England head coach Shaun Wane is coming under increasing scrutiny after losing the recent series against Australia 3-0.
Nigel Wood, senior executive director of the RFL, confirmed that Wane’s position is under review on whether he should lead England into next autumn’s World Cup.
Wane has West Cumbrian connections on his CV, having ended his playing career at Workington Town.
Wane joined Town in 1993 as part of the deal that took Ian Scott to Leeds for a reported £10,000.
Wane, who had played 107 games for Wigan and another 54 for Leeds, had experienced an injury-plagued career.
Indeed he had been on the verge of quitting the game before joining Town as he had been told that he might need a plastic knee cap.
But his playing career came to an end at Derwent Park after just six front row starts and two more from the bench.
He played for only three months and scored two tries, both against his old junior club Wigan St. Patrick’s.
Wane’s contract money had been paid weekly but once he had been out of action for six weeks all payments stopped.
He played his last game at the end of November 1993 and officially announced his retirement in July, 1994 after continual concerns over his knee problem and a recurring hamstring injury.
Fast forward 31 years and Wane’s coaching credentials are being appraised by the RFL.
When asked after the Australian whitewash whether he was the right man to lead England into the World Cup, Wane said: “I don’t believe – I know I am.”
However, when Wood was asked for his opinion he declined to give his backing.
He said: “We will review all of that, like we always do. This isn’t a kind of public examination of any of the coaches.
“We will review that in the fullness of time when the reports are received like we do at the end of every international series.”
He said that the process was likely to take two to three months, with the RFL board then deciding whether to keep the coach in place.
