Quick question, Has any other British SL coach had as much experience at coaching at any level before being given a shot at the first team? I can only think of Nobby, but not sure how long he spent learning the trade before hand.

Ive not a clue, but how many British SL coaches (apart from Nobby) have been successful?

Answers on a postage stamp?

I think Wane will be a great head coach, I just wish he had a couple more years as an Asst first. Even just the 3rd year with Madge would have been enough imo.

That in my opinion is why most English coaches fail. IIRC Maguire worked his way up, didn't he do conditioning coaching as well? I think he was 5 years as an assisstant.

I believe Wane will make an outstanding Wigan coach but i would like him to do at least 2 more years as assisstant first.

That in my opinion is why most English coaches fail. IIRC Maguire worked his way up, didn't he do conditioning coaching as well? I think he was 5 years as an assisstant.

I believe Wane will make an outstanding Wigan coach but i would like him to do at least 2 more years as assisstant first.

We may learn more about the Madge situation after tonight's match according to Andy Wilson from the Guardian...

Think thats what a lot of the aussie press have been hinting towards as well.

Was told he had big falling out with IL two weeks ago.

Heard anything like this?

If there's anything that casts Wigan/IL/Madge in a bad light, that git will find it.

You never know what goes on behind the scenes, maybe Wane and IL have had that conversation, maybe Wane has thrown his keys into the basket.

Personally, like many others, I'd be happy with Wane as head coach, I think he's fully deserving of his shot at the 'big time'

God I love being right

Yeah cos I'm pretty sure you are the only one who ever thought that would happen weren't you.

Five years he served.

Wane might have been excellent with the academy/reserves, but with just two years experience as an assistant at Super League level I think he is a little under prepared. I would hope Wane can be honest with himself (and Wigan) and be straight with Ian Lenagan if he feels he is not experienced enough for the job. He may feel he is ready for the job, but personally I would like to see him serve under another top Australian coach for a few more years before he gets the job. Tim Sheens on a three year deal with Shaun Wane as assistant for example.

The coaching job is the number one priority for us, but Ian Lenagan has a busy year ahead of him. With Martin Gleeson gone, George Carmont, Ryan Hoffman, Andy Coley and Paul Deacon all set to leave, we really need to sign some experienced players.

We definitely need to sign an experienced centre for me. A halfback should be on the cards with Leuluai moving to hooker and possibly another forward.

New coach

Centre
Prop
Halfback

No pressure Ian

Reading some of the comments saying 'Maguire won't be leaving us, he still has a job to do/loves Wigan/wants to see the third optional year out blah blah blah' might suggest that a lot of people thought he wouldnt be going.


Lets be honest he was only ever going to coach a superleague club until an NRL side wanted him as head coach.

Same as Nathan Brown. If the Dragons wanted him back (or any other club) he would go in an instant.

Poor old PHIPPS believes in his own publicity.
South were not the first offer he had!
Most of RL knows this so why doesn't PHIPPS?

I know a few of us fans are worried about Wigan possibly losing a lot of experienced players next year. Personally I'd let Deacon retire, as once Finch has fully settled in he'll provide us with the things Deacon currently does. I'd love to keep Carmont, particularly seeing as we've lost Gleeson at least a year earlier than we should have. Coley although he's been a great player I'd let him retire. We'd still have experience in the frontrow provided by Fielden and Lima, plus Prescott can hardly be called inexperienced. Again I'd love us to keep Hoffman but we'll have to wait and see on that one.

I really don't see us signing many for next year, possibly 1 or a maximum of two.

Frontrow:
Fielden
Lima
Prescott
Mossop
Hock
Crosby
Davies

Backrow:
Lockers
Joel? Possibly in the centres next year?
Hoffman?
Farrel
Hansen
Tuson

Halves and Hookers:
Sam? Could still be at FB next year.
Finch
Leuluai
McIlorum
Mellor
Powell

Threequarters:
Pat
Goulding
Roberts
Marsh
Charnley
Pryce?
King
Russell

Looking at the above the only signing I'd make would be a centre. That would allow Joel to remain the backrow. Because to potentially lose Hoffman from the secondrow and Joel to the centre's leaves us light in that position for mine. As for everywhere else we've plenty of options open to us. Particularly when we want to start integrating some of the youngsters knocking on the door of the first team. Such as the likes of King, Crosby and Mellor.

Ryan Hoffman will leave. We accepted this when we signed him. We have to be realistic and accept he will leave. If Joel moves to the centres and Hoffman leaves it does put us light in the back row. Lockers will play at loose forward leaving just Harrison Hansen, Liam Farrell and Chris Tuson. Very short of numbers and very inexperienced. Against bigger, more experienced packs they'll get crushed - i.e Warrington. Of course Hock coming back does add some more weight to the pack, but I wouldn't want to put all my eggs in one basket - especially with Gareth Hock.

At halfback and hookers we are short depending on how we lineup. If Sam plays at fullback then it leaves us short. Mike McIlorum is not effective enough as an 80 minute hooker. I think he will be spelled with Thomas Leuluai. This just leaves Brett Finch. Joe Mellor and Sam Powell have only played a handful of Super League games between them. Too inexperienced. We could really do with Amos Roberts firing at fullback so Sam can revert back to halfback with Brett Finch.

I agree with your last paragraph. A top draw centre signing would be fantastic. Keep Joel in the back row as we are most likely going to lose Ryan Hoffman. Keep the pack nice and strong. I can't think of any ideal English centre that we can look for. I think we will have to move overseas. Justin Hodges or Matt Cooper springs to mind.

I'm not going to give up all hope in Hoffman staying. After all he did sign a deal with an option for a second year, and he does appear in interviews to be really enjoying his time over here. Were totally in agreement over signing a new centre. If we could get a Hodges or a Cooper to replace Carmont then brilliant, but it would be tough with the NRL's ever increasing salary cap though. Charnley has to get other centre spot for next year for me, he was superb again last night. All that would allow Joel to remain in the backrow, possibly to compensate for the loss of Hoffman( but I hope not).

In regards to the halves. Personally I'd like to see Sam and finch at 6 and 7 with Tommy and McIlorum sharing 9. Leuluai was excellent last night out of dummyhalf. Hopefully Madge noticed that to and will stick him there permanently. As for FB although I think it's unlikely to happen I'd like to see Russell there. Every time I've managed to get to the under 20's he's looked good, very pacy and elusive.

hoffman 3yrs at melbourne.....maybe..just maybe damiel anderson at the helm at the DW next year...

I'd move Joel back to the 2nd row as that'shis best position and one where he could have the world at his feet.

Add to that there are plenty of centre's out there for next season.

Ivan Henjak to coach Wigan next year

Discount Lockyer coming to Wigan then!

Available and has received fair praise from Bennett.

Top quality NRL centre with Charnley given the other.
A scrum half to allow Tommy/Micky to play 9
A back rower to replace Hoffman if he goes

We dont need anymore than that, as long as the structures and staff Madge has put in place remain, we will be okay.

Full back to replace Sam (Sam back to halfback role) hopefully Matt Bowen
Centre to replace Gleeson, Richard Whiting or Kris Welham maybe?
Prop to replace Coley, big Samoan or Tongan??
Hock to replace O'Carroll