Noble Gets Another Season at Wigan and Draws Up List of Targets

Wigan have taken the first step towards ending the uncertainty at the club by confirming that Brian Noble will remain their coach until at least the end of next season. Noble's contract expires this autumn and the apparent reluctance of Ian Lenagan to extend it since becoming chairman last October had fueled speculation that he was looking to make a change.

That led to reports linking Noble with a move to Australia and, this week, to the Catalans Dragons. However, Lenagan yesterday revealed that a new deal would keep the former Bradford and Great Britain coach at the JJB Stadium until the end of 2009, with an option for the 2010 season. "Stability is an essential part of rebuilding Wigan in the medium term," Lenagan said.

Noble said that he had "thoroughly enjoyed" his time at Wigan, "and particularly the last few months of planning for the future. But my job is only part done." He has already saved the Warriors from relegation after succeeding Ian Millward midway through the 2006 season, before steering them to within a match of the Super League grand final last year.

The overwhelming priority now for Wigan is to secure a replacement for Trent Barrett, the stand-off whose return to Australia at the end of this season is expected to be confirmed shortly. Brett Kimmorley, a scrum-half who has caused Great Britain more problems than Andrew Johns in recent Ashes series, emerged as a likely target yesterday when his Australian club Cronulla encouraged him to seek a move.

Wigan will be without their Test forward Gareth Hock in the Millennium Magic fixture against St Helens on Sunday after he received a one-match suspension last night for a high tackle in the defeat at Bradford on Sunday. Warrington's Jon Clarke and Wakefield's Ricky Bibey were each banned for two matches, ruling them out of their team's fixtures in Cardiff, against Huddersfield Giants and the Castleford Tigers respectively.