With at least two NRL clubs without a head coach next season, Michael Maguire believes he’s a wiser now than when he spearheaded South Sydney to their premiership four years ago.
Maguire has been linked with the vacant roles at Manly and Penrith next year, the former of which are likely to cut ties with unhappy mentor Trent Barrett at the end of the season.
Maguire, who is currently contracted to the NZRL to coach the Kiwis, has also been mentioned as a possible replacement for Wayne Bennett once he completes the final year of his contract next year.
And if any of those clubs opt to chase after him, Maguire insists they’d be getting a new man.
“I’m a lot wiser coach now than I think I was in 2014,” he said on Sunday Night with Matt Johns on Fox Sports.
“I think my knowledge now across the game with this down time has given me a look at the whole organisation.”
Pressed on whether he would consider Manly, where Barrett has already signalled his intention to leave due to a lack of funding and support, Maguire said he didn’t need top-notch resources.
He said the most important factor for him would be “people”.
“And strong leaders, you need strong leaders within your organisation right up and down the areas. And playing group is obviously a really big part of that,” he said.
Maguire insisted he had yet to be approached by the Broncos, but said he would definitely consider them because of their facilities and strong leadership.
“They’ve got everything they require up there to be successful and I think it’s a very successful organisation,” he said.
As for Penrith, he admitted he would need to sit down with club boss Phil Gould about what kind of structure he would have in place for his new coach.
Gould has fired two coaches before their contract expired, including a controversial falling out with Anthony Griffin earlier this month.
“When you’ve got a general manager that has been a coach, he’s going to have very strong opinions. And he’s been very successful in his own right,” Maguire said.
“So it’s one there you’d have to sit down and go through that club and determine what style of coach will suit Penrith.”
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