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Exclusive: Super League stalwart Andy Lynch warns against sacking Shaun Wane

Today marks 80 days since England men’s bid to win a home World Cup came crashing down and it’s been effectively 79 days of speculation surrounding the future of the team and in particular the coach Shaun Wane.

Wane has been in charge of the national team since 2020 having replaced another legendary coach in Wayne Bennett.

Prior to being England boss Wane had ruled the roost at Wigan where he won three Grand Finals and one Challenge Cup – highlighting his credentials as a proven winner.

Despite that there’s been calls for Wane to leave his role as England head coach after the heart-breaking 27-26 defeat to Samoa in the World Cup semi-final – a humbling day after they had defeated that same Samoa team 60-6 just under four weeks earlier.

One man who believes Wane is still the man for the job is former England international and Super League legend Andy Lynch.

Lynch represented England on four occasions and Great Britain once in a career that spanned almost 20 years and left him just two games shy of Kevin Sinfield for all-time Super League appearances with 452.

Serious About Rugby League spoke with the former Castleford, Bradford and Hull man about the status of Wane.

“For me when you ask ‘does Shaun Wane stay or does Shaun Wane go’, there’s only one answer and he’s got to stay,” Lynch stated.

“I just think that the way he coaches teams, his record in general coaching, the way he is as a bloke. He’s straight up and tells you how it is. You find with some coaches they’re great at position specifics but some can’t man manage. He’s probably one of a few that I personally think is a complete coach.

“For me, 100% Shaun should stay and remain as England coach, just the way he is. He’s someone I really admire with the way he played and the way he coaches as well.”

Lynch also went on to comment about the nature of how the media and fans only use coaches as scapegoats when things are going wrong, citing Brian McDermott’s 2017 Grand Final victory, against Lynch’s Tigers, in contrast to his sacking less than a year later.

“Who spoke about the coach when Leeds lifted that trophy (2017 Grand Final), there was no say on how good that coach was. It was all about that Leeds team but when they’re going bad it’s the coach that gets the blame.

“For me I am 100 percent sure that Shaun Wane will have done all the work, he’ll have got everything right, he’ll have got them prepared right and as soon as the players step onto the field it’s down to them to perform.”

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