THE commercial staff at the Reebok clicked swiftly back into gear when the Australian Rugby League announced they would be coming to Britain after all.

Only a week earlier they were told months of planning had been in vain as the Aussies pulled out of the Ashes Tour because of the worldwide security situation.

The second of the three-match Test series was to have been at the Reebok on November 17 and Wanderers were counting the cost, not only financially but prestige wise.

Now the tour and the Test is back on - in its shortened version - they could be quids in.

"The fact that the Australians will only be playing the three Test matches and not the club games as they had originally planned makes the event even more mouthwatering," Wanderers' commercial director, Gareth Moores, said.

"People will only be able to see the Aussies play at Huddersfield, here at the Reebok or at Wigan."

Wanderers were kept informed of developments as British RL officials worked behind the scenes to rescue the tour, knowing they could not influence the decision but hoping a compromise could be reached.

"It was not for Bolton Wanderers to dictate or determine what the rugby league authorities decided," Mr Moores explained. "When we heard the tour was cancelled we had conversations with the Rugby League and knew they were redoubling their efforts to try to persuade the Australian authorities to change their mind. There was also talk of getting New Zealand to bring their tour forward a year.

"We didn't cancel anything. We kept everyone on standby and we're delighted it's back on.

"It's important the Reebok Stadium continues to be seen as a venue for more than just football. It's important for the club to be generating revenue 365 days a year and rugby league represents an important income stream for us."