Interesting article, are we going to see a shift in recruitment policy, such as: 1) Target older players? 2) Steer away from "project signings"? 3) Recruit players with a more established name? 4) Less recruiting of players from 'bottom of the ladder' clubs? 5) Move away from bringing more youth in? Or is this just an off-the-cuff remark restricted to the odd player over the next few years. It certainly goes against the "Lets stick thirteen Wigan lads out on the pitch" dream target, but by how much? Another thing to consider - with SW making statements like this does this quash the rumours of a new head coach for the 2017 season? Quote Shaun Wane may change his recruitment policy in wake of criticism this season. The Warriors boss has favoured ‘project players’ during nearly five years in charge – to a large degree of success. But that may change as Wane considers targeting older players. He admitted: “If we do bring someone in, the players I’m looking at are more established, experienced players.” Wane has been a strong advocate of using players from the club’s academy system. And although he has sprinkled his squads with seasoned stars – Matty Bowen the obvious example – the bulk of his outside recruits have been made from poorer-performing clubs. Taulima Tautai proved Wigan’s unlikely match-winner in an 18-12 victory at Hull FC which kept their hopes alive of a top-two finish. The prop was signed from Wakefield, while other current players picked from clubs at the bottom of the ladder include Ben Flower (Crusaders), Dan Sarginson, Tony Clubb (London) and John Bateman (Bradford). Wane also brought in centre Anthony Gelling from part-time New Zealand outfit, Auckland Vulcans, and developed him into one of Super League’s best centres. But he has admitted for the first time his mid-season move for Kiwi Test forward Frank-Paul Nuuausala may be the start of a shift towards more established names. While he brushes off outside criticism – which was particularly fierce after an 8-6 home loss to Widnes – it underlined to him the demands of immediate success at Wigan. He added: “The way some people reacted after that defeat, there is no give for developing players. “There won’t be too many of those (project players) unfortunately. It’s not worth (the criticism).” Wane is thought to be considering a move for a winger for 2017, even on a short-term basis, as Dom Manfredi will miss a large chunk of next season through injury.'" www.wigantoday.net/sport/wigan-w ... -1-8125607

Interesting article, are we going to see a shift in recruitment policy, such as: 1) Target older players? 2) Steer away from "project signings"? 3) Recruit players with a more established name? 4) Less recruiting of players from 'bottom of the ladder' clubs? 5) Move away from bringing more youth in? Or is this just an off-the-cuff remark restricted to the odd player over the next few years. It certainly goes against the "Lets stick thirteen Wigan lads out on the pitch" dream target, but by how much? Another thing to consider - with SW making statements like this does this quash the rumours of a new head coach for the 2017 season? Quote Shaun Wane may change his recruitment policy in wake of criticism this season. The Warriors boss has favoured ‘project players’ during nearly five years in charge – to a large degree of success. But that may change as Wane considers targeting older players. He admitted: “If we do bring someone in, the players I’m looking at are more established, experienced players.” Wane has been a strong advocate of using players from the club’s academy system. And although he has sprinkled his squads with seasoned stars – Matty Bowen the obvious example – the bulk of his outside recruits have been made from poorer-performing clubs. Taulima Tautai proved Wigan’s unlikely match-winner in an 18-12 victory at Hull FC which kept their hopes alive of a top-two finish. The prop was signed from Wakefield, while other current players picked from clubs at the bottom of the ladder include Ben Flower (Crusaders), Dan Sarginson, Tony Clubb (London) and John Bateman (Bradford). Wane also brought in centre Anthony Gelling from part-time New Zealand outfit, Auckland Vulcans, and developed him into one of Super League’s best centres. But he has admitted for the first time his mid-season move for Kiwi Test forward Frank-Paul Nuuausala may be the start of a shift towards more established names. While he brushes off outside criticism – which was particularly fierce after an 8-6 home loss to Widnes – it underlined to him the demands of immediate success at Wigan. He added: “The way some people reacted after that defeat, there is no give for developing players. “There won’t be too many of those (project players) unfortunately. It’s not worth (the criticism).” Wane is thought to be considering a move for a winger for 2017, even on a short-term basis, as Dom Manfredi will miss a large chunk of next season through injury.'" www.wigantoday.net/sport/wigan-w ... -1-8125607

Project players are fine so long as they're not the whole story.

I've always felt the way forward is a combination of new talent and established excellence. And at present it does feel like a little more of the latter is needed. At present Wigan have no stars. In fact, we only have a few dangerous strike-players. There's only really Gelling and Williams in the backs, and Bateman and Tautai in the forwards, with solid backup from Flower.

It isn't always down to club policy, though. The injuries to McIlorum, Farrell and Manfedi were real sickeners, while nobody could have expected that Sam and Joel would be as bad as they've been (it remains to be seen whether Budgie does the same, or maybe bucks the trend).

But we can't have any more games wherein we fail to score against an 11-man Widnes outfit. That was amateur night.

If this is genuinely a new direction, I'm happy.

The problem is coaching, not recruitment

Well, it's both, isn't it? It's obvious we need a winger, at the very least, to replace Manfredi, and of course there's the half-back issue.

One things for sure; the club can't afford to let things drift after the way this season has gone.

100 %

Waney was in Aldi Standish tonight around 5pm...looked scruffy and overweight....great example to the Wigan club...

I find Wane's comments very odd given how the project players have been some of our best performers.

Project players however should be just that. Projects. Not lads who are thrown straight into the first team right from the off and expected to make an impact.

Also to brand some of the players as projects is a bit daft. Gelling yes I agree with, possibly Flower, but looking at it Clubb was an international player and captain of his club. Sarginson was an England nights player, Tautai we had been interested in before he signed for Trinity, he was an NRL standard player and had torn it up in SL for 2 seasons before he came to us and Bateman was a young kid who everyone could see was going to be a star player.

Maybe I'm a synic but it seems to me to be a bit of a swipe at the fans for losing patience with the team. I will put on record personally I'm fairly happy with the make up of the squad, however I'm not happy with the style of rugby we are playing and that is the source of my frustration, not the lads putting on the shirts.

Let's not forget a few years ago Wane was talking about a change in recruitment policy and how we needed to bring in size, he subsequently built one of the smallest in stature squads I've seen take to the field in SL.

I think this is pre empting a move for an outside back like Michaels or someone at the end of their NRL career, which is fine. I think sadly due to the nature of Manfreddi's injury we need someone capable of giving us 2 years max before moving on/retiring and we then are in a position to have Dom back fit and performing.

I'm sure you go shopping in a three-piece suit.

Its a very odd article - surely Tommy for next season, Matty Smith, FPN, TT, and the ones Jonh mentioned above were older or experienced players? Sam and Joel back into the squad were hardly young inexperienced players as well.Seems like a bit of a dummy spit (again).

What most fans want is a balance of younger players and some experienced players and maybe one or two project players as well - which is close to what we have anyway. Now if we can get them all actually injury free and playing some decent rugby - that seems to be the real challenge.

It's his job to blend project/academy players with experience. Why is he yet again spitting his dummy because the fans dare to mention their boredom watching his team play? He can't do anything quietly can he, everything has to be done shouting.

Regardless of the above, it's the tactics and not personnel that are the issue, he needs to stop shifting the blame and accept the whatever he is coaching isn't working in some respects. Defence, effort and spirits are obviously superb, we just fall to bits when we have to do what should be the enjoyable part, the players don't even look close to enjoying it, it's more relief when we score, fans and players.

Smith Will be at Saints next season.

It seemed very much like a "fine have it your way" article for me and yet another example of him spitting his dummy out.

The more he comes out with these comments, and his general demeanour when interviewed, the more I cringe.
I understand nobody likes being criticised, and for sure his job is splayed all over television and the media, and discussed by less-qualified people in groups like these.
He lives in a glass bubble and even gets questioned about his appearance when going shopping.............
I'd like him to get back to just discussing things in a professional way, and try to park some of the emotion.
I'd like to think the Wigan club does have discussions with various people, to try and turn our terrific defence into great attack. But we also need to learn to pass and catch, stay onside, and not give away penalties.

All that is true, I think, and there was another bit in there which I found worrying, where he refers to the Widnes performance as a "blip", rather than what we've seen as the norm all season. Sam said a similar thing recently, too.
If it was just a blip, why is our attack the worst it's been for 30-odd years?

He's living in a dream world and the dummy has well and truly been spat, he along with Sam need to wind their necks in especially Sam, he's done bugger all since he's come back and potentially could be another Falcao if I'm honest. Falcao did his cruciate and was never the same player as he lost his pace and the same thing looks like it's happened to Sam.

When did Falcao play for Wigan ? I don't remember him

I think he made his debut in 1967 together with Deroma and Cassinelli.
Not sure what happened to Falcao but the other two made careers outside of RL.

This is what frustrated me about not taking the two twice against Widnes. Normally I'd back the players for trying to win the game, but it seems like they're not aware how woeful we are in the final twenty and that is worrying.

He gave the team 2/10 for the Hull match so god only knows what score he gave for the Widnes debacle.
I fully understand the need to try and keep a positive front but if SW genuinely believes it was a blip then I suggest he stop's smoking the wacci bacci or alternatively share it with the suffering speccies to help numb the senses while the team serves up dross every week.
A strong work ethic and team spirit is great but on their own are not enough.
I genuinely can't link the coaching with 2012 to today's total lack of flair. It's as if SW has morphed from Guardiola to Pullis in football parlance.
Some of this is obviously a decline in quality within the squad but some it seems to be a deliberate change in tactics. A few years back the first 20 minutes we blitzed the opposition the first 20 now is totally an utterly devoid of intensity. We seem intent on saving ourselves for the "business end" of the season thinking we a turn it on like a tap.
Let the players play Shaun. I still think that technically we are a poor set but at least lets go down with a bit of bravado rather than grim, turgid joyless rugby for both players and fans.

He played 1 game under Millward and was signed along with Tim Jonkers, Johnny Welly and Keith Lemon



Nah Falcao was a top footballer for Athletico Madrid and did his cruciate ligament resulting in him turning turd, I merely made a reference to him as hasn't Sam had the same injury?

On top of this, Wane keeps banging on week after week that we've not been good enough in attack. 'Haven't been ourselves', 'up to our standards' or 'we haven't clicked'. With a maximum of 4 games left i still don't understand why they believe were good enough to reach what they're saying to the press. Surely if they're still saying this at the business end of the season, its obvious that something isn't working. It shows how tactically poor Wane is. Albeit we've had a lot of injuries but how can they expect to reach the levels they're expecting after 8 months of trying... its delusional at its finest.

he's moved up market, used to shop in Lidl

he's moved up market, used to shop in Lidl

I can sort of see where Wane's coming from on the youth side of things. We're trying to give them more of a chance, because it's cheaper and we don't want to let someone go who might come back to haunt us. This isn't helped by the reserves situation which is a joke. They have to basically slot straight into the first team and see if they sink or swim.

But comments like some of these seem like a sarcastic swipe at the supporters. If he's not careful, he's going to talk himself out of a job. The club's recruitment has been hit and miss for a while.

Gelling, Tautai, Clubb, Flower all very inconsistent for me.
S. Tomkins and J Tomkins have been disappointing to put it mildly.
Sarginson seems to have gone backwards after a great year last year.
Mossop? Well, enough said.
Jury's still out of FPN as he only joined halfway through the season.

Bateman's the only one who's been decent but I wouldn't class him as a project. He's good enough, strong enough and skillful enough as he is now. He's only going to get better with age. Not sure I can say the same about the others...

Something's also going to have to be done about SOL - I'm all for cutting the guy slack, but the bottom line is he's got to be taking up a fair part of the cap and we aren't getting the minutes off him. Has he got another season left in him?