But that is no different to any league in any sport that I can think of, whether they have play-offs or not.

The problem then was that we had a top 6 play offs, whereby it was much easier to make the final from the top 2. We also regularly had to ramp our performances at the back end of the season just to be sure of making the 6. Noble's play-off runs didn't exactly set the world alight either. Every time we won two games then came unstuck against Leeds or Saints. If, come play off time, he had got the team to a level where we could beat Saints or Leeds, many including myself may have glossed over his flaws.

All I can say is that Lenagan seems to be a bit more level headed than Wigan's typical administration. Remember West? Win everything and get sacked... (off ranting about one of Wigan's greats and the treatment from the club)

It obviously isn't in the context of our particular system. In a league you would expect there to be more kudos and more prize money for a higher league finish. So it would be worthwhile trying for a higher finish even if you were not going to win league itself. Also play off systems with fewer teams eligible to qualify for the play offs means the league games assume more importance fpr longeras you need to get in a top 5 or top 4 (for example).

That isn't the case in our system. In our system the idea is you can be crowned champions form anywhere in the top 8. So you can decide if you want to stop playing to win every game once your position in 8 is assured which is pretty early on. You could also for example decide not to try and finish 4th if you felt 5th gave an easier route which most people seem to think makes a lot of sense.

In our system if a coach wants to win the league he needs to get it won as early as possible then he can join in with the rest of the top 8 and swan about for as many games as possible before the play-offs. Wane didn't do that last year and instead had the team making that remarkable come back v HKR.

Well there is only one certainty for a coach and that is sooner or later you will be on your way. Given the way West worked for the club behind the scenes before he got the top job I was at the time concerned when the inevitable boot came he would be risking his livelihood and so it turned out. He was a real club man who worked hard on such things as the Knights of Central Park and many other things and I was (and still am) pretty disgusted at how things panned out for him.

I can't ever see IL sacking a successful coach in the way West was but I also can't see IL putting up with season after season of under-achievement either. Noble was given plenty of time to bring success and failed so off he went. Wane will also be off if things go the same way for him.

If we win a CC or GF next year I am sure IL will be pleased to extend his contract. If we do worse it will be interesting to see if given his contract is up if he gets another year.

Mind you West wasn't the only successful coach to get the boot and I don't mean Dorahay who was fired on the team bus on the way back from a CC win.

I mean Clarke and McInnes who made way for Lowe. They had not done anything wrong but I don't think anyone questions that Lowe took Wigan up to a new level. Replacing successful coaches isn't always as daft as it may seem if you think you have found someone even better.

Whilst agree with your point, there isnt a single coach (imo) that could do better with our current squad. There is a serious lack of coaching talent in this country, the british coaches in particular seem to offer nothing in terms of new ideas. The alternative of Aussie assistants has failed in all cases but Maguire so far, maybe Gentle at Hull will succeed, but even if he does, he will go to the NRL. Maguire was way ahead of his time for SL and the changes he brought in will see us in good stead for a while. If we did have an average year (say we finished 6th and went out the cup at the qf) who would IL look to bring in? As for the horrendous Noble era, the less said about that the better, the man was an absolute joke. He's just released a 'guide to management', hope wane doesn't buy a copy.

I couldn't agree more. One of the most underrated figures in the turnaround of Wigan RL imo.

Yes IIRC Westie was given the boot for losing one match.

Granted that was a match against St Helens, but like Dave O, I also reckon Graeme West was very shabbily treated.

Wasn't he also the coach when we beat the aussies downunder for the WCC ?

Talking of coaches, we lack here in the UK, anyone with intellect.

The modern game is like a chess game.

Maguire was a man of intellect. Unfortunately Sean Wane isn't.

He sacked Tony Rea at Quins and brought in McDermott- after trying to get the Edwards/panface double act

who hasnt sacked tony rea though?

"Sacking" IL style:

On 8 July 2006, Harlequins announced a re-organisation of the coaching set-up. Rea was replaced by McDermott and appointed onto the club's board of directors where he served for 2 years.

If i've ever seen a "nice sacking" that is it-Taken away from influencing rugby. Why pay him off when you can get him to work as a director especially as he had been the Chief Exec of the Broncos in his previous life.

Wane may get the pie shop to run when he is sacked

He coached Bradford to 3 World Club Challenge wins, 3 Super League trophies and 1 Challenge Cup. He took us from relegation candidates to the 3rd best team in the league, and he took Crusaders from bottom of the table to a play off spot. He wasn't the man to take us to the next level but he is surely the most successful coach of the Super League era so far. Hardly a joke!

He won't get sacked, he's "the people's coach" and can do no wrong in the eyes of both IL and the majority of fans. Personally I beg to differ