As I’ve just said on the other thread, great call and one I’d be happy with

Has Micky Higham got his coaches badge?

Yes

That’s a name Dave Woods mentioned on the BBC site.

It’s tough to judge him based on assistant roles only but I wouldn’t be against him.

Give me an open cheque book and a choice if anybody in this country and I’d go Lee Radford. He’s in Wanes mould and fits our policy of bringing the youngsters through. He won’t leave Hull though sadly.

I’m sure it’s already sorted whoever it is. I get the feeling Wane will be at Catalans next year and will have known for a long while that he will be. My guess is that he knew that in advance of McIlorum and now Tomkins moving there.

Phil Wilkinson suggesting that Deacs signed an extended contract not long ago, at Sale...

I googled him earlier when I read Dave Woods mentioning him. He signed a four year extension at the end of 2016 by the looks of things.

Not sure the likes of Chris Chester, Dennis Betts, Paul Deacon & Micky Higham will entice stay away supporters to come hurrying back to the DW.

1). The crowds have decreased year on year last few seasons (despite marked improvement in performances & results this season). A big name will no doubt be needed to bring back these supporters. The above won’t bring that in my view.

2). Can you imagine a couple of losses in the first few games? Wigan fans are renowned for their demand of success. This board & Facebook would be in meltdown blaming IL of ‘doing it on the cheap as usual’.

For what it’s worth I wouldn’t be against Deacon in Assistant Coach again.


I’m excited at just the mere possibility that Shaun Edwards ‘may’ be in line. With a good Assistant Coach (Deacon, Tony Smith?) it could work.

He’s the kind of signing that would fill some seats at the DW, which is priority for IL.

I said in the rumours thread last week he was going to catalans and Edwards is coming in and got asked if I believed in father Christmas.
The info I'm getting is Edwards is coming in and he's going to France that's why Tomkins signed for them because he knew Wane was going.

As much as Edwards returning would have all of the prodigal son hallmarks from a coaching standpoint he has had no coaching experience in RL, or day to day contact with the sport since he left, he hasn't had the lead coach job in RU at any level, while he obviously has the respect he deserves his first trip into a head coach position maybe shouldn't be back at Wigan.
Plus I dont know the whole position but his son is very important to him and moving to the North wouldnt give him anything other than a long distance relationship.

Appointing Edwards as the new coach has an equal chance of failing as it does as succeeding, is that a gamble that you want to take?

Abso-frigging-lutely!!

There's no guarantee of trophies even with a top class RL coach (Noble, Millward...etc).

There is a quote I quite like and use often[iI would rather have a life of "oh well's" than a life of "what if's".[/i

Betts has been and gone, and left no mark. McDermott is a bit of an immovable object at Leeds, and frankly, they're welcome to him. Powell is a chippy Yorkshireman who wouldn't be happy unless he was east of the Pennines (plus we've now signed ZH - couldn't see it working for that reason alone). Chester would be a popular appointment because he played well for Wigan and he's a top bloke ... but I can't help thinking that we need someone more exciting.

I'd be surprised if IL didn't look to really shake things up and opt for a 'complete new era' coach ... a revolutionary appointment along the lines of Lowe and McGuire. At least, I hope that's what he'll go for.

If it is Edwards, I suspect he'll be smart enough to bring in the right assistant coaches to give the right advice.

Well you're 50% right so far...so hat's off to you for that!

Quote: St. Etrigan "Plus I dont know the whole position but his son is very important to him and moving to the North wouldnt give him anything other than a long distance relationship.'" His son, James Small-Edwards is currently at Edinburgh University RFC and has his own life now. https://rugby.eusu.ed.ac.uk/club/squad

Quote: St. Etrigan "Plus I dont know the whole position but his son is very important to him and moving to the North wouldnt give him anything other than a long distance relationship.'" His son, James Small-Edwards is currently at Edinburgh University RFC and has his own life now. https://rugby.eusu.ed.ac.uk/club/squad

Not a contradiction at all, I made no suggestion Edwards had already signed; merely that this opportunity has his name written all over it and I firmly expect to see Edwards as Head Coach 2019 with an assistant such as Deacs/Lam/Harris.