Daily Star

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- ®Êby JULIE STOTT

Wigan and it will be terrible, awful, the first time. I am not looking forward to it but I will have to do it. I will go to the games and have a pint with my mates and I’ll be able to abuse the referee and they cannot fine me.

“But having someone else coaching them will be tough. I have been here for so long.

“I watched Wigan from being four years old and was invited to train with the players at 14 and it was fantastic, training with my heroes.

“I never thought I would end up playing for them and definitely never thought I would end up coaching them to the success I have.

“When I was at Wigan, it was pure love for the club. I went to Leeds for a spell and it was a job – I lost something – and this (Scotland) will be the same, it’s a job.

Awkward

“I work eight days a week at Wigan but it isn’t really work because it is enjoyable. My new job will be very different and it is what I am worried about.

“My missus is panicking because she knows how full on it is at the minute. But it is my call, so I’m just going to have to bite the bullet.”

The club are replacing Wane with dual-code legend and former Wigan star Shaun Edwards long term, with Adrian Lam filling in next year.

They will have a hard act to follow in Wane, especially if he wins a third Grand Final, and some fans feel he should have stayed on.

But Wane said: “I’m comfortabl­e talking about the team but this is awkward, talking about me. If people who are genuine rugby league people understand what I have done, that will do for me. I do not need any big fanfares.”

 ??  ?? CHEERS: Wane addresses his players – and huge Wigan fan Sir Bradley Wiggins – after their 2016 Grand Final success SUBSTITUTE­S.
CHEERS: Wane addresses his players – and huge Wigan fan Sir Bradley Wiggins – after their 2016 Grand Final success SUBSTITUTE­S.
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