My choice would be Edwards but not at the cost of an interim coach. My reasons for wanting him? I was lucky enough to watch Edwards make his debut and watched his entire career. I’ve yet to see a player with a better rugby brain than Edwards and I’m 100% sure he’ll have kept up with the game and still watches it when he can. He’s been out of the game but that doesn’t mean he doesn’t understand it. He went to RU and won 3 x premierships. He went to Wales RU and was described as the biggest ever loss to English rugby. His player management is renowned as first class and he’s a Wigan fan. What more could we ask for? If he’s supported by people like Lockers, there will be sufficient continuity but with an entirely new approach and I’d be intrigued to see how it went. One things for sure, his appointment would certainly put bums on seats and bring fans back through the turnstiles.
First, here's the 'glass half empty' fan's response (just thought I'd get this in before one of them actually does).
Edwards - Too long out of the game. Farrell - Messed up his big coaching chance with England RU. Ford - Mismanaged Sam Burgess. Deacon - Betrayed us.
Lam - There are rumours about mysterious off-field behaviour that make him totally the wrong choice. Furner - Would rather be at Leeds. Madge - Left last time at the first opportunity. Bennett - Has already said no.
Now, here are my thoughts.
Edwards - Yes, any time. He still lives and breathes Wigan RL, and is a scholar of the game. Farrell - Unsure. Suspect he would want equally big money to Edwards, but has a less impressive coaching record in RU. Ford - Unsure. Don't follow RU sifficiently to know how successful he's been, and it's true - he didn't come over well during the Sam Burgess debacle (would also probably mean that we could never sign Sam). Deacon - Don't know. Has he got what it takes?
Lam - Yes, any time. Another big Wigan guy, who has earned big notices down in Aus. Furner - Don't know. Madge - Yes, any time.Though I doubt it will happen. Bennett - Ditto.
First, here's the 'glass half empty' fan's response (just thought I'd get this in before one of them actually does).
Edwards - Too long out of the game. Farrell - Messed up his big coaching chance with England RU. Ford - Mismanaged Sam Burgess. Deacon - Betrayed us.
Lam - There are rumours about mysterious off-field behaviour that make him totally the wrong choice. Furner - Would rather be at Leeds. Madge - Left last time at the first opportunity. Bennett - Has already said no.
Now, here are my thoughts.
Edwards - Yes, any time. He still lives and breathes Wigan RL, and is a scholar of the game. Farrell - Unsure. Suspect he would want equally big money to Edwards, but has a less impressive coaching record in RU. Ford - Unsure. Don't follow RU sifficiently to know how successful he's been, and it's true - he didn't come over well during the Sam Burgess debacle (would also probably mean that we could never sign Sam). Deacon - Don't know. Has he got what it takes?
Lam - Yes, any time. Another big Wigan guy, who has earned big notices down in Aus. Furner - Don't know. Madge - Yes, any time.Though I doubt it will happen. Bennett - Ditto.
Edwards would be my man, but Obvs cash is the issue.
Lam, Yeah, I remember some stuff back in the early 2000's but nothing came of it and hasn't since so it was either paid off or didn't happen, but i thought he would be a good coach but maybe not the head.
I would love to have Maguire back also, just the discipline and the change he made. He changed SL.
Maguire reminds me of Edwards, with the commitment and determination.
The Missus told me that Edwards would get of the bus and race it to the next stop, i said, yeah that's Edwards.
There isn’t a stand out for me so any appointment is going to have an element of risk and it won’t please everyone (what decision ever would).
Give me the choice of literally anyone and I’d want Maguire back but that’s probably a pipe dream. Make me name a realistic choice and I’d probably be looking to a young up and comer from the NRL and at the minute Jason Demetriou seems to get plenty of praise.
I’m probably wrong but I just don’t buy in to any calls for a return for Edwards. He was a superb player and will always be a legend in this town but I just don’t think it’s as simple as stepping back in to a sport you’ve been out of for twenty years and becoming a head coach.
There isn’t a stand out for me so any appointment is going to have an element of risk and it won’t please everyone (what decision ever would).
Give me the choice of literally anyone and I’d want Maguire back but that’s probably a pipe dream. Make me name a realistic choice and I’d probably be looking to a young up and comer from the NRL and at the minute Jason Demetriou seems to get plenty of praise.
I’m probably wrong but I just don’t buy in to any calls for a return for Edwards. He was a superb player and will always be a legend in this town but I just don’t think it’s as simple as stepping back in to a sport you’ve been out of for twenty years and becoming a head coach.
Demetriou would be a good shout, especially as he knows the UK well.
I wouldn’t want MM back. He had his time, vastly improved the club but I don’t think you should go back.
My choice would be Edwards, it would be a gamble and he would need a good assistant preferably with experience, a gamble worth taking imo.
I’d be happy with either Furner or Demetriou, both have spent enough time learning their trade and plenty of good things are said about them as coaches. The down side is if they do well they’ll have NRL teams sniffing around them within a couple of years.
No idea whether any of them want to come. I’m sure that IL is doing his research and will make the best choice out of those interested and available.
Personally I would stay well away from Edwards, I can’t help but feel like most want him back for nostalgia rather than his ability as a coach. Whilst he may have had one of the best rugby brains the game has changed massively and he’s not been involved in it (just because he’s watched it, doesn’t make him a Super League standard coach), pair that with his presumably large wage demands and I would be wary.
Furner or Lam for me, great rugby brains, been involved in the game at a top level as it has evolved and would presumably be much more cost effective. In an ideal world I’d like to see Barrett, but realise that probably isn’t an option.
Does anyone know what Lam is supposed to have done? I’ve never heard anything about Lam having issues off the park. In Australia, he is always talked about as the ultimate professional. He could also bring his lad over with him and solve our halfback problem.
Looking at some of the other options.
Furner was heavily involved when Blake Ferguson left Canberra. I can’t remember everything about the saga, but it did cause did divisions in the player group which is something we don’t need. He does have a lot of experience as an assistant. His Canberra stats aren’t that great.
Demetriou has glowing reports too, but less exposure coaching in top grade, apart from as an assistant which he is at the moment. He could be another Madge.
Given what Mr Lenegan has said we can rule the like of Bennett out.
Does anyone know what Lam is supposed to have done? I’ve never heard anything about Lam having issues off the park. In Australia, he is always talked about as the ultimate professional. He could also bring his lad over with him and solve our halfback problem.
Looking at some of the other options.
Furner was heavily involved when Blake Ferguson left Canberra. I can’t remember everything about the saga, but it did cause did divisions in the player group which is something we don’t need. He does have a lot of experience as an assistant. His Canberra stats aren’t that great.
Demetriou has glowing reports too, but less exposure coaching in top grade, apart from as an assistant which he is at the moment. He could be another Madge.
Given what Mr Lenegan has said we can rule the like of Bennett out.
Someone made a single cryptic comment on here about Lam, and never followed it up ... so I was actually being facetious when I mentioned that. I'd have Lam like a shot.