A disappointing end to a very good Warrington career. Such a shame it couldn’t be done in a dignified manner with him being given a proper send off. Whatever the rights and wrongs it has left a sour taste in my mouth.

Having watched the full interview he talks a lot about respect and family atmosphere at Wigan and the culture of the club.



Mentions it on numerous occasions.



Thanks the fans, and board too who he says have been fantastic.



Few subtle digs however kept it classy.

Yeah Cooper the family man….pfft

Wonder what Mike Gregory thought of the all embracing and loving Wigan culture.

'Family atmosphere'?.... so Coops inadvertently has confirmed the rumours about most of the player's wives being on the club payroll then?

He's now part of the enemy and from hereon I'll think of him in the same way as everyone else who has worn that jersey.



I daresay it will all come out one day, until then we have bigger fish to fry and his departure is an opportunity for someone else and another excuse ticked off for any poor performances.

If he's refused to play by claiming he's got COVID then he's nearly at the level of Briers. God knows what's gone on but he's playing for Wigan so should get abused at every opportunity on 5th August

Same club. Totally different culture.

I must say ,Wigan are very good this year ,obviously helped by the lack of all round quality in teams below them.

Can't see past Saints & Wigan for OT.

The issues between Mike Gregory and Wigan management are documented in his book Biting Back. However, the issue of MG and the Wigan club culture is an interesting one, as his brief time there was a foreshadowing of the transformation in culture that ultimately became so successful under Shaun Wane.



Wigan before MG took over had been a "galactico" club. They'd dominated in the 80s and 90s but in the early years of Super League they were trying to replicate that without the same success, bringing in big names on big money who didn't always fit. A few years ago I had the chance to talk to an ex Wigan player who was there at the time. He said that basically MG came in and had a very different approach, no egos, no hierachies and very inclusive to the younger players who were treated the same as the rest with no pandering to stars. He brought in a 'rip and tear' culture focused on being physically and mentally very tough but at the same time placing a big importance on how players conducted themselves and behaved around the community. MG was very popular with the squad at the time especially the young players and set standards by how he behaved to people around the club, to kitman, cleaners and non playing staff. They got to the Grand Final in his first year and his second year started with young guys like O'Loughlin, Robinson making a big leap forwards.



Then unfortunately he got ill and subsequently was replaced by Millward who completely messed it all up. He came in with a big ego, was hierachical, antagonistic to young players and a lot of players got disillusioned. The squad stopped playing for him and they started getting thrashings and nearly getting relegated till Noble saved them. All of the MG transformation of Wigan from being the galactico club to one based around young players and a culture of hard work and personal integrity was lost.



But ultimately Shaun Wane who has a similar mindset to MG brought that approach back and you saw how successful it was and how he was able to build a very resilient team who won some Grand Finals in seasons where they had stacks of injuries and needed to bring a lot of young players in to the club quickly. Wane is not as outwardly friendly/personable as MG but he does have similar values and Wigan has been remade as a club.

NEVER gave less than 100% for Wire, local lad done good, go well mate.

Cobblers, he plays for Wigan now. I hope he gets flattened on his first hit up.