Following the departure of John Morris from the Sharks this week there’s a real possibility some other club boards may be about to add a new item to the agenda for their next meeting: coaching options.
With the coach-sacking ice has been broken there will be a number of coaches wondering if they could be the next to go, and if so, how soon, particularly if they recall the carnage of 2020 when five first-grade coaches either were asked to hand in their clipboards or resigned before they were sacked. Last year’s coaching clean-out surely couldn’t happen again this year.
Or could it?
As John Morris can now attest, a week is a very long time in rugby league, and if I were a betting man, I’d like to have some money on another couple of coaches joining him in the exit queue before too long.
That brings me to Wests Tigers coach Michael Maguire, who looks to me to be in dead-man-walking mode as he fails to either shake or cajole any level of pride of performance from his players.
(Photo by Matt King/Getty Images)
Maguire came to the Tigers on a three-year contract at the beginning of 2019, replacing Ivan Cleary, who had suddenly jumped off the Wests Tigers bus. Maguire was very well credentialled, having guided Wigan Warriors to both Super League and Challenge Cup victories in England and taken South Sydney to multiple final series before securing their long-awaited 21st premiership in 2014.
Unfortunately he hasn’t been able to replicate that success with Wests, and he is currently sitting on a win ratio of just 39 per cent compared to win ratios of 75 per cent and 56 per cent achieved at Wigan and Souths respectively.
Wests finished ninth in his first season as coach in 2019, slipped to 11th last year and currently sit in 13th position with just one win in five games. It’s hard to see them rising out of the bottom four this year.
These are hardly results to write home about, and they are far worse than John Morris achieved with his two finals finishes and his win ratio with the Sharks of 47 per cent.
Of course Maguire can claim the usual excuses for his team’s lack of success, including the now favourite ‘inherited poor roster’ excuse that failed to save Morris this year and others like Dean Pay in the past. Yes, there were some underperforming players taking up cap space when he was appointed, including Russell Packer, Josh Reynolds and Moses Mbye, but I’m assuming that Maguire had some input into the recruitment of both Joseph Leilua and James Roberts and also in the departure of one of their best forwards in Josh Aloiai, so fair’s fair on that front.
Yes, he’s had his original three-year coaching deal extended until the end of 2023, but what does that really mean? Wests have a proud history of contributing to the lifestyle of sacked coaches, and we all know that these days any contract can be broken seemingly at will.
I’m not even sure that Maguire is even enjoying his job these days. Yes, there was a rare smile captured on camera a couple of weeks back, but his body language generally shows a high level of frustration with his team.
But most worryingly for Maguire are the recent statements made by Wests chairman Lee Hagipantelis, including this gem: “There is no change of coach on our radar whatsoever”.
In league circles that’s as good as saying, “Hand in your swipe card, return the car keys and mobile phone and move directly to the building exit”.
So it looks to me that Madge will be the next coach to go this year, but I hardly think he’ll be the last.
Tony
Roar Guru
That's one way of putting it
Forty Twenty
Roar Rookie
They're collecting a few ''characters'' out in the centres.
Tony
Roar Guru
At the end of the day it doesn't matter whether it's Madge's fault or not. He'll just be the most likely scapegoat.
Tony
Roar Guru
There's definitely some issues there Steve. Recruitment being one of them, and they haven't done that well with junior development, as most of their talented players are allowed to wander off. It looks like their latest genius signing is Brent Naden. What could go wrong there?
steveng
Roar Rookie
Its not Madge, at the West/Tigers its a culture thing and players that have been there too long, as you cant take blood out of a stone mate, there is just something wrong, as I've pointed out above.
steveng
Roar Rookie
The Tigers are well beyond coaches, as a few players there haven't pulled their weight as it must be their culture overall e.g. why they let Benji go is beyond me? Brooks is a wasted space and a perfect example, who was kept there and has done nothing as most of the time he's been a liability. And the Jason Taylor coaching disaster(s) then they let Moses, then Farah etc etc. The Tigers just haven't progressed and have gone backyards. Have a look at their ladder positions from 2016 to 2020; as none of their crisscross signings have done anything to improve the side. This the Tigers 5 year ladder positions, 2016-9th then 2017-14th, 2018-9th, 2019-9th and in 2020-11th, which is not disastrous but shows that they just can't go to the next level and no matter what coach they get it will end up the same. There must be something there at the Tigers that just doesn't take them go to that next level as they put in a pretty decent effort against the Knights in round 3 and could improve on that but never do, their lapses especially like they showed in last weeks game against the Cows is a normal event and that is just purely down to the culture of the players as Madge is a pretty hard and strict disciplinarian but it hasn't worked at rhe Wests/Tigers.
Tony
Roar Guru
And some players need carrot and no stick
no one in particular
Roar Guru
Roberts was cheap. Momorofski is his own worst enemy, there is a reason Roosters, Storm and Tigers were all happy to see him go. Sooner or later he needs to see what Madden can do. If Brooks isn't the answer then he needs to look at his alternatives. Bring Madden up to 5/8, move Douehi to the centres. If Mbye goes then he can look at somebody like Shaun Johnson to partner a young half. Walters isn't the answer
Walter Black
Guest
Hard Nosed works wonders as long as those you are being hard nosed with have respect. Once that respect goes, all hard nose does is pxxs people off further. Bellamy gets away with hard nosed because he works extremely hard, has high expectations, doesn't suffer fools lightly but tempers that with enormous compassion for his players. He isn't afraid of telling you when you have stuffed up but also admits when he is in the wrong as with the Teddy / Pappenhuzen comparison.
no one in particular
Roar Guru
be glad you're not a Parra fan
Nat
Roar Guru
By Dec last year all the horse trading was done. Although if the Barrett, Brown, Kevvie and Payten audition goes poorly those clubs may be sniffing around and not for one just dumped.
Tony
Roar Guru
Which makes you wonder what the trigger for Madge's extension was.
Nat
Roar Guru
I was going to say Mary but that's not entirely true. When his contract came into question, the team became May premiers and he got an extention.
Tony
Roar Guru
Yes Phil, sounds like there could be a clash of egos there. If so, it's been a problem well before Madge came along.
Tony
Roar Guru
Nat, lack of options has never saved anyone before.
Tony
Roar Guru
That's a good question Walter. Is it Madge, the players, or just the Wests management/ recruitment?
Tony
Roar Guru
Or if they actually have a plan
Birdy
Roar Rookie
Hopefully not . Makes you wonder what criteria the nrl have for suspect club management. Look at both clubs success rate. Wests last premiership 1951(?) Balmain 1969 wests tigers 2005. I'm tigers till I die and I'm sick of it. Doggies fans,while in a slump know it won't last and will be back, same with manly dragons etc etc.
Birdy
Roar Rookie
And that's what's happened all too often in tiger town
Phil
Roar Rookie
Madge can obviously coach as his trophy cabinet shows but he has to have the right stock to work with and it appears at this stage he doesn't have that stock. Reports come out at times about his hard nosed methods at training which, if true, could be the problem. Maybe he needs to back off a bit and lighten up. We can only guess.