Have a look back at their squad from 04/05 05 especially it looks very odd, some poor recruitment(for wigan standards) and obviously farell leaving mid season(sort of) , it tread water in 05, and obviously as you've pointed out it did go a lot worse in 06

i forgot to add to my post at the end, i still maintain my original choice for new coach of steve folkes.

Under the circumstances he would be my choice tomorrow. I'm sure he would rather get back into RL instead of his fitness work with the WIndies (even taking the weather into account). Would he be willing to take a 9 month contract with healthy bonuses and an option for extension based on performance? I suspect he would.

The squad still included players like Dallas, Calderwood, Richards, Vaeliki, Orr, Logan, Higham, Paleasina, Hock, Fletcher, Tickle, O'Loughlin, Ashton and a ruck of younger lads and crap players that they brought in during the season.

I don't follow the Aussie game enough to give an opinion on Steve Folkes tbh. But I know he has made a couple of Grand Finals and the semis a few times, which considering how competitive a league it is, sounds okay to me.

You're overlooking the obvious point: I doubt Kear would be remotely interested in going to the Wire. You are becoming the Newcastle United of rugby league. Great heritage, great fans, inexplicably unsuccessful. A real poisoned chalice and you shouldn't assume there is a queue.

You need a tough Aussie coach, no frills and no baggage. I cringe when I think of people like Matt King having to listen to the coaching expertise of Lowes when you think of some of the coaches he will have played under. It must be like going to back to park football.

The alleged problem with Folkes is his man management skills. Sonny Bill Williams, who granted is no great character witness cited Folkes as one of the main reasons he left. Maybe he was an easy target, I don't know.

Also, don't forget the Dogs GF appearances coincided with the storm that followed the salary cap breach.

Gillmeister in !!!

I really can't see Kear ever leaving Wakey, he seems to have found his coaching home.

For Warrington see Leeds of the mid-90s, all the ingredients it just needed the right chef (Murray) to bring it together.

money bill+nasser mohammed*anthony mundine=1 ed up kid on a load of money.

i wouldn't focus too much on the sonny bill situ/statements, he said a lot of when he was safe in london about folkes. Despite him and club having done their best to give him a better shorter deal, had they caved to his demands he would've walked out on 2/3 more years of a contract.

if i was to be bothered by anything, it'd be more the willie mason and stupid chums thing that arose, which again wasn't down to football reasons and it seems to be something thats rearing it's head again now in the nrl with the japanese ru offers, making money outside of RL in the off season. Mason wanted to take part in the that boxing match what would've made him a load of money and got told no, then fined then up and left.
it's a bit disapointing the way the board sort of let him slide out of the franchise last year, i wonder whether he'd want to work with (as mentioned many times previously)a possibly, 'weak' board room.

In fairness Wakey have had some decent coaches. They've never had the finance s to back the coach up with top drawer players.

Kier is foremost a motivator & can get the best out of what he has. He's an ideal marriage for Wakey.

Agreed. But look back at the amount of players who left on less than amicable terms, didn't Vagana have a bit of a dig on the way out?

one of the victims of the salary cap bugger up wasn't he? i'll have a nosey

But weve turned him down once. Would he put his name down again after everything?

ha ha yes Hull are at the next level now aint they? They have gone miles backwards like you guys. Kear is a great coach he is the best thing to happen to Wakey in 25 years!

Didn't they knock you out on the way to wembley again. And they were a top side under sharp who was sacked way too early. Kear is the best coach you've had for ages, but if you had a list of players (careful not to say team) like warrington would you want him or a top class aussie coach.

Whilst it's easy to place the success or failure of a club at one persons door, the support unit the coach has around him are a major influence on the team's performance. What Cullen needed and now especially Lowes, is an experienced old head.

In Kear's coaching staff, what he needed is a young and up coming coach, someone with enthusiasm and their finger on the pulse. Every coach has their strengths and weaknesses, but it's important that the coach knows his weaker points and can surround himself with knowleddgable experienced coaches who are strong in his weaker subjects

Fair comment.

Great coach and a great John Kear quote : - " I would take a champion team over a team of champions anyday" . Classic !!

never heard any Wakey fan ever say a bad word about John, no-way was anyone calling for his sacking, thats nonsense

So what we need to do is to employ someone who can see the bleeding obvious & recognise that our defence is useless.

Shame John Kear's not got a champion team then, maybe he should go about building one.

Kear has enthusiasm and his finger on the pulse, he doesn't need anyone else, although an upcoming young coach could learn off Kear.

I'd say it was Kear who was sacked too soon and Sharp who basically took Kears side to the play offs, of course it depends how you view it. However Sharp failed when he brought in his own players so make of that what you will. Hull fans seem split on this.

So to answer your question I'd take Kear any day. However because in general boards and chairman seem to leave Aussie coaches alone but seem to think they know better than British coaches your club would probably benefit from an Aussie.

That doesn't make them better coaches it is more a reflection on how deferential we are to Aussies both coaches and players.

There is no secret to Kears success at Wakey, he has simply had time to implement his style without much pressure or interference. Can you imagine a spend happy board sanctioning the signing of Richard Moore at the time Kear did. There egos and obsession with big names would have seen them laughing it out of site. Yet at Wakey it was allowed with reservation and Kear was proved right as he continually is with players. He simply would not get the chance or time at Warrington.

As Cullen said Wakey don't give a toss about reputations, Warrington do and until they stop it you are stuffed.

Matt King is a fine player but did you really need him or was it just the name. No point having a star winger if your pack is beaten and your halves only fire occasionally.

That is how I see it FWIW.

He doesn't need anyone because they're already at the club! Kear had a hip operation and missed a fair bit of the preseason training. But in Broadbent and Sanctuary he has individuals who are more than capable of stepping up and leading the team.

Whilst it's easy to send all the plaudits Kears way, alot of praise for Wakefield's start must lay with Sanctuary and Broadbent, the guys who have been spending the majority of the time with the players.

Only just picked up on this thread as I was wondering what was happening at the laughing stock this week. I laughed my head off at the negative comments you have made about John Kear with many of you claiming he would lack ambittion and drive to achieve success. You lot get what you deserve you wouldnt know a good coach if it mowed you down on the M62. Cullen followed by bog eye and then you say Kear isnt up to it. So funny you really are - the board, the coach the supporters and all .

We do know a good coach, one with a title winning pedigree who will give us every chance of success. So why would we want John Kear?

As for laughing stock, that ended today with the appointment of Tony Smith. I guarantee we will finish above Wakefield this season.

You should really be worrying about staying in Super League the next time the franchaises are up for renewal.