England and St Helens legend James Graham has thrown his support behind Shaun Wane despite the disappointing 3-0 Ashes loss.
Wane’s side were always underdogs going into the series against Australia, with the Kangaroos squad being packed full to the brim of world stars. However, losses at Wembley, Everton and Headingley told the story of a side who were well below the standard required to compete with the best teams in the world.
England had their spells in the series but their struggles with the ball in hand ensured they scored just two tries in the three games.
As such, Wane has come under heaps of pressure over the last couple of weeks, with many believing he is not the right man to take England to the World Cup next year.
Graham, though, wants to see Wane remain in his current post, with the pundit simply pointing to the quality the Kangaroos had at their disposal.
James Graham on England and Shaun Wane
“I think over the course of the series, people might call me out on this, but I thought England showed improvement in their attack. I really do,” Graham said on his podcast The Bye Round. “You could see them start to try different things and different approaches, they were figuring things out.
“You know the forwards are going to bring the action, that’s a never going to be in question, Mike McMeeken, Matty Lees, Morgan Knowles, they brought so much intent, Kallum Watkins was great on the edge.
“It’s hard, you’re playing against some of the best players in the world, but that’s your job to figure it out. When we reflect on the series as a whole, I almost think, put a different opposition in there, say England played France and England won 3-0 and there’s a gulf in class, would the pressure then be on the French coach or is just the reality of the situation that the Australians have got better players to pick from?
“I want Shaun Wane to be the coach. It’s as simple as that. Yeah. I want him to be the coach.
“I want him to be successful. I can’t say anything more than that. Respectfully, he’s contracted. but more than that, I want him to coach England.”
Asked about whether he would like the opportunity to work as a coach within the national team set up, Graham added: “It would be scary, because what happens if I like it?”
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Eric T Cat
November 14, 2025 at 2:12 pm
If he remains the first important match, we’ll lose. That is his track record as England coach. England thrashed Samoa in the early round of the last World Cup, yet when it really mattered, his talents, his skills, his influence they were lacklustre, lacking in ideas and direction, and they lost. This series, when exactly did he show his skill and ability to pick a side? He persisted with George z Williams who rated a 4 at best across the three games. He is guaranteed to start England’s next match at 6 and as captain. The attack was flat, there was rarely a moment when it looked like England would break the Australian defence to score. It happened twice n three matches! Good players were sat at home who should have been playing, notably Connor and Nicholson, the Australians couldn’t believe he wasn’t picked! Having failed in game one they went with the same plan of attack in game 2. Spiffing! Did he ever once consider switching Lewis and Williams around? Obviously not. Did he ever consider a more natural and successful pairing of Lewis and Smith? Obviously not. Did he ever consider attacking with a deep attacking line, like Australia were doing to great effect, obviously not!
Why persist with tactics that don’t work, with players that don’t spark, leaving the best players at home? I’ll predict now that if
Lewis Dodd has a vaguely half decent season then Mickey Lewis will need to buy a ticket to watch the a World Cup games. Jake Connor and Liam Marshall can book their holidays too.
Shaun Wane has demonstrated clearly hevisn’t up,to coaching pressure matches at the national level. His habit of picking favourites over talent doesn’t work. He can call,it credit in the bank or whatever, but it’s simply picking favourites, and it doesn’t work!