I would say they are more or less joint second, like i say Smith has done wonders very quickly at Wire. They were a struggling losing team when Cullen went, within a fortnight Smith turned them around.

The only major difference for me would be that Smith had time before this season to plan his squad, and make the necessary signings etc etc. They'd planned for this to be a big year, and thus expected as much.

MM came in with a squad that was not his, and this is his year where he plans his squad for the next 2 or 3 years.

Only four over two years.

I think Smith should get coach of the year myself because not only has he got his team to do what no other Wire team in history has ever done - won back to back finals - but he has also dragged them up from 10th to 2nd or 3rd (prob 2nd) in the table. He also has them defending, something Cullen could never get them doing. And facing up to all their major competitors, even if they have yet to break the Saints hoodoo. Wigan were in the playoffs last year. They've made only minimal improvement this year, to claim top spot. While that's great in itself, it isn't the total turnaround that has occurred in the Wire team and it is a coach who invokes a total turnaround or total domination who seems to win coach of the year. Justifiably so IMO.

Anyone who genuinely believes such an idiotic statement doesn't know one end of a rugby league match from the other.

I don't disagree with your general views re. Wire, but the underlined bit is plain nonsense (or juvenile mischief), and you need to revise it quickly or be marked down as the sort of numbskull who I didn't think followed Saints any more.

Twelve defeats turned into only five, best defence and attack by far

Id call that one hell of a turnaround considering our injuries, and our playing roster is almost identical

She's just a poor wanabee 'Saddened' style troll

Lost all credibility with that statement. Any one-eyed fan could see the improvement made at Wigan in all areas this season.

what you sniffing lad minimal improvment

2009 wigan finished 6 th 30 points and +108

Team Pld W D L PF PA PD Pts
1 Leeds Rhinos 27 21 0 6 805 453 +352 42
2 St Helens 27 19 0 8 733 466 +267 38
3 Huddersfield Giants 27 18 0 9 690 416 +274 36
4 Hull Kingston Rovers 27 17 1 9 650 516 +134 35
5 Wakefield Trinity Wildcats 27 16 0 11 685 609 +76 32
6 Wigan Warriors 27 15 0 12 659 551 +108 30

2010 wigan finish 1 st 40 points and +471 with still a game to go

1 Wigan Warriors 24 20 0 4 834 363 +471 40
2 Warrington Wolves 24 17 0 7 777 430 +347 34
3 St Helens 24 16 0 7 810 495 +315 34
4 Hull FC 24 15 0 9 519 514 +5 30
5 Leeds Rhinos 24 14 1 9 617 535 +82 29
6 Huddersfield Giants 24 13 1 10 662 407 +255 27

I would nt say that s minimal in MM 1 st season in super league ,,BRAINS

any one of MM, Smith or Noble would be a worthy winner, but Wigan are a different team with the same roster. To make such a drastic improvement without signing anyone, and in your first ever year as head coach shows what a fantastic job he has done. I personally think Mcguire should get the award, and i would probably be accused of being biased but nobody would have expected wigan to have done this after finishing 6th last year and being so inconsistent

What about Deacon?
Smith signed 3 (1 on a free transfer) & got rid of 6

The guys a bloody legend.

Under him I have seen things that I didn't even dream of happening

You can't argue... he's a great coach.. but MM is something special aswell.

Are you seriously offering Deacon as the reason Wigan have improved so much?

He's barely played all season.

Ok, Warrington can have the Challenge Cup and Coach of the Year and we'll have the League Leaders Shield and the Grand Final. Sounds fair to me

Tony smith good coach got plenty of super league pedigree ,MM 1 st coaching job 1 st, season in super league with a team what he knew nothing about