The Super League winner who can’t get a job in the NRL
Five grand finals in seven years, three premierships and a Challenge Cup — if former Wigan coach Shaun Wane can’t get a gig in the NRL, who can? PLUS, the results of our rugby league name poll.
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His record would be the envy of all NRL coaches but Englishman Shaun Wane just can’t get a look-in for a job in Australia.
Wane’s coaching history would match the likes of Craig Bellamy and Trent Robinson.
He led Wigan to five grand finals in seven years, winning three titles as well as a Challenge Cup crown. Wane left Wigan at the end of last year but holds out hope of landing an NRL head coaching job.
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“I’m very confident in my own ability,” Wane said. “I know I can deliver the same success in the NRL.
“I know what I think about the game and the standards I have within the team.
“I know I can make a success in Australia. I need to convince a club I am the man.”
Despite his stellar record, Wane was not considered for the recent Gold Coast and Newcastle jobs. Mal Reilly was the last high-profile English coach to crack it in the NRL, leading the Knights to their historic 1997 grand final win. Former England coach Steve McNamara had success as an assistant at the Roosters and Warriors before moving to Catalans.
Wane said he wasn’t keen on an assistant job despite having been Michael Maguire’s right-hand man when Maguire led Wigan to success in 2010.
ENNIS & SON TARGET FIRST TITLE
MICHAEL Ennis is eyeing the perfect Father’s Day present when the former Shark coaches his son Randy in his grand final on Saturday.
Ennis is in his first year in charge of De La Salle Caringbah’s under-9s, who will take on the Engadine Dragons.
“It will be a nice present,” Ennis said. “My oldest boy won his under-9s grand final at that age and he is reminding his little brother about it.”
Ennis’s Fox League commitments have allowed him to step into the junior coaching ranks this year and he has enjoyed his park footy experience.
“It’s pure love for a sport,” he said. “It’s a fulfilling experience to be able to see kids who have a genuine passion.
“I’ve got a really good group. We’ve had a lot of fun.
“Sometimes it’s natural to get competitive but it’s really nice to see that age group where they are so pure and love the game.
“They are good little mates. That’s what makes it most enjoyable for me.”
The junior league season will end this weekend with more than 600 teams taking part in grand finals and gala days across 11 districts.
LISTEN! On the Matty Johns podcast, Matty lets fly on the crisis engulfing his former club the Newcastle Knights, and the team look at the best NRL rivalries and recall some of their favourite interview moments.
You can subscribe to the podcast on iTunes, on Spotify or Google Podcasts.
HOLDING A GRUDGE
WE are sorry, Matty Vandenberg.
The Sport Confidential reader threatened to throw his TV off the Harbour Bridge if ex-Kiwi prop Jerry Seuseu didn’t make our Bradman Best Names team last week.
Matty now needs a trip to Harvey Norman.
Seuseu wasn’t the only player readers felt we’d snubbed, so we’ve put together a Fans XVII to go up against the Sport Con XVII. Ernie Wanka is out of position against Wayne Kerr, but we feel he can, um, rise to the occasion.
FANS XVII v SPORT CON XVII
Stargroth Amean 1 St John Ellis
Fonda Metassa 2 Royston Lightning
Francis Meli 3 Ed Murphy
Ziggy Niszczot 4 Siuatonga Likiliki
Peewee Moke 5 Misi Taulapapa
Joe Squadrito 6 Will Smith
Cooper Cronk 7 Tulsen Tollett
Hitro Okesene 8 Fuifui Moimoi
Nixon Put 9 Ciriaco Mescia
Jerry Seuseu (c) 10 Sam Moa
Dragan Durdevic 11 Pauli Pauli
Palmer Wapau 12 Steele Retchless
Ernie Wanka 13 Wayne Kerr (c)
Interchange
Damon Booby 14 Clifford Manua
Les Kiss 15 Billy Weepu
Dallas Weston 16 Stan Jurd
Leon Bott 17 Chris Muckert
EARLY EXIT FOR BEATTIE?
PETER Beattie is considering standing down as chairman of the ARLC as early as October. Beattie has already indicated his plan not to recontest the chairmanship at the next AGM in February and has endorsed Racing NSW chief executive Peter V’landys to take his place.
But a two-day retreat in October with his fellow commissioners could fast-track Beattie’s exit.
NEARLY OUTBOXED BY A CHANGE OF PLAN
RICKY Stuart’s appearance in the coaches box was a rare sight when the Raiders hosted Manly last round.
Stuart normally coaches from the sideline, where his emotional responses are entertainment all on their own.
He said he returned to the coaches box to work on aspects of the Raiders’ attack for the finals — which he needs to watch from high above. Stuart nearly missed it, though.
It had been so long since he had watched from the box that he initially went to the wrong one.
SHOOSH I: Which injured star player needed to call for assistance after not being allowed into his home ground. Security wouldn’t let him in because he didn’t have the right pass?
SHOOSH II: Which coach took a midweek trip to Melbourne to spend time with an AFL club?
GLITTER FADES FOR EGLEY
KANE Elgey was once one of the NRL’s hottest young playmakers. But it seems at just 25 the Manly half will quit the game at season’s end.
Elgey hasn’t been able to replicate his debut season when he starred as a 21-year-old at the Titans.
He ruptured an ACL the next year but still signed a rich three-year extension with the club. When that deal ended last year, he signed a two-year contract with Manly.
After playing in 11 of the first 12 games, he has languished in Canterbury Cup and is considering retirement.
WARY WOODSY
Former Tiger Aaron Woods knows what it’s like to play in front of a packed Leichhardt Oval.
The Tigers could be playing for their top eight future next Sunday in what will also be Robbie Farah’s farewell when they host Cronulla. Both teams could be fighting for one finals spot and Woods is wary of a Wests ambush, declaring this Sunday’s game against Canberra a “must win”.
“We grew a leg when we played there,” he said of his time as a Tiger. “If we don’t win, it puts a lot of pressure going into next week. We have everything to play for.”
FOX SPORTS MAKES BOLD MOVE
FOX Sports News is moving to a new home, broadcasting from a state-of-the-art studio at News Corp headquarters in Surry Hills from Sunday.
Being located at News Corp HQ will provide greater opportunities to build further reach for the channel, including using News Corp journalists as part of delivering the best sports news service — including breaking news — to Australians.