Its interesting to see the polarisation around coaches performance.
On the hand, SW can be shown to have done a good job up until this point in time, and on the other, trophies dont get handed out for another few months.

What can definitely be said is that he has out performed the doom monger expectations of January, and has shown good judgement in the capabilities of the younger players.

If he can add mental toughness to win the show-down games against Leeds, then he can certainly claim to have cracked 90% of the problem.

As a work in progress, no one can doubt SW has proved to have performed to the equal of, or even in excess of, what could reasonably have been expected from him when he took over.
The question that remains is how that progress measures against the expectation levels of the board and spectators.
There are certainly a vocal minority on here who will claim failure for any season that does not bring a minimum of 1 trophy. Whether you class these people as aspirational or delusional, is very much a personal judgement.

I also think that some of the comments which state that SW inherited everything he knows about RL from MM to be a little dismissive. As far as I am aware, SW made a reputation with the juniors of being a tough task master, building team spirit and developing talent LONG before MM arrived any near the NW of England.
The way some of the posts read, I am surprised that MM wasnt considered as a candidate for pontif and that SW couldnt read or write before MM turned up to show him the way.

I go along with this, and when you consider the players who left, and the players we have injured, the guy deserves some credit to be where we are at this moment in time.

The problem is we can't really judge greatness and good seasons because of the playoffs. I buy a season ticket that gives entry to regular season games and therefore I'd like to win that comp more than any other I.e. GF or CC.
Some people would rather finish 5th and have 40's and 50's put past them throughout the season as long as they won the playoffs where refs decisions have as much influence as the players. That is up to them. I'd rather Shaun Wane do it this way.

A few months ago I'd have said that if SW failed to win anything this year, his number might be up - primarily because the revolution Michael Maguire ushered in seemed to have stopped in its tracks. But since then there have been massive other issues - the loss of so much experience, RU and NRL vultures constantly hovering around the club, the Hock idiocy etc. To achieve what he's achieved with such a reduction in strength is pretty remarkable, and I can't see IFL losing patience with him must yet, unless the rest of this season goes absolutely pear-shaped.

Careful Cruncher.... Those comments could be construed as you thinking SW is the greatest coach ever to be at WRLFC... You "happy clapper" you

Some odd comments on this thread.

Why is it the thing today to talk things down and expect the worst? We are playing great Rugby despite losing players and injuries but some take no pleasure in this.

Don't be so bloody pompous and judgemental.

A lot of people seem to be working on the basis that they didn't like the Shaun Wane appointment at the outset, have thus expected him to fail, and are now creating a semi-imaginary scenario where he will have failed if he doesn't win us a trophy very soon. As I said earlier, I'm not at all sure that IL will share this latter view, though I've no doubt he'll start getting frustrated if we continue to blow semi-finals.

The continuity argument means many including myself who fully supported the appointment of Shaun Wane So your presumption is totally incorrect. Our owner gave Brian Noble 3 seasons when the club was at a very different stage. On that basis, why would your or anybody presume that our owner will give Shaun Wane the same length of time given we are now at a more advanced and beneficial stage in a weakening competition. You cannot inherit a club winning either a SL GF or a CC Final each season and herald winning the hubcap as satisfactory let alone progress. To his credit Shaun Wane, the players and the owner were publically unhappy with the outcome of last season.

The climate of the game has changed since Michael Maguire was here, never mind Brian Noble, and not for the better. Wigan in particular are suffering because of their high profile. Perhaps if Shaun Wane is guilty of anything, it's not asking Leeds how they manage to keep avoiding the attention of RU and NRL scouts. Okay, they briefly lost Smith and Walker, but how Maguire, Hall, Watkins and Jones-Bishop aren't all 'as certain to go' as Sam totally baffles me. But that aside, it's still ridiculous to argue that winning the hubcap - still the hardest trophy to acquire - is a fail.

We'd all prefer the other more meaningful trophies, but Wane has been denuded of players compared to Madge. He's now having to bring through a new generation of Wigan youngsters, something that will not happen overnight. IL doesn't strike me as the sort of Whelan-esque individual who won't take that into consideration. Though, as I said, I have no doubt that he may be tempted to look further if we keep on losing the big games. That was the end of Nobby, as it showed that his limitations were sub-Wigan standard. And it may conceivably be of Shaun Wane.

Can't speak for Brian and Kev but this fan's not laughing. You were really unlucky to lose the play off semi; had you got to OT, I've no doubt whatsoever you'd have beaten wire just as we did. From a purely selfish perspective I'd be delighted if wigan sacked Wane but, if I'm honest, I think a decent British coach deserves better.
Interestingly, there are quite a few on the Leeds board who'd like to see McDermott leave; I really don't get that either.

Its rather an easy one to work out. They never wanted him in the first place and any sign that your side will start losing they will jump on the forums and mouth off. For some they would rather see their club fail if it meant that McDermott or Wane would get fired. As people hate to be wrong.

This site was not too bad but Wiganwarriorsfans.com up to 5-6 weeks ago had 2-3 posters whose only intention seemed to be to slag Wane off about anything related to the club. Especially new signings and especially Blake Green and Matty Smith.

IIRC Our record v Warrington is worse than v Leeds making your assumption somewhat poor.

The week before the GF you played as well as we did. Sheer speculation but had you played wire in the final I reckon you'd have beaten them, regardless of past records between your two club,s unless your levels inexplicably dropped or theirs rose.

It's getting a bit surreal this. Here I am, talking up wigan and their coach while one of their fans argues the contrary

I'm gonna have to go for a lie down.

Really impressed with Wane. I was not confident of the appointment when it was made but he has proved me wrong. He has the team running great lines and they are very well drilled. I was never confident he was the man to do this but he has proven me wrong.

He has also brought in a real toughness both physically and mentally to the team and pride in the shirt.

Great start to his coaching career at the top level, long may it continue.

Wane has brought the Wigan back to Wigan

Great tactics employed recently by Wigan. Get the game won in the first 25-30 minutes then take your foot off the gas to ensure we don't burn ourselves out in September.

Madge was able to bring in four players from the NRL (IIRC). Piggy, Hoffman, Lima and Finch. All proven quality.

Wane lost a whole raft of players last year and this year, and he is getting results most of us would never have dreamed of with new recruits and youngsters.

Yes, some of the things he says make me cringe, and he could do with more media training, but he won't be remembered for what he says, he'll be remembered for the silverware he wins.

I am very happy to be top of the table, with a third of our salary cap sitting in the stands.

Me too.

The thing is though, that Tony Smith and Brian McDermott really aren't too fussed about us being top of the table. It means zip. In fact they may have a wry smile on their face as our over exertions.

The saving grace here is that with so many players out, they will hopefully be fresh come the important part of the season.

I really hope SW knows what he is doing. I really do.

Mmm. I am not Wire fan (obviously) but your disregard for their ability is bizarre. Remember, this is the same Wire that easily beat Leeds in the CC Final. Not a one off either. Wigan routinely find Wire more difficult to play than Leeds who come the final series of SL then Leeds conservative finals football and experience makes them a very difficult opponent but one Wigan stil chose to face.

Leeds have shown that gaining a very high position let alone winning the LL is trivial. We as Wigan fans can revel in it but the end result is that Leeds are considered the team that won SL. Let's not kid ourselves; in British RL today the CC Final and the SL GF are the 2 most prized and regarded achievements.

You can play the best RL week in week out for 90% of the season but it matters not. During our CC winning streak nobody played more entertaining RL than Widnes. Sure, we played some too but the difference was that we played finals football when it was required, Widnes could not but they like some of our fans do today satisfy themselves with with hugely entertaining easy wins when it does not matter.

I hope Shaun Wane delivers success. By that I mean winning CC's and/or SL GFs. If people hate a club then that club is successful. Patrionising pats on the head are for other clubs not Wigan RLFC.

Your post is incorrect. Madge famously came to Wigan and made no changes to the playing squad that Brian Noble had under his charge. Lets remind ourselves of the 2010 SL GF Winning Team;

Wigan: S. Tomkins, Goulding, Gleeson, Carmont, Richards, Deacon, Leuluai, Fielden, McIlorum, Coley, Hansen, J. Tomkins, S. O'Loughlin. Replacements: Prescott, Riddell, Paleaaesina, Farrell.

Piggy was here already and transformed by Madge and Mark Bitcon. You will even notice a young Liam Farrell emerging under Madge.

Shaun Wane inherited a club transformed by Madge. Our owner played a huge role in that but he never achieved what he wanted until Madge arrived. The youngsters coming through now are products of the Madge Way. Arguably, Bitcon has had a bigger role than Shaun Wane.

I thought Madge brought in Deacon?

Stated in his post match comments that he doesn't think Farrells defence has been outstanding this year! What has he been watching?

I rather hope he is saying these things just to make your blood boil...