Edwards provides clarity

Quote: Cherry.Pie "Edwards saying that the deal was verbally agreed 9 months ago could be quite telling. That puts it at about June time and only a month after Wane's 'surprise' resignation. So either;

a) Wane leaving wasn't the surprise it was claimed and Lenagan was already aware and making plans
b) Wane leaving was a surprise, and despite Lenagan saying he was taking time to find the right candidate that was just manure and he had already decided Edwards was the man he wanted without really considering other potential options from within the game - and spent most of that time trying to find the right person to plug the gap for a year.
c) Lenagan was already in talks with Edwards before Wane announced his departure and that was one of the 'things that happened' which resulted in Wane leaving. So in essence, Wane jumped before he was pushed in favour of someone who probably won't even take charge at all.

The deal only made sense if the club had signed a contract with Edwards because he was the absolute number 1 choice and Lam was definitely only an interim coach with no chance of staying on. As soon as there was suggestion that maybe Lam would continue it became ridiculous. If the club had signed a contract with Edwards they'd have to pay him off to keep Lam on. Now we know they haven't signed a contract we have the issue of our great prodigal son, number one target and the whole reason we have this odd coaching situation to begin with, being a free agent and able to take up any other job he wants.

If Wane was pushed out for Edwards and he doesn't end up taking the job at all then this whole situation is a black mark on Ian Lenagan's time at the club. He's done a lot of good for the club but we've been getting into worrying territory recently. The salary cap fiasco, signing Hardaker and then him immediately letting everyone and himself down, the Joel Tomkins situation and the myriad unanswered questions and the 'investigation' that got swept under the carpet with him moving to Hull KR, the falling attendances, the significant losses and the almost certainly related departures of high profile players, the statement about Bateman's departure that feature an outright lie.'"

Edwards was in the stands taking notes before the announcement that Wane was leaving / Edwards was the HC for 2020.

It clearly wasn't a surprise for anyone.