Wigan’s recent losses nothing to do with announcements, insists Shaun Wane

Wigan coach Shaun Wane doesn’t think the announcement of his departure has anything to do with their recent defeats.

The Warriors were knocked out of the Challenge Cup quarter-finals after losing 23-0 to Warrington Wolves at the Halliwell Jones Stadium on Saturday.

Wigan also lost to Hull Kingston Rovers last week in Super League, with both defeats coming on the back of the announcement that he will leave the club at the end of the season.

But Wane thinks his resignation announcement, among others like Sam Tomkins and Ryan Sutton leaving, has not played a part in their recent two losses.

He said: “We have to deal with things, players are going and I’m going but we’re professional sportsmen.

“We have to dust ourselves down and carry on. I know my players very well, I know what they can do and I know what they can deliver and we dipped below our standards (at Warrington).

“I know how much the Challenge Cup means to them and I know the players are hurting badly, but we were absolutely way off.

“I don’t think it was anything to do with any announcements.”

Wane was open and honest in his post-match press conference and paid full credit to Warrington for their victory.

He added: “We got beaten in every facet of rugby league and that’s not like a Wigan team that I coach, so I am really disappointed, especially with the importance of the game.

“They wanted it more. They were by far the better team and they were a different team from a few weeks ago and so were we.

“Warrington wanted it badly and we weren’t at the races in so many departments like our skill level and detail in contact. It was way below what we expect of our own standards.

“We couldn’t get any momentum going forward. We need to be better and I have to be better as a coach.”

Ryan Sutton left the field in the second half with a knee injury and didn’t return. Wane revealed that the prop is likely to miss Thursday’s game with Wakefield Trinity and will have further scans to reveal the extent of the injury.

Warrington coach Steve Price said his side put in their best performance of the season in their cup win over Wigan.