Madge to Souths?

[cpwigan]

He may follow Madge wherever he goes and given the cover Wigan have in the back row it may be that it was always planned as such.

[Kittwazzer]

I would be very surprised if Madge had been negotiating behind Lenegan's back. As CP stated elsewhere, Lenegan is a forward thinking type who is probably already looking towards the coaching set up for next season. Madge may even have some input!

Provided Madge remains committed to us for the rest of the season and we can get last year's form back, we should be OK!

[DaveO]

I would be very surprised if Madge had been negotiating behind Lenegan's back. As CP stated elsewhere, Lenegan is a forward thinking type who is probably already looking towards the coaching set up for next season. Madge may even have some input!

You can't take a job like Souths without agreeing the terms and conditions and sounding things out like what the player recruitment possibilities are etc. You don't leave a job like coach of Wigan when we are successful on a whim. You hammer out the details with your new employer.

I'd be amazed if Souths approached IL and asked permission to speak to Madge and if they didn't I'd be equally amazed if Madge went stright round to IL and told him before he had already decided he wanted to consider the job.

Provided Madge remains committed to us for the rest of the season and we can get last year's form back, we should be OK!

It would be impossible for him to remain 100% committed to Wigan because if he did he would not be having any input into what happens at Souths next season. If there is anything in this rumour he has already held detailed discussion with Souths when he should have been concentrating on Wigan.

[DaveO]

Rumours are floating around that Hoffman will be coming back to OZ at the end of the season.

He's only got a one year contract her Storm so that wouldn't surprise me.

It's one year with an option of another. So if Madge were staying do you think Hoffman would exercise the option to stay as well? I do or at least it would be more likely. If Madge goes I'd expect Hoffman to follow him. Something else we can thank Madges lack of commitment for (if it all happens).

[Panchitta Marra]

If Madge is jumping ship then IL will know already.
Looks like Mathew Elliot may be coming available if the Panthers give him the push.
Not a bad coach, and has successful experience of the British game.
Why not get on the blower to him Mr Lenahan.

[100% Warrior]

If Madge is to leave at the end of the season then the club needs to get the decision of who takes over correct if we're going to continue challenging for trophies. I'd like it to be a British coach (especially Shaun Wane) but these stats are interesting:

Grand Finals
2001 Bradford (B.Noble) Wigan (S.Raper)
2002 St Helens (I.Millward) Bradford (B.Noble)
2003 Bradford (B.Noble) Wigan (M.Gregory)
2004 Leeds (T.Smith) Bradford (B.Noble)
2005 Bradford (B.Noble) Leeds (T.Smith)
2006 St Helens (D.Anderson) Hull (P.Sharp)
2007 Leeds (T.Smith) St Helens (D.Anderson)
2008 Leeds (B.McClennan) St Helens (D.Anderson)
2009 Leeds (B.McClennan) St Helens (M.Potter)
2010 Wigan (M.Maguire) St Helens (M.Potter)

* Only 2003 final had no overseas coaches involved
* From last 10 finals only twice has a British coach beaten an overseas opponent (both were by B.Noble)
* Every final since 2006 has had both teams led by overseas coaches

Challenge Cup Finals:
2001 St Helens (I.Millward) Bradford (B.Noble)
2002 Wigan (S.Raper) St Helens (I.Millward)
2003 Bradford (B.Noble) Leeds (D.Powell)
2004 St Helens (I.Millward) Wigan (M.Gregory)
2005 Hull (J.Kear) Leeds (T.Smith)
2006 St Helens (D.Anderson) Huddersfield (J.Sharp)
2007 St Helens (D.Anderson) Catalans (M.Potter)
2008 St Helens (D.Anderson) Hull (R.Agar)
2009 Warrington (T.Smith) Huddersfield (N.Brown)
2010 Warrington (T.Smith) Leeds (B.McClennan)

* Only 2003 final had no overseas coaches involved
* From last 10 finals only once has a British coach beaten his overseas opponent (J.Kear 2005)
* 4 out of the last 10 finals have had both teams led by overseas coaches

[cpwigan]

There has to be a break though? As it currently stands we are always following Australia. Somewhere, someone in the British Coaching fraternity has to take the best of what Aus offers and improve upon it to make British RL lead rather than follow. Otherwise we will always play second fiddle.

Regulars know I have always advocated

A) 3 Years should be the maximum tenure for any coach.

B) The assistant coach should in the final year of that 3 years be given extended periods of leave to work/watch other top coaches/other sports to combine what they learned in 2 years from the present coach but to then mobve it for ward and improve the club/British RL.

[wiganwarriordave]

There has to be a break though? As it currently stands we are always following Australia. Somewhere, someone in the British Coaching fraternity has to take the best of what Aus offers and improve upon it to make British RL lead rather than follow. Otherwise we will always play second fiddle.

I agree with what your saying, but i think the problem stems from much further back down the line. Not with the coaches. RL in Aus is huge. Kids grow up wanting to play it, it's all over the papers and news, RL players are superstars, here, they're largely nobodies. Kids here grow up wanting to be a 100k+ a week footballer. Aus just have a much bigger gene pool to select their RL players from, and just by the law of averages, are always going to be better.

[Stormfan]

Done Deal. souths announce MM as coach for next 3 seasons. TOUGH JOB for MM.

[100% Warrior]

Further speculation tonight that Hoffman has confirmed that he'll be returning to the NRL next season, will that be with the Storm?