England coach Shaun Wane stood in the middle of Old Trafford at 10.00pm on Saturday posing for a group photo with Wigan’s victorious Super League grand final side.
Wane, a former player and coach at one of rugby league’s most famous clubs, is on staff as an adviser at the DW Stadium and the players see him most days.
But none have worked up the courage to ask if he’d be interrupting their Mad Monday celebrations by picking them for the upcoming Test series against Tonga, which kicks off at St Helens next week.
“He keeps himself to himself when he’s around,” halfback Harry Smith, a key cog in the 10-2 win over Catalans before 58,137 fans, told NRL.com as he leaned against the fence shortly before the late-night happy snap.
“You just say hello and that’s it really. Stay out of the way.”
Smith is one of nine Wigan players in Wane’s 40 man squad named at the start of the year; Saturday’s Harry Sunderland Medal winner Jake Wardle, captain Liam Farrell, centre Toby King, forwards Ethan Havard, Tyler Dupree, Morgan Smithies and the Newcastle-bound Kai Pearce-Paul are there too.
Winger Liam Marshall’s 51st minute try was the only one of a tense decider; it’s a testament to the Wane’s depth on the flanks that prolific Marshall (also part of the extended squad) is far from a certainty to be selected on Monday. Newcastle’s Dominic Young and former Golden Boot winner Tommy Makinson along with Catalans’ Tom Johnstone are part of an embarrassment of riches in that position.
“As a head coach … one, Warney would kick my head in,” said Wigan’s Matty Peet said when asked about Marshall’s selection prospects. “Two, it’s a difficult job to pick the England team and whoever he picks will be the right people I’m sure.”
Sydney Roosters’ Victor Radley was interviewed on the big screen before the Super League grand final while Canberra’s Elliott Whitehead supported his former club Catalans by donning a Catalans scarf in the corporate area.
Johnstone was joined by Catalans club mates Mike McMeeken and Tom Davies in the original squad. Dragons coach Steve McNamara said he did not expect hooker Michael McIlorum to be added to that group while skipper Sam Tomkins has retired from international football.
“I’d expect Mike McMeeken and Tom Johnstone but I’ve been England coach before and every club coach is trying to pick the team and tell everybody who should get picked,” McNamara, Trent Robinson’s former assistant at the Roosters, said.
“It’s Shaun’s decisions and I’m sure he’ll make the right ones.”
Clearly Harry Smith is not the only one wary of upsetting Shaun Wane. For the no.7, whose kicking game is such a big part of Wigan’s success this year, playing for England has been on his mind all year.
“Obviously it’s in your sights,” 23-year-old Smith continued. “When I managed to get the call up to play against France (in April), it sort of gives you the confidence to push on and try and get into some of the bigger Tests.
“Hopefully I've done enough."
Match: England v Mate Ma'a Tonga
Round 2 -
home Team
England
away Team
Mate Ma'a Tonga
Venue: Totally Wicked Stadium, St Helen's
Former Canberra half George Williams’ suspension from the first couple of Tests can only help Smith achieve his goal, with St Helens’ Jonny Lomax likely to be one of the halves.
“I don’t know about that,” Smith says when asked about the ban. “Hopefully that can get changed. Obviously he’s a great player and someone we’ll need if we want to come off and get the wins.”
Warrington’s Williams appealed against the severity of a one match ban for a shoulder charge and had it increased to two games but, Smith said with a grin, “apparently they’re appealing again. And again. And again.
“We’re two different types of halfbacks so I don’t know how that’s going to work in Shaun’s plans if I do get picked.”
The Warriors are off to a mystery destination at the start of the week. Some will be able to take their time making their way home. Others will have to be in camp.
“I think I might be in the air somewhere going for a few drinks somewhere else,” Smith said. “But I’ll be back in time if I do get the call.”
Lead image via Wigan Warriors via X.
