We get a new coach on Wednesday (personally I'd of kept Noble), but what do people think will happen now? Do you think we'll get rid of any players? Sign any new ones? If so who?

We'll get a new coach and Lenagan will hope thats enough to get more out of the players we already have because he's not willing to shell out big money for better ones.

The good thing about keeping the same squad is the side will be pretty settled for a change and more youngsters will hopefully get chances aswell.

I do also think we have plenty of players that can improve given the correct coaching and conditioning.

We should have an advantage over alot of sides early doors in 2010 because unlike alot of them we won't have players settling in.

How do you know we get a new coach on Wednesday? I'd retain Bailey, then look at getting a cheap young half back who isn't ready for a full season yet but can step in now and then in case of injury/loss of form. At the moment it looks like we'll be on our if any of Tomkins, Leuluai, Riddell or McIllorum get injured. Then in a couple of years Riddell will be off, Leuluai can get the 9 shirt, Tomkins gets the 7 and the young half back gets the 6, happy days.

Wheeler/Eastmond/Greg McNally/Hayne/Marshall....

Take your pick!

We have to address Phil Bailey's and George Carmont's contracts should be the first thing. At the moment nothing is official so in the next week after the announcement I would expect something to be announced.

Then the coach should look at his backroom staff (if he has not done already) and then look to sign any players for next season (if any are left) and look to what we are going to try and do next season.

Michael Maguire would be the ideal coach out of the rumours going round. He was assistant coach to Matthew Elliot for four years and was also the strength and conditioning coach and assistant coach with Canberra Raiders Reserve grade and then for the last four years he has been assistant at Melbourne Storm to Craig Bellamy - one of the best coaches in rugby league.

He has a fantastic reputation in the NRL, in fact in 2008 Brisbane Broncos wanted to sign him as their head coach to replace Wayne Bennett!

This is what Craig Bellamy has said about him:

"I have no doubt Michael will be a head coach at some stage," Bellamy said last night.

"Whether it is now or in the future, he has all the traits required to be successful.

"I probably haven't given him the raps he deserves to be honest, but he is very important to what we do.

"He is extremely thorough, he is a very hard worker and extremely passionate about what he does. He is always looking to improve himself and looking for new or better ways to do things and he is good at getting his message across.

"I don't know how long an apprenticeship you need to serve these days. But he has a burning ambition to be a first grade coach and if he ever got offered a post I wouldn't stand in his way."

Maguire coaches the backs at Melbourne whereas Kearney coaches the forwards. He has also took over as head coach when Bellamy has been away on country and origin duties.

I will be excited about the prospect of having MaGuire as the coach of Wigan - if of course it is him!

That stuff makes it sound even more exciting if, as you say, it's true.

I started today feeling pretty down. But I'm feeling strangely upbeat now.

I like the fact he coaches the backs as they play so well at Melbourne and then leave Wane to sort out the forwards!

I was just about to post exactly the same thing.

its not going be that hard to coach slater, inglis, cronk, finch, chambers etc
compared to are back line though is it come on think about. Also there pack is outstanding as well. He might improve us a bit but still wont be really strong until we get some new signings

we do not have 1 world class player in our squad how can we challnge?

By those same Australian names that have been mentioned, i'd argue that potentially nobody in super league has any 'world class' players currently.

Great minds think alike!

Or equally stupid ones!

Errrr.... great minds yeah!

If it is to be McGuire then things will change.
He will recruit his own backroom staff I would imagine and as he's been an asst coach as well as strength & cond coach then he will be able to have both an in depth view of all aspects as well as being able to introduce his overall plan.
New coaches aften bring players with them as Noble brought Flanagan, Withers and Fielden. McGuire may well bring a quality player here.
We now have a large squad with many younger players. He will see that we need to recruit senior players to bring the experience we need and guide the youngers both on and off the field.
I don't expect more than two signings but I'm sure he will change the style of rugby we play.

Spot on, so why get rid of Nobby? 2 semi-finals this year is overachieving.

Obviously because hes not a yes man as he pointed out he and IL have different views on certain things.

I would expect Noble was on a decent wage as well and going off IL's liking of 'value' then i suspect the new coach may come cheaper.

I think the problem we have set ourselves now is that we have set a benchmark that reaching semi-finals isn't good enough. So what happens if we reach the semi finals and lose again? Do we start sacking our coaches on a yearly basis? Hopefully the new boss, barring us being awful from start to finish, will be given time.

I just hope people don't get their hopes up too much because without a couple of additions to the squad I don't think we'll be winning any trophies next year.

If IL appoints Shaun Wane, you could be right - chepness is the chief motivator. If however IL appoints an Aussie, who's left the NRL to come over here, and has uprooted his family as well, your view will have been exposed as nonsensical. Again.

As has been said Bailey & Carmont's contracts should be reviewed.

Bailey should be released, and depending how his body will hold up, Carmont should maybe go the same way - now before I get flamed, if we are to ever make ago of Pryce or Goulding, now needs to be the time, and given George's age and the fact he is falling apart, perhaps we need to release him. That being said, I would be happy with a year.

McGuire in - Wane Assistant.

That would mean we need to appoint a new reserve coach & potentially a conditioner depending if McGuire see's value in Forshaw or indeed if he goes with Noble.

Lyon, Rads & Pendelbury you would assume would remain in their current roles.

Then we really need to make a decision about players, we need cover at half to enable Gleeson/Locky to remain in their proper positions, unless the reserve 7 is likely to be able to step up next year - Rogues thoughts??

I would really like us to sign a prop and loan O'Carroll out for the season, maybe send him to Celtic to work with Noble?

Following that, id like to see a pre-season that didn't involve a holiday island, Rivington is still a big hill isn't it?



I wish Noble was still head coach & I also don't believe he was treated properly, but its not going to happen, so its time to back the new coach as far as the playing side goes.

I really hope we aren't disapointed on Wednesday.

No wonder Lenagan wanted him, he's probably got a list of 27 wingers and 21 centres for McGuire to look through and decide which to sign



He's give him £15 to sign a prop forward.

S.



In fairness, Roberts on a 4yr contract, which defy's all precident (Sam aside) from IL in contract deals still puzzles me to this day.

You can't possibly get rid of Carmont the guy is giving his all for us every week and was our best player for the first 20mins on Friday.

George Carmont has played on through injury for many a game and really deserves a new deal for sure I will be really peeved if he doesn't as Pryce/Goulding are good enough to lace his boots.

One more year for George and see how Goulding and Pryce go and next year if none of them are good enough to make it then sign Matt Cooper/top aussie.

I agree he should get a year, but will he take it given he wants 2. I hope he does get one, but I hope he is fit enough to last a year, at some point all those injuries will catch up with him.

Carmont is worth a years deal with a years mututal option imo but if he isn't willing to accept that and is demanding 2 years or nothing we may be forced into calling his bluff.

I really hope things work out between the club(Lenagan) and Carmont. To lose him from a squad that doesn't look like being added to would be a huge blow.