Behind the scenes at Wigan Warriors ahead of the new Super League season

The prospect of spending a day behind the scenes with a Super League club is always an intriguing prospect. Interesting? Always. But a factual representation of what actually happens behind closed doors on a daily basis? Who knows.

Wigan's promise of an open-door policy with the media for 2022 is a bold one. But in terms of first impressions, the Warriors certainly left a good impression on their desire to hold up their end of the bargain. Rugby League Live spent a full day with Wigan in the run-up to the new Super League season as the press were given unique access into their daily routines, meetings and sessions.

The most important point to stress? Many of the things we saw quite possibly happen at clubs all across the country. But the access Wigan provided enabled the media - and in turn, Wigan supporters - a platform to how a professional sports club is run.

But from the moment we arrived early in the morning, Warriors coach Matty Peet laid down the foundations for how he wants things to be different. Ordinarily, club media days in pre-season go off with very little fanfare but Peet's first job of the day is to assemble the media and reiterate his promise that a strong relationship between journalists and the club is a key priority for a new-look Wigan in 2022.

They are encouraging words, but ultimately, the proof is in the pudding. Expecting to be hurried upstairs at the club's Robin Park training complex to a quieter room where the usual round of player interviews take place, we are instead thrown into the cut and thrust of the gym. Granted, it doesn't change the angle of many of the interviews, but being given access to a usually off-limits area doesn't exactly harm the feeling of trust Wigan are trying