Wane’s planning a return to coaching
ONE of the key factors cited by Salford boss Ian Watson in last week’s Qualifying Final defeat to Wigan was the Warriors’ superior play-off experience.
The reigning Super League champions have appeared in five of the last six Grand Finals at Old Trafford, winning three, all under the leadership of former coach Shaun Wane.
Although a 30-plus year association with the club came to an end when Wane departed at the end of last season, the Warriors side still notably demonstrates the work ethic and appetite for defensive effort that became hallmarks of his teams.
When he left following the Grand Final victory Warrington Wolves, Wane took on a role working with the Scottish Rugby Union youth sides and has other business interests outside of sport.
But it appears the return of play-off rugby has reignited his passion for the sport and the 55-year-old is keen for another crack at rugby league.
He told the Out of Your League podcast: “I’m missing the stress and nerves of planning and watching games for work.
“If we were playing Salford, I’d be watching Salford numerous times over, looking at their last six games and working out a way to beat them, to put them under pressure.
“And then going into a game that we have to win, a must win, a win at all costs. Getting my team through that gameday – the stress of that, having to win those games, I’m missing that.
“Now that the big play-off games have started, that’s what I’m missing.”
Although he was heavily linked with the vacant coaching role at Leeds Rhinos when David Furner was sacked earlier this year, Wane revealed he did not hold any discussions with the club and that his preference would be to take on a role in the Southern Hemisphere.
“I want to coach in the NRL if possible,” he admitted. “I know I could do it, I know I could make a success.
“It just needs a club that is going to have the guts and the balls to go with an English coach.
“They did with Malcom Reilly many years ago and they had success, so I just need a club to do that and I will prove that I can kill that job.
“I was never actually linked with Leeds. Somebody just said to me ‘would you be interested in a job back in league?’ and yes, I would – whether that’s as a director of rugby or head coach or whatever.
“People just put two and two together and said I’d been having conversations, but I never spoke to anyone at Leeds.”