Martin Offiah admits he will be a keen observer when Wigan Warriors embark on a new era under Matty Peet and Shaun Wane next season.
After three years in charge, head coach Adrian Lam parted company with the club and headed home to Australia, prompting a major overhaul of the Warriors’ coaching department.
Peet has been promoted to the top job, Lee Briers has arrived from Warrington Wolves and will serve as assistant alongside club legend Sean O’Loughlin, while England boss Wane has returned as leadership and management director.
The seismic restructure comes following a bitterly disappointing campaign which saw Wigan finish fourth and crash out in the play-offs at the first hurdle.
Offiah, the club’s legendary former winger, told Rugby League Live: “It’s unfortunate but something that needed to happen.
“It was a great effort by Jack Welsby in last year’s Grand Final which stopped Wigan getting over the line and winning it.
“For most teams, getting that far is a pretty successful season but a club like Wigan need to be winning trophies.
“A lot of Wigan supporters will always back the team but probably feel that the quality is lacking compared to times gone by.
“Bevan French was not seen much this year because of injury, so it’s been tough and maybe Wigan have flattered to deceive a little bit.
“It’s hard when they haven’t had enough world-class players to win trophies.
“Lammy wasn’t the first choice as coach and a lot of people know that.
“People probably thought a new dynasty would be in full swing under Shaun Edwards, but that wasn’t the case as he obviously didn’t end up taking the job.
“Lammy continuing in position was Plan B and has been curtailed now.
“Therefore we’re going with this new hybrid model of Matty Peet in charge and Shaun Wane, a bit like Alex Ferguson, in the background with no-one quite understanding what that role is.
“It looks like he’s going to be there for Peet to call on with his experience.
“If it works then it’s a stroke of genius but if it doesn’t then it will be questioned by people.
“Like with everything in sport, are we going to get success from it or not?
“That’s what everyone is waiting with baited breath to find out.
“I’m sure Ian Lenagan and Kris Radlinski will have a plan and they have obviously spent money on the training facilities.
“Now, though, it’s about getting back to the next level and that means actually winning something.”
The man affectionately nicknamed ‘Chariots Offiah’, who scored an incredible 501 tries in his career, believes the Warriors are still adjusting to the loss of key players such as O’Loughlin and the Tomkins brothers.
“O’Loughlin retiring and moving onto the coaching staff was a big hole to fill,” added Offiah.
“Wigan have let a lot of players go from their most recent successful era – the likes of the Tomkins brothers and where do you find another Sam Tomkins?
“There are also rumblings about what’s happening with Zak Hardaker and whether he will move to a Yorkshire club.
“I’ve had conversations with Radlinski and I know he’s invested a lot of time into helping Hardaker.
“Wigan have done things for the right reasons and I’m sure they will be back, if not next season, then very soon.
“But in this salary cap era, it’s difficult to produce the team that you want instantly. It takes time.”
Peet is highly regarded at Wigan and has been tipped by Wane to make a successful step up.
Offiah admitted: “I don’t know Matty Peet personally. I know he is no Shaun Edwards but then again, who is?
“In all sports, it’s about success and you’ve got to give him time.
“I also know that you don’t necessarily have to be a professional sportsman or to have a pedigree before you take these top jobs.
“Shaun Wane had a pedigree before he became Wigan head coach and this feels like the old Liverpool boot room method of promoting people from within who know the ‘Wigan way’, or the Shaun Wane way or the Michael Maguire way.
“Whoever is going to be taking credit for what is happening remains to be seen, but they obviously feel confident in appointing Peet.
“Lee Briers is there as well, so it’s just a case of watch this space.
“A lot of thought has clearly gone into preparing that coaching staff, but there is going to be a lot of pressure on them to deliver.
“When they parade a whole new management team, are Wigan going to be able to become a trophy-winning force?
“I don’t know how good their recruitment for next year will prove or who will step up from their academy team.
“I remember coming to Wigan from Widnes with a massive signing on fee on my head and I knew that nothing else but success would be accepted.
“But I was fortunate and wasn’t doing it by myself, I had guys like Shaun Edwards and Gene Miles – names you can reel off in a team – with me and that helped massively.
“One thing I do know, though, is that Wigan will be competitive next season. There is no doubt about that.”
Nevertheless, Offiah believes patience will be required from supporters as the Warriors look to lift a major trophy under the new coaching team.
London Broncos winger Abbas Miski and NRL prop forwards Patrick Mago and Kaide Ellis have all joined Wigan on two-year contracts ahead of next season.
Offiah reasoned: “You look at St Helens now with proven performers and then youngsters come into the team and just buy into it.
“With the season Wigan have just had, and the players who have left in Jackson Hastings and Oliver Gildart, I don’t think we’ve got that solid platform to shoot off from.
“This feels like the start of something new and like we’re starting again.
“New signings have been announced, but are we going to get more players in?
“Obviously the George Burgess experiment didn’t work and Lammy kind of worked but not quite.
“Are we going to see the likes of young (Umyla) Hanley spring to prominence?
“Whatever Wigan do next season is new. As someone on the outside looking in, I don’t what to expect, even though I speak to people at the club.
“It goes without saying that I wish the club well. Wigan will always have a very special place in my heart.”
