Why Shaun Wane decision is the right one as RFL face huge call to give England World Cup chance

Sitting down in front of the press after England’s third Ashes defeat at Headingley, Shaun Wane was asked almost immediately whether he felt he was the right man to take the national team on into the World Cup

“I don’t believe – I know I am,” was the head coach’s firm response, almost cutting off the tail end of the question.

It was a question he was undoubtedly ready for and it was an answer the press in the room and those watching and reading his quotes afterwards were expecting, too, with the head coach going on to outline that he had the support of his players and staff.

Unfortunately, though, support outside of the England dressing room amongst the rugby league fans and community had reached an all-time low by the full-time whistle at Headingley. The Ashes series was as frustrating as it was underwhelming for England fans and the appetite and excitement to see a Wane-led England side approach the World Cup was next to non-existent.

As the dust settled on the Ashes series then, it became increasingly obvious that a change had to be made to breathe new life into England. And, two months down the line, that change has come with the RFL announcing the decision this afternoon.

Let’s be clear, Shaun Wane deserves plenty of credit as a man and for the job he has done in the role as England head coach. The former Wigan boss succeeded in galvanising the England team and support heading into the 2021 Rugby League World Cup on home soil before seeing his side beaten in cruel circumstances in the final four.

He then went on to secure whitewash series wins over Tonga and Samoa in successive years with England playing both sides off the park at times.

There was plenty of optimism going into the Ashes series, too, it has to be said, with many believing England could upset the odds at least once.

However, Wane made his first major mistake in the build-up to the series by overlooking Man of Steel Jake Connor for contention and in doing so, the head coach provided the stick to beat him with when England’s attack failed to fire. It’s an easy judgement to make in hindsight that Connor should have been in the squad, but most knew and voiced their concern at the time about the Leeds Rhinos man’s omission.

Wane followed up the decision by saying that the Man of Steel award doesn’t mean anything to him, while also admitting that the decision was not difficult, which certainly raised eyebrows.

More criticism followed the first Test with the decision to leave out AJ Brimson and Morgan Smithies among others backfiring immensely. That set the tone for a thoroughly miserable series in which England huffed and puffed before seeing themselves knocked over in relatively straightforward fashion by an Australia side that were performing at a level significantly below the sum of their parts.

That brings us back to that seven-word statement delivered in the bowels of Headingley Stadium that most expected but very few believed.

The message at the time was that the RFL would undergo a review process over the winter and seemingly, that has led to Wane stepping down from the role.

Now comes the pressure on the RFL, who have to find the right man to take England into the World Cup in just 10 months’ time. A new perspective, a fresh pair of eyes and a different voice will be welcomed over the coming months, of that there is no doubt.

Internally, within the England set-up, a new man might just bring about a new belief with some enthusiasm and a different way of doing things. Externally, though, it clears the haze that had settled and re-energises a support base to get behind England with a line firmly drawn through the Ashes series.

Finding the right man for that role will be imperative but given the lack of time they’ll have with the team, it must be someone capable of galvanising and whipping up the group in just a few weeks. Wayne Bennett is an option having led the English into what can be deemed a successful World Cup down under before in 2017, while Paul Rowley, Sam Burgess and even Willie Peters must all be considered for the work they can do with players on short notice.

Of course, Wane found himself with the odds stacked against him at times in terms of the amount of time he had with his players. That’s something that the RFL and the Super League clubs have to work out between themselves for the good of the national team.

And, if the new man is to stand the best chance of finding immediate success, securing that time with his team would be a good start, if at all possible.

As a new year begins and a new season approaches, though, it’s clear that Shaun Wane’s decision might just be best for all concerned.

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