Adrian Lam's uncertain future hindering Wigan Warriors as their season unravels
Posted: Fri Aug 27, 2021 12:43 pm
The Cherry and Whites' form has taken a nosedive in recent weeks
In the aftermath of a truly dismal and indeed historic defeat to Leeds Rhinos on Wednesday night, Wigan Warriors head coach Adrian Lam was asked live on Sky Sports about his future.
He replied by saying he was simply focused on the job in hand and was taking things “day to day, week to week”.
Lam’s position at the club, in line with Wigan’s horrendous run of form, is turning into a saga.
It has been for weeks, months even.
Since the early rounds of the 2021 campaign, Lam has been brushing off talk about his future and whether his tenure will extend into a fourth season.
He said a few weeks ago that a decision would be made by the end of July.
Here we are now, almost into September, and there is still radio silence from the Wigan hierarchy.
Lam is one of the most likeable and accommodating head coaches in Super League with the media.
He is generous with his time and a fine raconteur when telling a story or commenting on a topical subject in the game.
But actions speak louder than words and his side is simply not cutting it on the field.
During the past two games – televised home defeats to St Helens and Leeds – Lam has looked a man devoid of answers.
He appeared visibly stunned when his side were taken apart by Saints last Friday and Wednesday’s home loss to the Rhinos had a similar theme.
Wigan simply cannot put a decent attack together, let alone score a try, and patience is starting to wear very thin from supporters who have booed their team off in the past two home games.
Against Leeds, the cherry and whites were nilled at home for the first time since 1991.
Lam, admirably, typically, fronted up after both losses and was honest enough to admit his side weren’t at the races again.
But he has been less than forthcoming about his own position at the club.
Is that uncertainty hurting the Warriors right now and causing them to resemble a rudderless side?
Rugby league is a small game where everyone knows each other’s business and not much is kept secret.
It is generally accepted that Shaun Wane will return to Wigan in some kind of role from next season.
Matty Peet or John Winder, Wigan’s current assistant coaches, are tipped to replace Lam with Wane possibly working in a director of rugby type position on a part-time basis.
Quite how that would work remains to be seen, but in terms of Lam, it appears increasingly certain that he will not be at Wigan next season.
Wigan’s play-off hopes have taken a major battering after a run of three straight defeats and on Bank Holiday Monday they travel to West Yorkshire to face a red-hot Castleford Tigers side seeking their fifth successive Super League victory.
The way in which Wigan’s season has begun to unravel has merely added to the feeling that Lam’s future beyond this season should have been made clear by now
The Warriors have just four games of the regular season remaining and he is still fending off questions about whether he will be here next year.
Although moves will clearly be taking place behind the scenes to decide the club’s coaching structure for next season, it feels the situation has been allowed to drift.
Maybe Lam’s players have sensed that too as their season hangs in the balance.
https://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk ... e-21416292
In the aftermath of a truly dismal and indeed historic defeat to Leeds Rhinos on Wednesday night, Wigan Warriors head coach Adrian Lam was asked live on Sky Sports about his future.
He replied by saying he was simply focused on the job in hand and was taking things “day to day, week to week”.
Lam’s position at the club, in line with Wigan’s horrendous run of form, is turning into a saga.
It has been for weeks, months even.
Since the early rounds of the 2021 campaign, Lam has been brushing off talk about his future and whether his tenure will extend into a fourth season.
He said a few weeks ago that a decision would be made by the end of July.
Here we are now, almost into September, and there is still radio silence from the Wigan hierarchy.
Lam is one of the most likeable and accommodating head coaches in Super League with the media.
He is generous with his time and a fine raconteur when telling a story or commenting on a topical subject in the game.
But actions speak louder than words and his side is simply not cutting it on the field.
During the past two games – televised home defeats to St Helens and Leeds – Lam has looked a man devoid of answers.
He appeared visibly stunned when his side were taken apart by Saints last Friday and Wednesday’s home loss to the Rhinos had a similar theme.
Wigan simply cannot put a decent attack together, let alone score a try, and patience is starting to wear very thin from supporters who have booed their team off in the past two home games.
Against Leeds, the cherry and whites were nilled at home for the first time since 1991.
Lam, admirably, typically, fronted up after both losses and was honest enough to admit his side weren’t at the races again.
But he has been less than forthcoming about his own position at the club.
Is that uncertainty hurting the Warriors right now and causing them to resemble a rudderless side?
Rugby league is a small game where everyone knows each other’s business and not much is kept secret.
It is generally accepted that Shaun Wane will return to Wigan in some kind of role from next season.
Matty Peet or John Winder, Wigan’s current assistant coaches, are tipped to replace Lam with Wane possibly working in a director of rugby type position on a part-time basis.
Quite how that would work remains to be seen, but in terms of Lam, it appears increasingly certain that he will not be at Wigan next season.
Wigan’s play-off hopes have taken a major battering after a run of three straight defeats and on Bank Holiday Monday they travel to West Yorkshire to face a red-hot Castleford Tigers side seeking their fifth successive Super League victory.
The way in which Wigan’s season has begun to unravel has merely added to the feeling that Lam’s future beyond this season should have been made clear by now
The Warriors have just four games of the regular season remaining and he is still fending off questions about whether he will be here next year.
Although moves will clearly be taking place behind the scenes to decide the club’s coaching structure for next season, it feels the situation has been allowed to drift.
Maybe Lam’s players have sensed that too as their season hangs in the balance.
https://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk ... e-21416292