Five big tasks facing Shaun Wane in new role as England boss

Correspondent 04 Feb 2020 5:19 PM

Shaun Wane has taken over from Wayne Bennett as England coach, and here are his immediate priorities.

Appoint assistants

The new coach’s first job will be to appoint the rest of the England backroom staff. Ian Watson (Salford) and Danny Ward (London Broncos) were right-hand men to his predecessor on the Great Britain tour, while St Helens assistant Paul Wellens has been a regular in the England set-up up to taking a break. Former Great Britain internationals Paul Anderson and Paul Sculthorpe are also in the England performance unit so could be called on to assist.

Consider his captain for the Ashes series

Wane’s old Wigan skipper Sean O’Loughlin is technically still the England captain but he sat out the Great Britain tour and is in his final year with his club as he ponders retirement. With the injury to and subsequent retirement of Sam Burgess, former St Helens prop James Graham led the Lions but he will be 36 when the World Cup comes around and the coach must decide whether he appoints a stop-gap captain or thinks long term.

Who to play mid-season

With only three Tests definitely in the calendar before the 2021 World Cup, a fixture during the mid-season international break makes sense for the new coach. Wane Bennett had lined up a match against Samoa but it was not the only option and, after the World Cup draw which paired the Samoans with England, he is likely to seek fresh opponents. If he opts to stay in Europe, France could be an obvious choice.

Planning for the 2021 World Cup

Does Wane think short-term and focus on taking on the Kangaroos for the first time since 2016 with the aim of a first first Ashes Series triumph for 50 years or does he follow the example of his predecessor and plan with one eye firmly on 2021? Wayne Bennett had already decided on his half-back pair for the World Cup but Wane has the opportunity to start afresh.

A trip to Australia

Unlike his predecessor, Wane will be able to keep a close eye on England candidates in Super League but, with up to a dozen players plying their trade in the NRL, he will want to see them in action and meet with them face to face during the 2020 season. He knows all about James Graham, Tom Burgess, John Bateman, Josh Hodgson and Elliott Whitehead but will need to check on the form and fitness of people like George Williams, Ryan Hall, Kallum Watkins and Ryan Sutton.