Well I never saw that coming.
With the improved performances this year and the side obviously going to be in contention (unless the wheels come off big time) at the end of the season I was resigned to Wane being here another year even if we don't win anything.
I'd love to know what has motivated him to leave.
That said I think he has made smart move. If he waited until things didn't go well and he got sacked I think he was in danger of being viewed as a one club man and that would not make him an attractive proposition to another top club. He could have gone the same way as his mate Cunningham or worse like G West and have been out of the game completely.
With rumours of Bateman and Sutton off, with Lockers playing less and less, Tommy another year older and Sam T gone maybe despite Hardaker signing he thinks next year will be a lot tougher and if he goes this year he can leave on a high. I can't say I'd fault his logic if so. Hardaker could screw up before he even gets here going of past records and he's not Sam T in terms of his RL brain anyway. Bateman and Sutton would be a loss. So if Wane knows what next years side will be and he's not happy with it better leave now than later.
Where he ends up will be interesting. If he's off to the NRL then he's made the absolute maximum he can out of being Wigan coach in terms of his coaching credentials. I don't think it will take long for them to find him out as one dimensional though. It can win stuff here but I doubt it will work in the NRL. If he goes to Les Cats he will improve them no doubt, making them harder to beat but ultimately I think you will just see Wigan MkII in terms of style of play and I don't think that will keep him in the job long term. The one thing he will have there if he does go to them is no shortage of funds. I doubt they would have not taken the option up on Sam T so he may end up with better players to work with than IL will provide.
Strange as though it may seem given my well known views on Wane he's gone up in my estimation by resigning! He's not sat about clinging onto the Wigan job for dear life but has backed himself to success elsewhere. It may have been made easier if he knows what next years squad is like and he isn't happy but even if so, he's not sat about waiting for the wheels to come off.
The focus now switched to IL and who he appoints. It also brings into focus the recruitment and squad for next year. The new coach could well inherit an inferior team so if other players do leave besides Sam T it's up to IL and Rad's to make sure that doesn't happen or any new coach's honeymoon period won't last long and Wane's decision to leave will have been proved smart.
