Wigan Warriors' Australian coach, Michael Maguire, has already put his stamp on the English Super League club, appointing a new leadership group for the coming season.

Maguire announced on Tuesday he would scrap the team captaincy in favour of a number of senior players sharing the role throughout 2010, a set-up mirroring that of his former side Melbourne five years ago.

"The players have reacted extremely well when working in a team, therefore it made sense to create a leadership team who can continue our togetherness," said the ex-Storm assistant coach who recently joined Wigan on a three-year contract.

Sean O'Loughlin has stepped down as skipper but will form part of the leadership team.

"He has impressed me with his receptiveness to the concept," Maguire said.

"Sean has shown a real growth in himself as a person and will be a significant member of our leadership team.

"However, the aim is to share the responsibility of leading the side. As a group, we all feel this is a more effective way of upholding the values and standards of the Wigan club without over stretching any one individual."

While the leadership team is already in place, Maguire declined to give further details, saying the group needed "time to bed down in operation" before being finalised.

Wigan's pre-season match against St Helens was cancelled in December because of icy conditions and they are scheduled to play a friendly with Wakefield on Sunday.

The leadership team will be unveiled ahead of Wigan's season opener against Crusaders on February 5.

A decision will be made on a match-by-match basis as to which of the leadership team will captain the side.

"Other teams in other sports have adopted this shared responsibility in the past and it has worked fantastically well," Maguire said.

"We aim to be at the forefront of such forward-thinking initiatives here at Wigan and, as a squad, we have embraced the idea wholeheartedly."

Melbourne coach Craig Bellamy introduced a rotational leadership group following the retirement of Storm great Robbie Kearns at the end of 2005.

The move followed consultation with Sydney AFL premiership coach Paul Roos, who appointed three captains ahead of the 2006 season.

In August 2007, Bellamy elevated Cameron Smith to the role of captain, but he has retained a leadership group of senior players to support the skipper.

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