I was excited for Adrian Lam as he said all the right things, look how that turned out

I was really impressed with the interviews on Wigan TV. Wane’s role sounds perfect for him, Peet has a lot more experience than I thought and served his apprenticeship. Briers will bring different ideas and something new and SOL is a legend and by the sound of it going about things the right way.

I’m not saying we’ll go and steamroller the competition but I’m quite excited for next season and expect significant improvements from this year.

Did he though? I’m not sure promising people the moon on a stick was the right thing to do. Coming in after a period of us being coached to multiple trophies by one of the best in our history and taking over a champion team and claiming you’ll do things bigger, better and get us playing rugby league the 1982 Australian invincible’s couldn’t have matched sounded fabulous but was it the right thing? I don’t think it was.

Peet struck a great balance between being ambitious and optimistic about what we could do but was also realistic and made sure everyone knew it would be hard work first that would bring wins and that it would be nice to do that by playing good rugby. I felt a lot more assured about how he’ll go after yesterday’s press conference than I did before.

It'll be interesting to see how the Peet/Wane dynamic plays out over time. There was an interesting moment in Wane's interview where he said I'm just here to give advice...unless I feel really strongly about something.

True but then again, why would you not listen to him? Ultimately the final decision is Peet’s and Peets alone but he’d be a fool not to listen to Wane - even if he didn’t do what he was advised. Peet strikes me as a strong character, I don’t think there’ll be many, if any, issues. Heated debates maybe but ultimately I’d rather that than a what we had under Lam.

The same level of euphonic response by some supporters is no different to that of three seasons ago when Lam succeeded Wane as Head Coach.

However, many other supporters will be disappointed that a more experienced and proven successful Rugby League Head Coach has not been appointed, especially one from down under.

But, I supposed with the present poor financial state of the club, beggars cannot be choosers!

Guess I'm not quite convinced of that - I know its being sold as such but Wane won't have taken the role without significant influence. As I said in an earlier post there will need to be clear boundaries established in order for this to work.

100% and I guess it depends on the situation and what the job roles are.

So you're effectively saying that all coaches are the same? If the squad was the best in the world it wouldn't matter who we brought in as well then?

You claimed Peet is coaching with one arm behind his back not me.

If Peet is coaching with one arm behind his back would the Penrith fella whose name I can't even remember not be as well?


Edit - Of course different coaches can get different things out of the same squad (see Noble v Madge and Wane v Lam) but how do you know that Peet can't/won't inspire this squad and some Aussie fella will? Not every Aussie coach comes here and rips it up BTW.

I'll ask again but I'll word it differently......

If you were interviewing Matty Peet for the head coaches role and saw his CV, what part of it would mean you don't take him but would take another assistant coach? Forget that he is from Wigan, Australia, Timbucktoo etc etc....focus solely on his CV and tell me why you wouldn't/don't want him?

He is daft, but he's not stupid, of course he's not saying that.

I'll have a guess at what he's saying (in his usual sarcastic way).

The same people who are criticising the coaching appointments will be, in the main, the same people criticising the squad, the same people criticising Shaun Wane 4/5 years ago and the same people criticising IL/KR for the last 10 years etc.

To sum it up
I think he's saying it doesn't matter what they do theyll be criticised by the same people.

We all know coaching matters, and ultimately Adrian Lam has failed to get IMO 75% of the best out of any of his players over the last 3 years on average.
As a team we were never better than 50/60% of the sum of the parts
Thats what Wane consistsntly did better, he got the best out of the players, he made the sum outweigh the parts over and over again.

Would i take a Craig Bellamy/Trent Robinson? Yeah of course, but were not going to get one (and just like the comment about the Penrith assistant none of us know if weve tried, if we haven't etc)

Wishing we would "Shake things up" as if it would definitely work without any background knowledge is about the same as me sittig here and saying this is a fantastic appointment that will 100% work.
Its guesswork

Your entitled to that opinion

I'm happy with the appointments (But then again I'm just a happy clapping Mug) and I'm confident that these guys will work tirelessly and from some of the comments from them already I'm hearing what I want to hear and I know Wane will drive and insist on.

Do I think Peet deserves his chance?
Yeah
I'd much rather he be in charge than say Powell/Macdermott (I'd probably say I'm 50/50 on tony Smith because I believe he operates best without pressure and not sure if at Wigan thats what he'd get).
I see people asking whyvhe wasn't chosen to succeed Wane 3 years ago, we all know why. Would he have been ready ? Who knows, but ill bet he's More ready now.

Lam was in charge 3 years, and at the beginning of each of those years the majority (id say 90% ish) of people when asked for predictions, predicted Wigan Top 2/3 and GF/CC winners or runners up when they were asked pre season. That says to me that most people thought the squad was good enough (despite what people thensaid when we failed)
Lam spectacularly failed to get that out of them, and not only that, mad e us look soft and amateurish over and over again with barely 10% of performances being anywhere near good enough.

Same question
What do people think out squad (ignoring coaching appointments) is good enough for?
If it's mid table (6th/7th) or bottom 4 as some have suggested and no final appearances or trophys then we will see if Peet etc do better than that.

Booo IL
Booo KR

I did say I didn't envy Peet's job next season, just like I wouldn't envy the job if it was Bellamy or Bennett or Clearly coming over. IT WAS YOU who decided that given that scenario it didn't matter who was coach.

Basically your argument boils down to I can't have an opinion on being underwhelmed by the choice of coach because I can't guarantee someone else would be better - however you can't guarantee that Peet is going to be better, but that seems ok? I've explained numerous times my reasons and if you're happy with Peet, great.

This question for me is what makes next year so interesting.

There are so many unknowns and what ifs in the playing squad.

The 2 new props are obviously key, if they go well they will help us massively. If they take a little time to settle in it may be tough. Havard is another, we know how good he can be, but he did have a form wobble last year, can he be consistent and arguably same with Singleton.

Is our back row a little stale? We obviously have quality there but they are all similar type players with the exception of KPP and can we expect him to kick in or maybe suffer second season syndrome?

Field is still a total unknown and how he will fit in to the squad and can French recover?

Our halves look concerning but we are still on the look out for someone so who knows.

On the edges we have an untested at SL winger who looks the part but who knows and can Thornley return and support the go forward we desperately need?!

I honestly at this stage can see us finishing anywhere between 2nd and 9th just in relation to squad quality.

The new coaching set up again raises more questions than answers.

Exciting times.

You can have an opinion and be underwhelmed but other than "I wanted an Aussie" or "I want new ideas" you haven't told me why you're underwhelmed.

What is it about a coach with over a decade of experience in coaching and winning things that underwhelms you?

We seem to be going round in circles - I've told you why (which isn't characterised by the post above) - for some reason you can't / won't accept why.

I don't disagree with any of that (although with regards to Havards form, he was playing with an injury for about 2to3months that wasn't beig dealt with correctly, long story, but thats Lam for you), his last 4 to 6 games hebwas getting back to his best IMO

As I said, in previous years the expectation of the squad was higher than the achievements in both tangible terms such as trophies and league positions (even though I think top last year and 4th this were way higher than what we deserved) AND in performance.
Performance for me we had the attributes to be lets say an 8 or 9 out of 10 (by SL standards team). But for me for 3 years I'd give us no more than a say 4/6/4 return on those 3 years.

When we get to assessing squads for next year, and the usal prediction threads come round im a bit like you.
I think there's too many question marks to be confident about top 2 etc but too much quality to be concerned about bottom 4
So I agree 3rd to 8th and anything in between will possibly be on the cards.
If we take mid way and say 6th, then anything above that Peet etc on paper may have done well, anything below not so well or worse.

But couple that with performance, then he needs to get us playing "Well" in more than 50% of games compared to the 10/20% we've had last 3 years at most.

Again - all you have said is that you want fresh ideas and not someone from the wigan bubble. I've just read through your posts again and aside from "underwhelming" "wigan bubble" and "I want fresh ideas" you haven't given a reason why a successful assistant coach shouldn't be given a chance at the job.

So I'll ask one final time and will word it differently again because you're clearly having issues. Think about it slowly and forget that you hate all things IL and KR........

FORGET THAT HE IS FROM WIGAN!!!!
FORGET THAT HE DOESN'T HAVE AN AUSTRALIAN ACCENT!!!!

If you see his CV showing 11 years coaching (including at International level), 11 years of winning things (and being the most decorated head coach at the best academy in the world) and receive positive reviews about him from pretty much everyone you speak to. Why would you not give him the job?

I don't hate all things IL or KR. You seem to be getting a bit irrational to now believe that because I'm underwhelmed with the coaching decision that I hate the individuals running/owning the club. Given the stuff you just made up, I can see why you've misunderstood my reasons.

Well dodged. I will word it again then...

Again - all you have said is that you want fresh ideas and not someone from the wigan bubble. I've just read through your posts again and aside from "underwhelming" "wigan bubble" and "I want fresh ideas" you haven't given a reason why a successful assistant coach shouldn't be given a chance at the job.

So I'll ask one final time and will word it differently again because you're clearly having issues. Think about it slowly........

FORGET THAT HE IS FROM WIGAN!!!!
FORGET THAT HE DOESN'T HAVE AN AUSTRALIAN ACCENT!!!!

If you see his CV showing 11 years coaching (including at International level), 11 years of winning things (and being the most decorated head coach at the best academy in the world) and receive positive reviews about him from pretty much everyone you speak to. Why would you not give him the job?

I kind of like the idea of us being an unknown quantity. We all know how Wane can motivate & inspire, and I've no reason to think that at least MP & SOL can't carry this on with his guidance. This coupled with no pressure to immediately go out and be world beaters could lead to us having a real good go as soon as next season IMO.

I have no expectations, but I have an inside hope that we'll actually do something with a level of entertainment better than the zero that we've endured this season.

I am in the camp of being farily happy with the coaching set up and whilst i get Andys points, i respecfully disagree with him. Not a fundamental disagreement, more a casual one.

So im probably on your side of the fence regarding the appointments.

That said. honestkly mate, you are like a dog with a bone here



Calm down honestly

You're right, but I'm sick of people bad mouthing the club with no real substance. As Jukesays says - these are the people that usually shout loudest and so everyone believes them that the club is a show.

I'm far from a happy clapper and have many issues with how things are done, but to slag the coach off before he's done anything as an "underwhelming" appointment when he has the experience he has just pushes my buttons. Possibly more than it should do, but there you go.

You've characterised my reasons for being underwhelmed entirely on me hating IL and KR - which simply isn't true. You've based your entire premise over the last god knows how many pages on a lie. I hate to break this to you given your stance (based on a lie), but people can form opinions based on the individual merits or otherwise of particular actions. You seem to be having trouble with that.