Sunday 8 October 2023

Wigan Warriors League Placings : 2000-23

The club from Wigan in Lancashire has a record second to none in UK Rugby league. It has also produced many fine players as well. In the 21st century, it has maintained a record of success as well. Despite that record, they went through a few coaches in the noughties although not always of their doing. 

In the year 2000, the coach was Frank Endacott who was completing a spell from 1999. He was Super league coach of the year in 2000 but sacked in 2001, such is the life of a sports coach. Stuart Raper took over until during the 2003 season but decided to return home to Australia. 

Mike Gregory then had a year before sickness tragically cut that short. Denis Betts also had a year but had to make way for Ian Millward who had left St Helens. In 2005, Wigan missed the SL playoffs for the first time and after a poor start to 2006 Millward was sent on his way. Brian Noble came in and got the club out of relegation trouble and generally steadied the ship. He then decided to depart at the end of 2009.

Michael McGuire came in for the 2010 season and they won the league for the first time in ten seasons. he was named SL coach of the year for his efforts. After another successful season, he chose to return to Australia. Local lad Shaun Wane took the reins for 2011 and had a reasonably good run until he decided to move on at the end of the 2018 season after winning the grand final. He won the league in his first year as coach but couldn't manage that again. 

Former Wigan and PNG international player Adrian Lam took over in 2019 on a temporary basis and then became the permanent head coach. The success for the club continued with a league title in 2020. The incumbent coach Matt Peet has continued the success of his predecessors, the 2023 league title confirming that. 

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