RFL Chair's Shaun Wane future admission as England prepare for the future

[josie andrews]

Wane is set to remain as England head coach through the 2025 World Cup.

RFL Chair Simon Johnson believes Shaun Wane will not continue as England coach beyond the 2025 World Cup and says the next three years are vital in planning for the future. Wane’s future was in doubt after England were dumped out of the World Cup in a dramatic semi-final defeat to Samoa last November before his contract expired at the end of 2022.

But with an extension having finally been agreed between Wane and the RFL, the former Wigan Warriors boss will lead England into the next World Cup. Wane will be 61 when that tournament starts in the autumn of 2025 and Johnson revealed the governing body will start succession planning well before the Wiganer’s latest deal ends.

The RFL supremo also said at no point were any other candidates considered for the England job because there was no vacancy as negotiations with Wane continued. Looking further ahead, Johnson told the House of League podcast: “I think Shaun won’t go beyond France 2025, even if he wins [the tournament].

Therefore he accepts that what we’ve got to do is to use this next period of time as well to try and create some succession planning. And to try and work out who might be next. There are some very talented young coaches working within the Super League. And I think to give the opportunity for them to show the best of themselves is something we want to be doing in the next few years.”

Andy Last, who has been placed in interim charge of Castleford Tigers following Lee Radford’s shock departure on Monday, assisted Wane during last year’s World Cup. Paul Wellens was due to assist Wane but withdrew from the role after being promoted as Kristian Woolf’s successor at St Helens last autumn.

Whether or not Last will continue to serve on England’s coaching staff under Wane remains to be seen, with a mid-season Test match against France looming on April 29.

Asked if changes to the coaching staff could reflect the succession planning, Johnson continued: “I think that will be for Shaun. I know that Shaun did a significant spell of self-coaching and self-scouting, if you like. Did he surround himself with the right people? Did he replace Paul Wellens?

Did he put in place the right sort of support? Who might he then start to work with? The report [into England’s World Cup performance] addressed a number of points. It also recognised that a lot of players who played in the World Cup were on the wrong side of 30.

“Therefore, if we’re going to start building on the talented nucleus of young players that Shaun was going to bring through, how else could we broaden that to give ourselves the best chance for the future? The same applies with coaching – what can we do to give more talented coaches the chance to experience an international camp, international preparation and so on?

“What I found interesting about the World Cup was that some of our Super League coaches were off being assistants with the other nations and getting good experience. That sort of thing can happen with England as well.”

https://www.examinerlive.co.uk/sport/ru ... d-26456766

[Charriots Offiah]

When is the penny going to drop? It’s not the coach who is at fault it is the quality, and quantity, of players at their disposal that is the deciding factor.

Wayne Bennett, arguably the greatest coach of all time, couldn’t make a silk purse out of a sow’s ear.

[archiekeith]

When is the penny going to drop? It’s not the coach who is at fault it is the quality, and quantity, of players at their disposal that is the deciding factor.

Wayne Bennett, arguably the greatest coach of all time, couldn’t make a silk purse out of a sow’s ear.

The perfect metaphor!

[Caboosegg]

Wane is an issue at 61 but they hired Bennet......

[Charriots Offiah]

Wane is an issue at 61 but they hired Bennet......

Waney’s not 61. Bennett is still proving that he is a top coach with the recent performances of the Dolphins.

[josie andrews]

Wane is 58

[Caboosegg]

Wane is 58

It's the article, him.being 61 after the next world cup is mentioned as part of looking for someone new

[Charriots Offiah]

Wane is 58

It's the article, him.being 61 after the next world cup is mentioned as part of looking for someone new

It’s ageism

[fozzieskem]

I’d have thought 2 World Cup runs is enough,even maybe if you win it it was correct for Wane to carry on,it’s clear he’s going to be have to be bold in terms of picking younger players and honestly I find that exciting rather than the “safe” selection he went with last time.

But back to the original point 2 world cups is enough.

[jobo]

Wane is 58

It's the article, him.being 61 after the next world cup is mentioned as part of looking for someone new

It’s ageism

It's because he's from Wigan, Wiganism