Bitcon has to stay where he is. He's truly one of the top guys in his field. We've got a gem in him let's keep him in his current role.

As for Radders you don't really hear much about the good work he does. A lot of it is kept in house as it's personal but he does seem to enjoy what he's currently doing and his book makes it sound like he doesn't want a coaches role so, again, I'd keep him in there.

It's gonna be a tough one to find a quality number 2 for Wane. It's a massive role that's for sure.

What about Karl Harrison?

AJ wrote:Head Coach - Wane
Assistants - Deacon & ???

Radlinski & Bitcon continuing in their current roles.


I've heard the name Alan livingstone being mentioned as assistant to wane.

Just out of interest, does anyone know what happened to Martin Crompton, the former Blackpool Panthers coach? I thought he showed real potential as a coach and was unfortunate that there were so many problems behind the scenes at the club. I would have thought he could bring something to the club as part of the back room staff.

Yep.

Maguire and Wane have built a culture at Wigan - why change that?

Thanks Madge. Last year was one of the best ever watching Wigan RL in my lifetime and you can clearly see that our future is bright. I wish you were staying but have no problems in Shaun Wane talking over. I just hope now you can go out on a high, get your hands on the CC and give us another crack at the Aussies.

I think Wane will be the next coach but I have a nagging doubt over his experience of the wider world of RL. I'd have liked to have seen him do what John Winder has done and go to Aus and get 1st hand experience over there before returning here. Incidentally I think Winder will be Wane's assistant. By all accounts he's very good technically and tactically and was very highly regarded over in Aus. Madge also has a lot of time for him.

Big fat Garry Schofield is looking for a job.................He has a vision on how the game should be played you know !

With talk about the backroom staff I wonder if Madge is going to pillage the club after he's gone. I'm thinking maybe Bitcon? That's before we consider players that may be tempted to the NRL with Maguire.

Most players are tied down to long term contracts, the two you would expect to see go with him are Hoffman & Richards. Hopefully he has enough respect for what he has built to not take the staff with him, but we will have to wait and see.

Do we seriously consider that any of our playes are of such value as individual performers that Souths would feel an overwhelming need to add them to their playing rosta?

I'm not sure that Pat Richards is as respected in Australia as he is here, while Hoffman is going home anyway, so it won't be a case of him being 'pillaged'.

The only Wigan player I've seen mentioned by Souths fans since they nabbed Maguire - though I admit that I haven't thoroughly scoured their boards - is Sam Tomkins.

Just been reading madge 1 st phone call was 6 weeks ago mmm I hope his minds not been some were else and if it has I'm glad it's all out in the open now maybe we can get back were we was last season "


THREE long-distance phone calls. That's all it took to convince Russell Crowe that he should place the future of South Sydney in the hands of rookie coach Michael Maguire.

Despite not having a single face-to-face meeting, Crowe yesterday gave the thumbs up to the Rabbitohs' 10th coach in 10 years.

Untried at NRL level, some will label the appointment as a gamble. A risk.

Others, who know Maguire as "Madge" - like Storm coach Craig Bellamy and Matthew Johns - were yesterday declaring the signing a coup.

 

Still, the 37-year-old and[uformer UK Super League coach of the year must have said something of note in that first phone conversation with Crowe six weeks ago.[/u One thing is certain: it wasn't about movies.

Let's just say Madge isn't the biggest fan of the silver screen - he hasn't watched a movie in about five years - and that's quite ironic given his new boss just happens to be one of Hollywood's most bankable stars.


RELATED COVERAGE
Matty Johns in Souths' sights FoxSports, 11 hours ago
Rabbits target Matty Johns The Daily Telegraph, 1 day ago
Wigan's man to coach Rabbitohs Courier Mail, 1 day ago
Rabbitohs unveil Maguire as coach The Australian, 1 day ago
Rabbitohs get new coach Courier Mail, 1 day ago

Maguire, who grew up in Canberra, loves reading books instead. History is his favourite topic - especially the Roman Empire.

And this is where the Gladiator and Maguire got talking. The new Rabbitohs coach counts Meditations, the works of Roman Emperor Marcus Aurelius, as a source of guidance not only to rugby league but life as well.

In the famous series of personal writings, Aurelius penned his philosophies on leadership, perseverance and campaigning against the odds.

In that initial phone call, Maguire spoke with Crowe for almost an hour.

They spoke about what was required at Souths - leadership, perseverance and campaigning against the odds.

Maguire is all about his players - much like the attitude of the man Souths wanted first, Dragons super coach Wayne Bennett.

It's why Maguire won't let the spotlight of this announcement cruel Wigan's hopes of securing back-to-back Super League titles.

Maguire actually signed off on his four-year deal with Souths last Tuesday.

But despite the lump in his throat, the sweaty palms and the knot in his stomach that came with realising a lifelong dream to coach in the NRL, Maguire asked Crowe and Souths chief executive Shane Richardson for a promise.

They weren't to tell a soul or announce the deal until he had told his players back at the DW Stadium.

Maguire finally did that last night.

He told them he was leaving, but not until October. There's a Super League grand final to win first.

 

like you say, regardless of when this all first came about - at least it is now done and dusted and we can get on with it. MM is definitely a man with passion and determination and now the issue with him leaving is out in the open he can move on and concentrate on wigan for the rest of the 2011 season.

i doubt even if it did first come about 6 weeks ago that it would have made much different to our season so far.

our attack may not be up to scratch with last years' but we are only just coming close to a fully fit squad for the first time this season and to have STILL only lost two games no matter the other results, we aren't doing too bad anyway so far! only cas have lost less than us this year and the rest of the top 5 have lost the same amount as us. we have a decent points against total but our attack is quite far off some of the other teams in the top 5 so far, but we'll come to it in time.

in MM i still trust for the remainder of 2011 and so should everyone else

In one word- yes.

Simply Richards is good enough for the NRL.

He's a quality player with plenty to offer a club like Souths. His kicking ability, ariel presence and professional attitude will mean Madge will consider taking him with him. I'd place a bet on Richards being the top scorer if he's outside Inglis in a Madge coached side.

Other than that guys like Joel, Faz, Mossop and Sam are all under contract but all could play in the NRL.

IMO Richards is arguably good enough for the green and golds, although lacking a little bit of pace to make him the all round winger, hes still the best winger in SL by a mile

Id rather see any other player at wigan leave, apart from sam

Well, Richards has now become the officially rumoured first capture for Madge and Souths, though I'm not sure I believe it.

I really can't see that someone as astute as Maguire would start signing Wigan players for Souths while he's still our coach. Not only that, it would have to be pretty fast work since the players only found out at the end of last week.

Plus, I'm still not sure that Souths would be willing to pay Pat more than we would, given that he's now approaching the 'upper end' of his career.

Playing outside GI he would score a hatful, never mind his goal kicking, professionalism and teamwork.

I would hope that Madge wouldnt do this, so im sceptical at this point, but if he did, it certainly puts a different slant on his remaining time here, and certainly would add to the disappointment and anger of some.

I've heard Tomkins (Sam) is going with him.

I suppose we might as well get used to posts like this

you wish

You're right! I sure do!!!

Be a cool £1,000,000 transfer fee involved with this if true. He just recently signed a 5 year deal.

Alan Livingstone

He left Wigan ages ago and wasn't in a coaching role when he left.

I imagine it will be a possibility that Bitcon may go with them as he doesn't usually stay with a club for a long time. I hope he stays as he has done some fantastic work.

It's obvious that Maguire is going to try and take someone with him be it player or coach I just hope he doesn't because it will spark anger with the Wigan fans.

Don't think Sam will leave the club - he recently signed a 5 year deal but it's still a possibility

How did you work that one out?

Looks like Russell Crowe will be the new face of L'oreal Men Expert & Adidas for the next couple of months then!

surely MM won't be taking anyone with him, at the very least not for 2012 anyway?

i can't see IL allowing it especially considering the news coming as such a shock to IL. he'll work something into his departure contract i'd imagine (for want of a better word / phrase).

at the worst i can potentially see some of our reserves / u21s going out there on loans etc perhaps which i suppose will be a good thing.

please don't take any of our first teamers though MM