I may be mischief making but has anyone else clocked that Sir Shaun has been controversially overlooked for a British Lions coaching role in favour of some bloke called Andy Farrell? This will inevitably lead to a change in his relationship with Wales & Lions head coach and long time buddy Warren Gatland.

As Sion ap Edwards is not taking charge of Wales's summer tour either (he stays as defence coach whilst the less experienced Robin McBryde takes charge) it seems he isn't being groomed for any promotion with Wales, so could it be that he begins to feel unsettled in his present role during 2013? With no obvious "big Union job" alternative immediately apparent (England don't need him currently) I fear his name will loom large in speculative tabloid newspaper articles should Waney make a less than impressive start to next season.

As I've said many times before Shaun is a family man. I do think he will "come home" when the need arises to look after his parents.

Shaun has never closed the door on a return to League in some capacity.

I'd love to see it, though I suspect he'd need to be trained up, as they say.

how edwards reacts now will prove whether he is a great coach - reading between the lines it might be time to reinvent his methods.

The only reasons a coach would move from the comfort zone of career prospects and money in RU would be if he was very rich and could choose to indulge a passion, on his last legs as a RU coach, or looking for a longer term career in the NRL.

Don't hold your breath.

Cannot for the life of me understand why anyone would get excited about Edwards coaching Wigan, he had no RL coaching experience what so ever and hasn't been involved in league for years.

Then again, he's "a Wiganer" like wane, so would probably not be able to do any wrong in the eyes of a lot of our fans

Or when his lad is old enough to fend for himself.

He could coach us in his sleep.
He practically coached us when we did the grand slam and anyone who saw him play knows he was like having a coach on the pitch.

The day he does coach us - and i firmly believe it will happen one day...
I WILL BE EXCITED.


That said i don't think it will be anytime soon.

You're right about him having no experience. As I said in my earlier post, he'd need to be eased back in.

But let's look at who his rivals in Britain would be. McDermott? Millward? Agar? Anderson? Wow ... Edwards would really struggle to compete against that lot.

The difference is that Shaun is a scholar of the game - much as Maguire was. I'm not saying he'd be as good as Maguire, but you can't afford to underestimate an intellectual approach to sport.

Gatland has simply split his staff between Wales and England. He could never have taken the full Welsh staff it wouldn't have worked.

I would class Millward as a scholar of the game. Speaks well, is analytical, bigs the game up and is always full of fresh ideas.

Not a man manager though. Edwards is spoken very highly of as a man manager.

Agreed. Millward talks a very good fight, but aside from that - unless he has a ready-made top team at his disposal, as he had with Saints - he is an absolute numbskull.

Shhh don't let logic and reason get in the way of the happy clapping...........

what was his RU coaching experience like then?.....dont let the blinkers blind the logic.

Yesterdays Daily Express gave a very good insight in Warren Gatlans reasons for taking Andy Farrell instead of Shaun Edwards on the Lions tour.
In the article he says that leaving out Shaun was one of the most agonising desicions he has ever had to make.
But he goes on to say that having talked to coaches and players who have worked with Andy he is excited at the prospect of working with him.He is excited by the freshness and new ideas Andy would bring to the coaching team and also by the impact he had in the recent great win of England over the All Blacks.

On the same page of the Express an Article by a sports reporter gives another insight into what may behind the move.
When speaking about the relevant coaches he says, "Farrells powers of inspiration are no less than Edwards,but without the occasionally manic edge which can be counter productive".
Who do you think would make the better RL coach of the two,would Andy get more out of thr players with his quiete authoriety or would Shaun drive them with the same intensity he used to show when playing ?.

My own opinion is that Shaun would be to much of an Alex Murphy type and how he put the fear of god into players years ago would not work with modern players today.

I think that as coaches they would make a brilliant pair, however the egos may get in the way as they both like to be "in charge". I believe either could do a good job, but do share your concerns about the Edwards style, although I suspect it could be fun to watch.
If fans think Wane is intense, Edwards would take it up another notch or two.

I just think it's very sad for the game of RL that two former powerhouses of the game are being given their coaching opportunities in another sport.

Wouldn't want him as our coach, ever. No experience what so ever coaching RL. The myth about him coaching the grand slam team is ridiculous, Dean Bell took most training sessions and lets be honest, it was hardly a difficult team to coach was it?

Saw Edwards on "time of our lives" and he came across to me as an arrogant, self ed horrible little creature. He's a Wigan great, of course he is, but a Wigan coach.....no thanks.

Your entitled to your opinion. Same as I am to mine.
It was well known at the time and stated by westy the involvement of Edwards.
I know giz and he's not like you think at all.
But if I'm right and he does ccoach us one day we shall see.

I love the idea that Faz is quiet and calm.
Having witnessed his team talk first hand that's laughable.

I'd think either are more than capable of doing the job one day.
But I'd have giz top of my list.

I'm with you on his lack of experience - and the longer he stays out of RL, the more of a problem this becomes.

But I'm sorry, the bit I've underlined is utter crap.

If you don't know Shaun - and you clearly don't, because you're basing this assumption on a TB interview - then you shouldn't spout such gibberish.

As a fan whose team was left in bits by Wigan teams in which he featured I used to think that he was. Having since met him I can assure you he isn't.

I am basing it on a TV interview, yes. That's why I put "he came across"

Iv never claimed to have "known him" or even "met him"

But it also appears that you are using that perception as part of your reasoning for not wanting him to coach Wigan.

Any times I have met him I have I found him to be very polite and certainly not the great "I am."

Met Shaun a few times over the years. He's a very quiet and unassuming family man.
He was a bit livelier in his younger years (which of us aren't)?

Watched 'Time of our Lives' a few times and never got this impression at all. In fact I feel he seemed the most nervous of the three.

Offiah and Hanley came across much more relaxed, due to more media training experience I'd expect!