IF....


Would you be happy?
Wigan born and bred, loves the club, loved by the players

Only for the rest of the season.

YES

Agreed.

He's a good coach too.

But I'm not sure if he'd actually want the job himself. He has a good job outside Rugby yet still coaches within club.

Would he want to risk all that? If he's ever to take over at any point, I think it will be on a temporary basis.

I remember a lot of people had reservations when the late great Mike Gregory took over and look at the good job he did. He didn't have a great deal of experience (i know he was assistant at Saints and coach at Swinton) but being a Wigan lad he got through on passion. I think Wane would do the same

He would be the perfect appointment imo till the end of the season.

Noble has lost this team and the players seem disinterested/unhappy at his out of date methods and poor tactics.

At least Wayne will command the respect of the dressing room and if he can get the players playing with pride it will make our new coaches job a hell of a lot easier next season.

I don't get to watch the reserves much so I don't know how well they play. I've been told that they're head and shoulders above most, if not all, the teams in their comp but is this down to his coaching or the players available?

In an ideal world I'd love for a former Wigan player and Wigan lad to come to the coaching role and be a revelation. If he does take over and he's happy doing it then I really hope he makes a success of it, but there's nothing more sure in sport than at some point he'll get the sack.

I'd be happy but would want it to be on just a deal until the end of the season so he could proe himself.

What about Betts he has been there and done it and knows what it takes to be part of a winning Wigan mentality.

Something didn't feel right with Betts as coach for me.

He just didn't come across as a great thinker on the game.

I feat that Betts, at best, would be another Nobby - a British coach who may have the credentials but is actually pretty limited.

The last thing we want, to be honest, is another lad who 'fancies having a go at it'. We got lucky with Mike Gregory in that, even though he had relatively short experience, he proved to be a natural. Betts has already been in charge and didn't prove anything of the sort.

I still feel we need to look to a good Aussie - if we can't get a top-line NRL coach, maybe look at one of their promising assistants. We desperately need someone with modern ideas, who's trained at the highest level.

Somebody mentioned Kearney last week which i think would be a superb appointment.

He's worked under the best and coached NZ to a world cup win(with a little help from Bennett). An added bonus of having him would be that he'd possibly be able to tempt the better Kiwi players who become available to follow him to Wigan.

Wane,
No thank you.

Smashing lad who wears his heart on his sleeve,and is Wigan through and through. However, I don't think he is the right man for Wigan at this time, but could make a good number two.

I would like to see Brian Smith over here (Wayne Bennett is unfortunately out of the question)

Adrian Lam may also be worth a shout.

The World cup win was Bennett's. Despite turning over an England side who gifted them some tries with dreadful organisation, their only genuinely great performance was the final, which bore all the hallmarks of a Bennett masterclass in motivation.

I mentioned Kearney a few weeks ago and he should be top of the list imo.

Like you said he's not only been a quality player but he’s had success as both an assistant manager and a manager in his own right.

Maybe he can bring SBW with his also

The little help from Bennett remark was abit tounge in cheek but even so just for Kearney to work alongside a coach like him aswell as with Bellamy at Melbourne must have don't him the world of good.

If he's ready for a crack as a number 1 then i'd have him right near the top of any list we were making.

Why Kearney?

He was the face of the NZ team for nationalistic reasons, but anyone who thinks Wayne Bennett wasn't in charge of that team is deluded.

Of course he was in charge. He’d be stupid not to listen to Bennett but also I’m sure he’s his own man with his own ideas and I very much doubt Bennett would

Why not Kearney btw?

Tell me another person who was a top player, has worked with the two best coaches in the game today, had a key role in a GF winning set up & and has been a WC winning coach?

If that isn’t the CV of an assistant/international manager who’s gonna be given a top job soon then I don’t know what is.

But yeah lets take Lam instead who’s done………………

Agree 100% so Wane may well be a stop gap as Smith is with Newcastle until the end of the season, but would he want that given his outside of rugby responsibilities.

Lam i quite like the idea of if we also bring in a Director of Rugby at least for 2 years for him to work under.

I agree with this especially the bit in bold. Lam's name is often mentioned as a possible Wigan coach but why? I have never understood the fact quite a few people say they would love him back here as coach because I just don't see how he has had the coaching experience or success as a coach to warrant the appointment.

In a few years maybe when he has proved himself but not now.

Dave

Why do you like the idea of Lam as coach? What attributes would he bring to the job?

The fact you mention the need for a director of rugby for him to work under means you recognise he would be learning on the job at Wigan. That is the last thing we need IMO.

Dave

I wouldnt be happy at all.

We need a big name coach who will get the respect from the players.

It bugs me that the players just decided I cant be @rsed playing for this guy he is a $hit head lets get him sacked. Players who do this need be got rid of they lack the winning mentality need to meet the passion/pride of Wigan supporters. Anybody no matter who the coach or circumstances goes on the field and doesnt give 100~% to win then they are a disgrace

Like Bell, Edwards, Offiah & Botica who 'lost' the regal trophy?

Sometimes it's required if the coach is that bad imo

Id be really disapointed if he were to be given the role long term. If he steps in short term due to the sacking of Noble then fine.

I would only be happy with an expierienced Australian coach at this stage.