Wane wants referees to relax

He believes officials have been policing the offside rule too stringently this season.

And he would like to see refs across the board show greater leeway when teams are bringing the ball out of their own half.

He said: “If a team completes and kicks long, and has a good kick-chase, they’ve earned the right to put us under pressure.

“If someone kicks us into the corner and puts us under the pump, I don’t think we should be let off the hook.

“Someone having a toe-nail offside shouldn’t be a penalty.

“Some of the penalties I’ve seen this year are made up. Some are crazy.

“And I mean some penalties given to us - I don’t want them. It’s not what coaches want to see, it’s not what the fans want to see.

“When they ping someone for minimal offside... I think all Super League coaches would agree that refs shouldn’t be as strict in that area.”

Wane says a more relaxed approach would help England compete on the Test stage.

“If we’re going to improve England, we need to go set for set, get into the arm wrestle,” he said.

“This may put Wigan at a disadvantage because we don’t have a big team, but so be it.”

Wane was speaking broadly and not aiming his view at any official in particular.

The Wigan players return to training today after a weekend off. Wane will assess his injured players as they prepare for Thursday’s trip to Warrington.