As Adrian Lam can testify as a former player and now as a head coach, you are never too far from a crisis at Wigan Warriors and his team were certainly heading that way last month.
On Wednesday, June 30, the cherry and whites were stuffed 40-14 at home by Warrington Wolves.
They were booed off by their own supporters and, when the raucous Warrington contingent sang ‘you’re getting sacked in the morning’ at Lam, some fed-up Wigan fans joined in.
It was that kind of night where everything that could go wrong, did go wrong.
The result marked the Warriors’ fifth straight Super League defeat – their worst losing run in Super League since 2006 – and raised serious questions over Lam’s future.
The amiable Aussie is off-contract at the end of the season and so far there has been little sign of him signing an extension.
Among that dismal five-match losing run included a 14-6 defeat Wakefield Trinity almost exactly a month ago.
Fast forward four weeks, though, and Wigan have stopped the rot and breathed new life into their campaign with back-to-back wins over Huddersfield Giants.
Heaven knows, Lam needed that, not only to keep the snipers at bay but to revive a season that appeared in danger of turning ugly.
Things really are looking up for Wigan as they prepare to face Wakefield again tonight, this time on home soil as they bid to avenge last month’s loss.
Those two wins over the Giants – particularly last Friday’s success at the John Smith’s Stadium where Wigan won with five teenagers in the team – have poured confidence into Lam’s side.
Lam called the victory in West Yorkshire a “massive injection of confidence” before adding: “I’m really pleased with the resilience that they showed. It’s one of the better wins I’ve had as a coach.”
For tonight’s game, Wigan’s ranks are bolstered by the availability of Jackson Hastings and Willie Isa after suspension.
Sam Powell is also included this week after missing the victory at Huddersfield with a failed Head Injury Assessment.
Liam Byrne (rib cartilage), Morgan Smithies (ankle), Zak Hardaker (neck), John Bateman (ankle), Jai Field (hamstring) and Bevan French (hamstring) all remain sidelined.
But, aside from French who is out for the season, the rest of that group should return to action in the coming weeks.
That will give Lam’s side a huge boost as they bid to move through the gears and mount a serious title charge.
Their recent win against Wigan was Trinity's only victory in their past five games, with Chris Chester's side winning just four times from 14 games this season.
Wigan looked well placed to continue their recent resurgence tonight and youngsters such as Kai Pearce-Paul and Sam Halsall will look to maintain their rise to prominence.
Lam said: “We know this Wakefield side quite well having played them a lot in recent years.
“They do move the ball well and if we are not careful they can hurt us.
“They’ve got some of the best individuals in the comp when you break them down. We’ve got to make sure we are on our game.
“We need to continue to bring that energy we’ve shown recently and keep working hard for each other and as a team.”
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