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Maguire's future in peril after embarrassing final-round loss

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5th September, 2021
23

Michael Maguire’s fate could be sealed as soon as this week with Wests Tigers chairman Lee Hagipantelis admitting there is a disconnect at the NRL club between investment and results.

Hagipantelis stressed on Monday that a decision on Maguire had not yet been determined, but the reality is another year out of the finals means the future is bleak for the Tigers coach.

Players were interviewed last week by club officials before Sunday’s horror show against Canterbury, and a football department review is expected to be completed this week.

That will then be compiled for the next board meeting next month, but changes could come before then.

Hagipantelis admitted it would defy logic for there not to be changes in the club’s football department after another finals miss, but said they could be “intrinsic or extrinsic”.

Crucially though he claimed all other aspects of both the business and roster management had improved, with results the one clear exception.

“Off the paddock the club is as financially stable as it has ever been,” Hagipantelis told AAP. 

“We have committed more resources and funds to the football department than ever in the history of the club. 

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“There has been a very active and aggressive recruitment and retention program. 

“But the results on the paddock do not bespeak the investment that has been made. 

“This year we have finished 13th, last year 11th and the year prior 9th.

“There is a disconnect then between what has gone in and what’s come out.”

Put to him that the assessment all but cleared other management such as CEO Justin Pascoe and left Maguire to bear the brunt, Hagipantelis responded: “I know what you’re asking but I am not going to comment.

“We all accept responsibility for the results of the club, we are all in this together.

“But as I say the results do not bespeak the level of commitment of investment that has been made.

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“And that’s the question that has to be addressed.”

It comes despite Maguire being re-signed by the Tigers last December, with his deal extended from the end of 2021 to 2023.

Maguire for his part will make the argument that the club must continue to play the long game, having declared that was his stance over the weekend.

At the forefront of that is the development of Daine Laurie and Stefano Utoikamanu this year, while Adam Doueihi has also impressed.

But ultimately the Tigers could decide that Maguire is not the man to get the best out of the club’s next crop.

The Tigers have won just 38.2 per cent of games under Maguire in his three seasons in charge.

If they do look elsewhere for a coach, Cameron Ciraldo is one option given the way he has brought through Penrith’s current crop from under-20s.

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However, the Panthers assistant knocked back a similar offer to take charge of Cronulla’s next generation in 2019.

Shane Flanagan is another coach out of work, and while he is now free to return to the NRL there is a thought his intense style is similar to that of Maguire’s.

© AAP

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