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Kiwis coach Michael Maguire has batted away questions about his anticipated return to the NRL as Ivan Cleary’s replacement at the Wests Tigers.
The former South Sydney Premiership-winning coach is reportedly close to returning to the NRL, but after overseeing a Kiwis training session in Hull he insisted his focus was on guiding New Zealand to a series-opening Test victory over England on Sunday (AEDT).
Maguire smiled when the obvious question about succeeding a supposedly Penrith-bound Cleary was posed repeatedly.
“At the moment I’m pretty keen to focus on the Kiwis game, all those things sort themselves out in time,” he said.
“This is a really important game for us and a really important game for New Zealand. My focus is definitely around what we need to do (against England).
“It’s actually been good being away. They’re a great bunch of boys and it’s really ignited the coaching side of myself to be a part of it.”
Asked about England counterpart Wayne Bennett’s switch to South Sydney from Brisbane, Maguire again concentrated on the Kiwis three-test assignment.
“I’m going to continually hold that line,” he said.
The Wests Tigers and Penrith are expected to appoint Maguire and Cleary early next week as the biggest coaching upheaval in the league’s history continues to unfold.
It’s understood Cleary was finalising a deal to join the Panthers on Friday afternoon and is expected to be released by the Tigers.
That will come as the Tigers themselves unveil Maguire as their new mentor, who is already believed to have agreed to terms.
The moves mean Cleary will be back at his old club well before November 12, when the main group assemble for the first day of pre-season training.
Maguire will also likely be back from England in time for the Tigers’ first main day of training on November 15.
Known for his hard edge and discipline, Maguire turned South Sydney from perennial battlers to regular finalists in his four years at club, including capturing their drought-breaking 2014 title.
He established himself as front-runner for the Tigers’ role in the past fortnight, with the joint-venture having previously considered Bennett as their first option.
Bennett will now join the Rabbitohs by 2020 after having been announced as Anthony Seibold’s replacement, with the latter expected to also be announced as the Brisbane’s new coach.
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