Quote: lefty goldblatt "
Back on thread, I say well done to the chairmen/owners who've had the balls to employ these British coaches.
Don't forget, all that glitters ain't (green and) gold.
Wigan have employed a few overseas coaches since their dominance ended (the rest of RL went professional - spot the coincidence), to little avail.'"
What you mean is, Wigan have employed a few British coaches since their dominance ended, to little avail.
Wigan's dominance was when they were coached by overseas coaches: Graham Lowe, John Monie, Jon Dorahy and Graeme West.
Since their dominance ended they've used quite a few British coaches: Eric Hughes, Andy Goodway, Mike Gregory, Denis Betts, Brian Noble and Shaun Wane. Of these only Wane has won a major trophy.
The overseas coaches they've had since West left were Monie coming back for a season and a half (won Super League), Frank Endacott, Stuart Raper (won the Challenge Cup), Ian Millward and Mick Maguire (won Super League and the Challenge Cup). The only real dud coach there was Millward as in Endacott's only full season he topped the table and reached the GF.
I doubt Wigan would have had their current revival had they not gone Aussie again and brought Mick Maguire in.
A lot of what gets said about British coaches is just parochial bull, not based on any facts, but based on trying to say "British is best". Look at BarbedWire's post at the start where he is saying guys like Sean Long are doing 'fantastic jobs' as assistant coaches....Long has been moved on from Salford and Wigan this season and is now at Featherstone, in what universe is he doing a 'fantastic job'. And then saying Rob Powell is a 'fantastic coach' - London were absolutely dreadful under him. Yes some of that is not his fault but if he is a fantastic coach then Tony Rae is also fantastic.
The acid test on peoples opinions, really, is what they would think if one of these coaches was appointed head coach of their own club. It's easy to say "I think OTHER clubs should be applauded for appointing a British coach" but if Warrington follow Tony Smith with someone like Long or Powell then I doubt our fans will be applauding our board for making this appointment any more than they were gutted when James Lowes got booted out.
