “Wigan are a case study in being sustainable, present in your community and doing things the right way. 

“Obviously, the Hornets have never hit the same heights, however parallels can be drawn between us as two metropolitan boroughs similar in size, sharing similar industrial histories, both located on the periphery of Manchester, and both are traditional strongholds of rugby league.”

Rochdale AFC are pushing for a return to the Football League under the Ogden family’s ownership, and with the Hornets’ recent elevation to rugby league's second tier, Mazey believes it's time to start talking up sport in Rochdale, using Wigan as a shining example.

Mazey continued: “They are fortunate to have a Wigan-born billionaire in Mike Danson at the helm who now owns both of Wigan’s professional sports clubs. 

“Mike is doing a fantastic job and has clearly recognised the benefits of a collaborative approach from a multi-sports angle and a wider community and social impact perspective. 

“It's a blueprint that I can only see going from strength to strength, while delivering ever-increasing social value to the community.”

Mazey also expressed his admiration and respect for Wigan Warriors chief executive Kris Radlinski, who as a player scored a hat-trick in a 34-12 Wigan victory against the Hornets back in December 1994.

Mazey explained: “The player, the business leader, the human being - Kris is top draw. 

“He’s someone I have the greatest of respect and admiration for, having transitioned seamlessly from being a household name and world-class athlete into business leadership. He is one of the finest operators in our sport today. 

“I'm fortunate enough to know Kris well from my time prior to arriving in Rochdale and we have maintained a fantastic relationship ever since. 

“Kris has reached out personally on many occasions, offering support when times have been tough here. That’s a caring and compassionate side of Kris that people don’t see: he's a humble man, and I look forward to welcoming him and his team to Rochdale.”

The buzz around the imminent arrival in Rochdale for the first time in decades of the current World Club Champions is intensifying day-by-day, with tickets selling fast. 

There are past links between the clubs, with a number of high profile players have featured for both down the years, including Henderson Gill, Martin Hall, Neil Cowie and Danny Sculthorpe.

Mazey believes it's a moment-in-time opportunity to engage new people with the sport and hopefully re-engage lapsed supporters of the club.

He added: “Hosting the undisputed stellar name and brand in our sport is more than just 80 minutes of rugby league to us. 

“We are treating this as a sporting event for the whole of Rochdale to embrace, and an unmissable opportunity to put on a matchday experience, the likes of which have not been seen or done before. 

“We are fully invested in putting on a show, and with the help of Kris and his team over at Wigan, we are going into marketing overdrive in the final week and days leading into the game.”

Kris Radlinski, chief executive of Wigan Warriors, said: “Representing Wigan Warriors and the Betfred Challenge Cup in this week's game at Rochdale Hornets is something that we look forward to, and also fully understand the responsibility which comes with that. 

“Both clubs - and this famous competition - have played an important role in so many people’s lives, and that genuinely matters. We will travel to Rochdale with humility, and as a professional club we will ensure Rochdale Hornets are shown the respect they deserve - recognising their history, valuing their people, and celebrating everything they have achieved, and continue to achieve. 

“I’m really looking forward to spending time in hospitality with Andy Mazey and his guests, and above all, I’m looking forward to what I hope will be a good game of rugby league, played in the spirit that our sport continues to represent at its very best.”