England boss Shaun Wane was lined up for Hull FC job, reveals rugby league agent

There are few head coaches that have taken to a first-team role as well as Shaun Wane.

Now England boss, Wane was one of the most feared players in his time on the field and has become one of the most feared in the gantry as coach, too.

His no-nonsense approach coupled with an incredible desire to win has proved to be a recipe for success.

However, his last few seasons may well have been entirely different had a move to a Super League club come off.

Leading rugby league agent, Craig Harrison of Show Me The Money UK, revealed on his own podcast show that Wane almost became Hull FC head coach before Brett Hodgson was appointed.

That move never came off, however, because of salary issues.

“He got the interview before Brett did, did you know that?” Harrison said on The Full Eighty Minutes podcast.

“Do you know what stopped it? His salary. Shaun dropped the hammer and they nearly fell off the cliff.”

Of course, Hull have now appointed former Hull KR, Warrington Wolves and Leeds Rhinos head coach Tony Smith and there is great excitement at the MKM Stadium for what the near future holds now after a dismal season.

Hodgson failed to qualify for the play-offs two years in a row, finishing in eighth in 2021 and then ninth this season.

And, with chairman Adam Pearson ambition, those kind of results are not good enough and Smith can certainly help improve standards at the club after improving every club that he has been at previously.

It will be interesting to see how he does fare in his first season with the Black and Whites after spending three years at bitter rivals Hull KR. Watch this space!