Potter questions Wigan strategy
St Helens coach Mick Potter is unsure whether the ‘leadership system’ being used by rivals Wigan is going to suit the club.
New Warriors coach Michael Maguire has scrapped the traditional method of just having one captain and has instead opted for a team of five players to share the role in 2010.
The decision as to who will lead the side out will be made before each game, with the role being alternated each game. The selected skipper will toss the coin before kick off and will be the only player able to approach the referee.
Last year’s captain Sean O’Loughlin is joined by George Carmont, Thomas Leuluai, Phil Bailey and Andy Coley with the role.
Carmont took the role in Friday’s 36-6 victory over Hull KR.
Maguire has experienced success with a similar system at his old club Melbourne Storm where he was assistant coach and it is a brand new feature in Super League.
But the head coach of their old enemies St Helens isn’t sure if it is the way to go.
Asked whether he thought it would work in Super League, he paused before saying: “I’m not sure if it’s a good idea for this team when you’ve got Sean O’Loughlin there as a captain and then you move him on and a whole batch of people in to do it.
“Maybe it takes a bit of pressure off but I don’t believe that you need to do that. I think you need someone to look to and say ‘What are we doing here?’
“I’ve been involved with leadership groups at different clubs and I didn’t know that Melbourne did it over there and it seem to work well for them.”
Meanwhile, Potter has reminded Saints youngster Kyle Eastmond that there is no pressure on him this season.
Eastmond was one of the most exciting players last season but his coach doesn’t want that to put any pressure on him in 2010.
He said: “We’re not after perfection from Kyle, he doesn’t have to do everything 100%, we’re just after him to improve.
“Kyle’s been around a couple of seasons and played some real good games for us last season. He’s in a position where he can’t have that lull.
“He has to run the show and if he can’t then we have to find someone straight away whether it be someone who just takes the pressure off him for ten minutes, we’ll do that.”