www.walesonline.co.uk/sports/rug ... -29290912/?

www.walesonline.co.uk/sports/rug ... -29290912/?

Hope not would like to see Wayne have a go. You only have to watch him on a game day he bleeds cherry and white

It's as Wanes assistant. (There may also be another one)

I am liking the look of our coaching set up next year. Wane as head coach, after serving his apprenticeship and working his way up and learning from one of the best in madge I feel he will really excel as head coach. He took over the reigns comfortably last year when Madge was back in Aus.

Harris has done very well for himself since becomming a coach, I feel for him at Crusaders and he will give Wane some good ideas.

Sculthorpe if the rumours are true could be interesting. His professionalism and determination to succeed puts him in the same boat as Wane for me, will be a welcome addition if he arrives.

And Kris Radlinski in his current role seems to be thriving! Although we will be losing Madge at the end of the year I am thoroughly confident we have our coaching set up bang on for next year.

Wouldn't it be wise for us to link up with Souths as our NRL club? We have been rumoured to setting up a partnership in the past and didn't Lenegan confirm that he was in talks with Melbourne before they broke the cap? We still need to push on with this in my opinion! Although Madge is leaving we could still continously learn from him if the clubs link up, wern't that the plan in the first place? Swapping coaching ideas, commercial ideas and the possibility of player scholarships? Lets keep madge involved in some way IL get onto Mr. Crowe!

Massive step back, you only have to hear him talk to know how un-motivating he is!

Coley is saying he wants to stay with Wigan in some sort of coaching capacity.

Mike Maguire is absolutely irreplaceable. Ian Lenagan faces a near impossible job in finding any like for like replacement. No-one in Super League is good enough and no-one in the NRL who is available is good enough. All we can hope to do is preserve the methods, philosophy, work ethic, team spirit etc that he has put in place here. The only coach in the world who will have any idea on how to preserve that is Shaun Wane. He's the only coach who has had first hand experience with what has been put in place at the club. It's his job next year to maintain those standards and perhaps make the odd tweak. For now though, these structures and methods Madge has put in place has made us champions and we're on course to challenge (and possibly win) both competitions. Sustain these ideas and we'll challenge for more honours in years to come with the talent we have in our squad. Shaun Wane is the right appointment.

His assistant is a different matter. You're not going to find anyone in the NRL who will be his assistant. There's little choice here in Super League too. Brian Noble/John Kear/Shaun McRae are all experienced (something Wane lacks) but it would underhand Wane to have either of these coaches alongside him. Plus all their methods are long outdated. Wane's assistant must be someone who is a similar age and who can command the respect from the team. Through his playing achievements Iestyn Harris will do just that. He is also young (like Wane). And has had Super League coaching experience. FAR, FAR more than Paul Sculthorpe. I think this would be a shrewd appointment as Wane's assistant.

It's an impossible job replacing Madge, but it is imperative that little changes at the club. The contribution of Wane, Bitcom, Radlinski etc can't be overlooked in our rise to success. They'll all still be around. Shaun Wane is the best placed man in rugby league to maintain the standards set at Wigan and sustain our challenge for every title in the game. He's the most logical choice and gets my complete backing. Iestyn Harris has done enough in the game to demand the respect of the players, he's young (in coaching terms) and he also has first hand coaching experience, which will compliment Wane.

How do you replace the irreplaceable? You can't. You just hope to preserve it.

Head Coach - Shaun Wane
Assistant Coach - Iestyn Harris.

I'm happy with that.

Is this the start of the Boot Room that IL mentioned when he first took over?

Wane in a key position, Harris in a key position, Sculthorpe in a key position, Deacon in a key position?

Add Edwards, Farrell and Ford to that list and we might suddenly find ourselves with all the future SL coaches at one club

I suppose it's crying over spilled milk, but I can't help wishing that Madge was here for one more year to mentor them all.

But in Wane we must now trust, I guess.

As long as Bitcon stays im not fussed who is 2nd in command, as this guy is priceless to Wigan

It’s something that scares me big time for next season is not having Maguire in charge, as you said he is irreplaceable at current imo. I’m fearing a dip in form simply because he’s leaving. I just hope we can retain 95% of the current squad who have adaprted Maguire’s methods and approach and that they continue with it, and not slack in to the ‘British’ way, so to speak. Unless it’s Ricky Stuart who fancies a job, then it has to be Shaun Wane. I think Radlinski is being groomed as the head coach of the future though which is excellent

In Pollard we trust.

Maguire is one of a kind, no matter who we have as coach or assistant coach, they'll never be as good as madge, but hopefully with a team like we have we'll still manage a few big wins next year

Harris Assistant coach for how long? As soon as the job comes up at Bradford or Leeds, he'll be off as coach and I think that will probably be sooner rather than later.

Bradford had success by building on the structures/standards of Elliot. Noble took up the riegns and the Bulls were dominant for a period. You look at some of the players who have studied under Noble you have Mc Dermott and Lowes and they have not exactly set the SL alight. Harris was in a difficult situation; a thrown together team and players and staff worried that they would not get paid week to week. Does Harris have what it takes?

He needs to prove himself after the Crusaders so he could prove a determined and reliable coach to back Wane up.

This. Wigan's stamina and strength is awesome; as much as Madge has developed the players tactically, Mark Bitcon has brought a fantastic approach to conditioning and we're reaping the rewards so far.