Biggest? Mate, there's nowt between us. The only difference I could see was a knock on that could have gone either way. Wane's a good coach, not perfect but there isn't one that is. By my reckoning, Leeds' best chance of a seamless transition would be if Wigan were to ditch him.

All of which shouldn't be underestimated. I like Brian Mac, he speaks well after the game, giving credit to the opposition when it is due. He has managed Hardaker well and got the best out of him, when other coaches may have given up. He trusts his senior players and they have repaid that trust.

Next season will be really interesting. How will he replace Sinfield? I for one, wouldn't think there is much left in McGuire's tank, so Sutcliffe will need to step up, which he showed signs of doing this year. Will Galloway be anywhere near as good as Peacock? I doubt it, though he has some pedigree. Will Cuthbertson be as effective? Or will sides counter him? Will the replacement hooker be of sufficient quality, because Aiton was very good this year and may be an even bigger loss for the team.

You'll get nowhere fast on here with posts like that

O'Loughlin/McIlorum/Smith/Bowen is a pretty experienced long-term core. They should know how to manage games by now.

One's always injured, one's retired, one spends half the game on the bench and one's Matty Smith. We're doomed!

O'Loughlin as said that he as no regrets what so ever going for the two points.

Well having read the entire thread I side with Grimmy and Sgt Pepper.

I don't think Wane can hide behind the statistics for much longer and his Wigan career is starting to resemble that of Noble. Noble could do no wrong for at least two years because he saved us from relegation and Wane is now living off the back of doing the double.

This season has been pretty dire in many respects. The away form has been shocking and cost us the LLS. A big contribution to that was problems with goal kicking which have been staring Wane in the face for two seasons. Only at the end does he give the job to Bowen. Who has now left so we have the same problem again.

Despite the home record some of the home performances have been less than convincing to put it mildly (Salford was one of the worst games I have ever seen).

Two seasons going out of the CC in the manner we did is very poor. Against HKR Wane made changes to the side and they looked like strangers and against Cas the season before Wane was out coached.

He chose to go into the season with one injured and two Rookie centres which backfired. It was by more luck than judgement we ended up with Bateman and Gildard there.

Smith has been poor but gets picked every week. Problems of leadership on the pitch have not been addressed. According to Wane himself we have been guilty of "dumb"play numerous times but we still keep playing "dumb" when it matters (CC v HKR and now v Leeds).

He also subs by the clock and can't fail to see when Micky Mac goes off we drop in intensity but he still keeps doing it. Why on earth he didn't play him for the full 80 in the GF I do not know.

Wane may have to deal with the squad he is given (though I not convinced he has no say in it) but there are long standing issues with the way the team plays that have not been addressed. I think a different coach would get more out of this squad than Wane manages in the same way Madge turned virtually the same team Noble had around when he took over.

Who would you turn to DaveO?

He doesn't have a clue. What a one-eyed post. So SW has been living off the double has he? It's not like he's got us to another Grand Final since then? Or even two? Certain people have an agenda against SW. I'm guessing the Grand Final loss didn't hurt too much for those people because they can argue they were right.

Pathetic.

One thing to consider is some of the luck wane had in 2013. Look at the CC run. I mean seriously. It was on a plate with a knife and falk. Then warrington having their players dropping like flies after they had taken complete control in the final. But I wouldn't be willing to take credit away from wane for that, as leeds were disposed of to get there and warrington injuries or not still a very good comeback.

I think the 2013 double gives wane more good will in the bank than he deserves, overall.

so he had some luck in 2013. He had some bad luck in 2012, 2014 and 2015. Or does only good luck count in the argument against Wane?

I don't think wane's had any bad luck. In 2012 wigan just weren't good enough in the games that mattered. Theres been no bad luck in 2014 and 2015. It wasn't bad luck that wigan had a man sent off. It was a result of the mentality wane had instilled into them. In 2015 leeds last mninute try worked in wigans favour, as it meant they had a far easier run to get to the final, and in the final wigan had ample territory and posession to win the game against a tired but big hearted leeds team, but simply weren't good enough to score enough points.