seem to remember some time ago we were linked with him coming to our coaching staff. hes just left his post as director of rugby at saracens, could he be on his way to us ?

We'll soon find out

Apparently he's returning to Japan to coach

Why is that?

TBH I hope not.

he's a consultant for suntory, the team who offered billy slater, greg inglis and karmichael hunt stupidly huge contracts.

I know how dare we want one of the most inovative coaches in world rugby to be involved in with the Wigan club.

Has he ever coached league before?

He is a student of the League game and the ARU main weapon at identifying League talent, he has his League coaching qualifications which he brought to the Super 12.

I do not think he should be head coach at the club but to dismiss his input at a first team level is idiotic.

he was pretty dismissive of league on bbc radio 5 not so long ago, saying it was in decline and that it couldn't compete with union.

Assuming he was on about RL in Aus, he's VERY VERY wrong.

Fair enough then. But is he any good at turd polishing?

Do not think we are turd, we are a quality side, in SL that are failing badly. We are not a first or second team but we are far better than we have shown for all but 1 of our performances this year.

well he was talking about the world cup and international league whixch he basically said was a joke. he said that league was confined to the m62 corridor and that club union was soon to overtake club league.

Usual Union bile then? If club union was about to overtake club league why do the majority of union clubs seem to be on their @ financially? He isn't too far from the mark regards international league though. Although hopefully the world cup was the step on a long road to getting some credibility bavk into the international game.

agree with all that.
i sent 2 questions in via email.

1-any news on andy farrell's injury?
2-dont you think there are too many clubs in and around london?

the answer to the first was short and mumbled but the second was much clearer. he said that there was a healthy number and that over-saturation wasnt an issue.
it was a bit mischievous but i couldnt resist.

After watching the NRL games today and the general level of the 6 nations i would say both competitions are superior to SL at the moment in regards skill level intensity and comittment.

are you being serious?
italy have been embarrassing. england have no ideas. scotland spend the game either playing aerial tennis or pass and drive.
ireland have been superb (except for the boreathon that was the england game at croke park). france have tried but it largely hasnt come off. wales started off well but have run out of steam somewhat.

The man is an RU man.

He would be here only for the £££.

No thanks.

I will be honest here. Wigan IMO are about 4 or 5 top players away from being able to challenge for honors consistently. I'd say you need 2 props, 2 and an impact 2nd rower. You have some top class players (Richards, TL, Hock - although his temperament and maturity leave a lot to be desired given his experience. Fekka, O'Loughlin) and some great young prospects, in Tomkins, and Ainscough but you have far too many average players (Bailey, Roberts, Ridell, Coley, Carmont - I know some Wigan fans will strongly disagree but I think his defense is shocking at times, Fielden - again some may disagree but I don't think he'll ever be the top class player he was. There are times when you can see what Wigan are trying to do in attack but they don't have the quality to execute what they want to do.

think youd find most wigan fans would agree with you on that one.




too early to make judgment on ridell and roberts for me but you're spot on with the others... except carmont. some great players have suspect defence eg brent webb

TBH honest I would expect a top international competition to be more intense than a club comp. But the regards the 6 nations and superior skill, are sure???

Even the Union die hards are forever lambasting the inferior skill on show.

Sadly Yes.

6 years ago the onfield product was improving now it is in my opinoion falling short of the previous year.

The skill, defence and pace of union has not only improved but sadly exceeded the current standard of the SL comp.