Agree, I haven't seen England play that competitive in ages, they just seem to lack that bit extra that would allow them to close out the game which is frustrating. I don't think we were ever beating Australia due to the ref gate scandal, but it seems we bottled it against NZ and bombed way too many chances.

We were a coat of paint away from beating NZ. That's not a lame duck NZ coached by Gary Kemble either.

Against Australia we were close than we've been in years.

The team is playing better rugby and is miles ahead of where we were back in 2008. The players play as a team and not a set of individuals as has been the case in the past. In this tournament we've played without our best hooker and back row and with two halfbacks who are fairly average.

I'd give McNamara the chance versus NZ in 2015. If we lose that series then maybe it's time for a change then.

this

This is the best I've seen an England/GB team perform since I started watching RL 20 years ago, I'd stick with him. I certainly don't see the benefits of Wane (go out and knock them out), Powell (failure in the big games last year) or McDermott (very average in regular season games).

I think it's time for Steve McNamara to be removed from his post. He as done a good job, but it's time for someone else to take England to the next level, which I am confident will happen with the correct coach in charge.

I haven't read all the arguments there are too many for me to be bothered. But here's my opinion.

I think Nickykiss said england are like Wigan under Noble and I completely agree. I also have to say I wanted Noble to be given another year at Wigan as we kept getting so close. I was wrong, Lenagan was right to go and find a man who could take us the next step.
What people who are arguing Mcnamara should stay need to decide is do they think he is good enough to take us that extra step over the line?

I don't, I think he's done a good job turning our fortunes around and putting good things in place (as Nobby did at Wigan), but a new man is needed to give us whatever we're lacking.

I think Wane is the right man but understand why some don't think so. Put it this way Wane learnt from his mistakes, we lost 2 semi finals in 2012 and in 2013 won the double, because Wane adapted himself and the team.

I know Wigan won nothing this year but I think that's more to do with Ben Flower than Wane.

On the basis of what?

What would any of those have changed that was so obviously broken in order to get England across the winning line?

Powell couldn't do it with a Cas side that were underdogs and fell apart in the playoffs/Cup Final, so why could he do it with England?

Wane is a bit like Tony Smith was when he took over Leeds.

He's walked into a ready made good team, full of young players with a point to prove and a sprinkling of old heads to take them around the park.

You don't exactly need to be Jack Gibson to make either the current Wigan side or Smith's Leeds side a success. The players will pretty much do that for you.

What players that Wane inherited from Michael Maguire are still there?

Last team to play for Wane
Bowen
=#FF0000Charnley
Gelling
Sarginson
Burgess
Green
Smith
Crosby
S.Powell
Flower
=#FF0000J.Tomkins (Only just returned)
=#FF0000L.Farrell
O'Loughlin

Williams
Clubb
Pettybourne
Bateman


Last team to play for Madge
S.Tomkins (Moved on)
=#FF0000Charnleyl
=#FF0000J.Tomkins (left after this season)
Carmont (Retired)
Richards (Moved on)
Finch (Retired)
Leuluai (Moved on)
Lima (Moved on)
McIlorum
Coley (Retired)
Hoffman (Moved on)
Hansen (Moved on)
=#FF0000O'Loughlin

O'Carrolll (Moved on)
=#FF0000Farrell
Tuson (Moved on)
Prescott (Retired)

I'll let you have McIllorum because he would have played if he wasn't injured.

I can see the attraction of appointing Wane since Wiganers can see how they kicked on when Maguire took over from Noble but just because it worked for them doesn’t mean it should work for England. You’re dealing with a setup that has as little as a 3 games a year. You’ve not got as long to work with players or embed a lot of structure. Wigan play a very structured game so it would be difficult to bring this in.

McNamara has an advantage in that he’s above club politics and can’t be accused of bias or being a divisive influence like was the case when Smith was in charge. Wane or anyone else would get accused of that if they kept the club job.

Wane has taken over from Maguire in a system which has hardly changed. Putting a new gut in charge of England would mean a new system and ethos which would take time to get used to with no guarantee of success. It’s a gamble.

If we’d played like we did in 2008 it would be worth it but I think giving McNamara the chance to win the 2015 series is worth it. If England win that series he should be kept on. If he doesn’t then open the job up to Wane, Powell and McDermott. Invite them to apply.

Because McNamara was a resounding success at club level before being given the job.

Powell achieved more with Cas than what most coaches in the world could.

I think McNamara will get a new contract, but I personally think he's taken us as far as he can and it's time to move on.

as the world and his wife have said England try and attack like wigan and they have a wigan assistant already on the staff, appointing Wane would not affect the structures.

again the personnel and playing style are very different under wane, maguire was a lot more reluctant to move the ball early and in our own half.

like it or not Wane is a fantastic coach who has a recent history of winning.

Shaun Wane wants to win so he'll pick the best players, anyone who's seen the way Taylor has been pushed out at wigan will know he doesn't mind upsetting people.

I fear he'll miss out like brian clough did with the FA