BBC Sport's Dave Woods

Stuart Raper deserves better than constant speculation about his imminent departure from the JJB.

Not that he is not used to it.

Raper celebrates Wigan's shock win over St Helens in last year's Challenge Cup final

Yet he managed to inspire his side to an against the odds Challenge Cup final win over St Helens.

This season, Wigan have produced some remarkable results under Raper despite being decimated by injury at times and being bereft of two of their most experienced campaigners - Connolly and Furner.

The two wins against St Helens this year must go down as two of the most memorable matches ever against their old enemy.

And he Warriors remain a very decent bet to go all the way to Old Trafford and then up the steps as champions.

Yet their seems to exist a continued lack of satisfaction in Raper, hence the persisting speculation about when he will be going and who will replace him.

The current favourites, according to the latest rumours, are Chris Anderson, in a job swap from Cronulla, and Ellery Hanley, the former favourite of the cherry and white brigade.

But might it not be that the best man for the job already has the job?

Could anyone have steered Wigan as well over the last two years as Raper has done?

If he does return to Australia, he will have proved himself a champion in the British game.

Sure, he has not had the success of a Lowe or a Monie, but those days of dominance have long since disappeared.

British rugby league is a much leveller playing field than it was in the late 80s and 90s.

Raper says he has another year on his contract as an option and at the moment would like to think he would still be here in a year's time.

Wigan fans would do well to keep their fingers crossed that he is still here next season.

At Castleford, Raper took over a team of promotion probables and turned them into silverware possibles.

At Wigan, he has turned a club that was beginning to slide a little into a team of potential champions again.

If he does return to Australia, he will have proved himself a champion in the British game.