Wane reveals what he will say in his final Wigan Warriors team-talk

Shaun Wane will strip away emotion when he delivers the final team-talk as Wigan coach.
Shaun Wane at Old Trafford this weekShaun Wane at Old Trafford this week
Shaun Wane at Old Trafford this week

He is hoping to end seven years in his “dream” job with a fitting farewell – victory in tonight’s Grand Final.

They will again meet Warrington, the team Wane has beaten in title-deciders in 2013 and ‘16.

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Asked what his instructions to his players will be before they leave their Old Trafford dressing room, Wane said: “The last thing will be, ‘Stick to what we’ve planned’.

“There will be a few simple things in our plan which will be key to getting us the win.

“Forget the emotion, forget the occasion. Concentrate on the little things, and if we do that, we can enjoy the emotion and occasion afterwards.

“That’s what I’ll stress to the players.

“This is another game. It’s an important game - but it’s only important afterwards.

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“Last Friday was an important win against Castleford (in the semi-final), but during the 80 minutes we stuck to the game-plan and kept composed.”

Incredibly, this will be Wigan’s sixth meeting with Warrington this season, having already met home and away in the league, at the Magic Weekend, during the Super-8s and also in the Challenge Cup.

“They’re a good team, no question,” said Wane.

Tonight’s game will be his 237th game as coach of his hometown club - but he doesn’t think it will be his last as a rugby league coach.

He will take up a role with Scotland RU later this month.

But asked if he pictured himself back in the 13-a-side code, Wane replied: “I do. I’m going to a job at Scotland where it’s one or two days a week and I’m leaving a job where I do eight days a week and I’ve done that for many years so that’s going to take some getting used to.

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“I have a business in Wigan so that will take a bit of my time up, going into a job where I’m not going to be doing that much is something I need to get my head round so I’m going to keep watching Wigan, keep watching rugby league, I’m a league man, and never say never – I could be back in league some time.”