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.”
TigerMike
Guest
You can have Clearey too, from bring in the top 8 Wait no I meant.. From being in the Top 4 !! in the first quarter of the comp, to Being in the Top 8 for the first half of the comp... To just being a loser, consistently, even failing the tv rep role of a coach, especially that Even this last week he had to mention penriths game in his Wests tigers match preview.. Shows he should have taken up Gus' offer
Forty Twenty
Guest
I'd be a bit concerned with either coach at Manly after they led their previous clubs into a black hole. It was alarming what Hasler did in particular because he went to the Dogs with everything in his favor to do really well. By the time he had built his own roster and implemented his own ideas fully , the place was a basket case and he refused to change his attitude. He hand picked a roster with back ended deals and nobody thrived under his coaching bar one or two. None of this is proof that either coach won't do well but the recent evidence is very negative. All coaches would imagine that they improve over time but very few have the results to back up this self assessment.
Harvey Wilson
Roar Rookie
The Dragons big mistake was signing Hunt.
Nat
Roar Guru
While Bennett didn't have the origin fatigue issue with Hunt, he knew what his best game was and how to get it out. When it wasn't happening, he dropped him, not as a punishment but a confidence gainer against lower opposition. Mary could not do that because of the price tag he came to the Saints with. Through experience, Hunt finds it very difficult to play himself back into form, something around has to change and more pressure from losing Widdop does him no favours.
eagleJack
Roar Guru
Yeah fair enough. But from a Manly perspective we desperately need some discipline. Right now there is none. They need to fear their coach. They need to respect him. I think Madge or Hasler could provide that. There is enough talent amongst the core group of players to cause a few headaches for opposition sides moving forward. But they won’t get anywhere without tightening up their defensive system. The team can attack, so no need to change things up too much there. But boy they need to work as a unit in defence.
William Dalton Davis
Roar Rookie
Hasler and Madge, to me, didn’t evolve their game plans and got found out, but were still getting some results here and there so didn’t feel the need to freshen things up. If anything, Hasler’s gameplan actually went backwards as the team slid, while Madge usually had injuries as an excuse plus the loss of Sammy. You look at the Bennett and Bellamy sides though, and while the core concepts are near identicle year to year it’s easy to see the changes being made.
eagleJack
Roar Guru
I’m of the opinion that a change is as good as a holiday. Coaches can get stale, and sometimes all the club needs is a different perspective to get results again. I think Hasler and Maguire are the best of those on offer, who can come into a club and make a difference almost immediately. Hasler did exceptionally well at the Bulldogs initially, although people only seem to remember the fallout from the cap. He completely changed their game plan within a year to take them to the 2012 Grand Final. And Maguire took the perennial underachievers in Souths to a Top 4 finish in his first year in 2012 and a Premiership in 2014.
RandyM
Guest
the fact the rabbitohs are top 4 this year with a brand new coach and virtually the same roster as last year doesn't really help macguire's case for future coaching jobs...
BA Sports
Roar Guru
Historically how have the Broncos and Storm remained title threats post-Origin? That roster, with those forwards, shouldn't be getting pushed around the park. As for Hunt - Plenty of players have lost form and regained it. Maybe whatever it is McGregor is telling Hunt to focus on are not the things that will improve his form. Maybe Maguire or another coach have better ideas on what will improve Hunt's play. That is what good caching is.
Paul
Roar Guru
they were SO drained by Origin, which finished weeks ago. they could only muster 4 points against two bottom ranked sides while conceding over 70? Sorry, but that excuse just doesn't cut it.
Paul
Roar Guru
completely agree BA. After I made this comment, I did a rough mental comparison between the layer talent Madge had at Souths when they won their premiership and what he'd get at the Dragons if he started tomorrow. Plenty of similarities in skill, but not so much in terms of attitude at the moment.
kk
Guest
Origin drained the Dragons in 2018. How would Madge make any difference other than spelling players after each Origin game? Could he resurrect Ben Hunt? Could anyone?
BA Sports
Roar Guru
Seriously. If Maguire was the head coach of the Dragons going into 2019 with essentially their current roster, the Dragons would be one of the pre-season favourites to win the comp. If the Dragons go into 2019 with the same roster and McGregor as coach - they will be 8th or 9th in favourtism. Surely that tells the Dragons hierarchy all they need to know?
Paul
Roar Guru
Come and coach the Dragons, Madge. We badly need you.