Michael Maguire’s tumultuous tenure at the Wests Tigers continues after a board meeting to decide the coach’s future was postponed.
The club’s board was expected to meet on Monday to hear findings of the end-of-season football review which was thought to be his death knell.
However, it’s understood they needed more time to decide the fate of their head coach, which has staved off a decision on Maguire’s future for now.
Under Maguire’s three seasons in charge, the Tigers have slipped from ninth, to 11th and 13th in 2021, missing finals for the 10th straight season.
A dismal 38-0 loss to wooden spooners Canterbury in the final round while the pressure was on to keep his job was thought to be the final straw.
Maguire’s intense coaching style was thought to have worn out the young side.
He has long been adamant that he is setting the club up for future success, and that they must be patient and play the long game.
But there is every chance that patience may have run out.
The Tigers have won just 38.2 per cent of games under Maguire, the 2014 NRL premiership winner with South Sydney, and are yet to string three straight wins together while he has been at the helm.
A date has not been set for the next board meeting, but the club are keen to move quickly given recruitment for 2022 and beyond has been put on hold until there is certainty over the head coach position.
If Maguire is axed, he will be the fifth full-time head coach to leave the Tigers in the space of nine seasons.
Maguire had his deal extended last summer, with a further two years added to take him until the end of 2023.
Club officials have long maintained they do not regret that decision despite the current situation.
Penrith assistant Cameron Ciraldo is understood to be the main target as a replacement for Maguire, although he has put any talks on hold until the Panthers have finished the NRL season.
Ciraldo is considered one of the rising stars in the NRL coaching field and the Tigers have been impressed with his defensive nous in helping Penrith to success.
If he is not interested, Kristian Woolf, Shaun Wane, Paul Green and Englishman Steve McNamara shape as other options should Maguire be axed.
Nat
Roar Guru
I reckon I'd put my $ on him staying. Why would Ciraldo come? He's got a plumb job in a performing team an the cracks are starting to show with Cleary. Otherwise, more experienced and proven like Madge? So much so it's worth the payout? I don't pretend to know the ins/outs of the club but I can see a build there. It would be a shame but not the first time a coach has lost his job over board politics.
Opposed Session
Roar Rookie
Someone will always want a job but if WT think there problems stop with sacking Madge then they are kidding themselves. I’d be more inclined to move some other people on before the coach. Clearly a leak a board level if media know when they are calling meetings.
no one in particular
Roar Guru
different board. The Farah situation was handled correctly. Farah was given multiple well paying options, and he failed to respond to any of them. In the end the decision was made for him. His ego thought he was bigger then the club
BSwagspeare
Roar Rookie
Total shambles. Just having a meeting like that is a signal that the Board - fairly or unfairly - does not have faith in the Coach. How can he stay on now, knowing that? Why would he want to? If you're going to stab someone in the back, strike hard, strike home, strike true. As to replacements - Ciraldo might be a viable option, but none of the others listed here leap out off the page. Would any of them be a trade-up from Maguire anyway?
Big Daddy
Roar Rookie
Whatever plays out in this ongoing Saga is the fact is this is a very incompetent board who have no idea on how to handle the situation. This goes back to the Farah debacle .
Don
Roar Rookie
The answer is yes. Nathan Cleary is someone you can build a side around. Dad can thank his son for the Penrith gig. No Nathan at Penrith = No Ivan being signed.
Nat
Roar Guru
100%. If not Ciradlo, one of them.
Opposed Session
Roar Rookie
Nat do you think this will be the title until Ciraldo becomes available?
Tony
Roar Guru
Masochist?
Don
Roar Rookie
You couldn’t make this up. Unless Sheens is going to be a hands on overseer, then they should not go anywhere near a coach without NRL success on his CV. And Green had to split from the Cowboys because his intensity and pressure apparently created a split between he and his players. Everyone can cop working above and beyond and putting in extra time and effort when you are winning, or at least when you’ve got a great culture and can see there’s bright horizons if you follow the path you are on. Whether it’s sports or business. But when you’re put under the pump relentlessly, can’t see a clear direction, and also see people recruited who don’t put in the required effort? They are kidding themselves. How do you talk about a high performance, high discipline and high effort environment and then recruit Joey Leilua, James Robert’s or Joe Ofahengaue on good money? All showed themselves to be habitually lazy in their previous clubs. How do you not drop Tamou and Brooks as often as you drop Mbye? It makes everything you say meaningless if your actions aren’t aligned.
Onya.
Guest
Here’s an interesting question for West Tigers supporters. If Ivan Cleary became available to coach at another club now. Then said Nathan would come with him to his next club. Would West’s take him back as coach? West’s lack a good halfback & have for many years. Just wonder if all the anger for Ivan would disappear immediately, for the chance to have a top halfback?
Wait a minute!
Guest
As a young coach. Why would you want this job as your first first grade head coaching job? Ciraldo is still better off staying where he is .
Tony
Roar Guru
I think that they've left it a little late for major 2022 recruitment decisions
Tony
Roar Guru
Andrew, Madge has the full support of the Board
Tigertown
Guest
Justin Pascoe needs to go.
andrew
Roar Rookie
Dead man walking.
Eelsalmighty
Roar Rookie
Good point and probably a fair call. That aside, it must be untenable going forward from here.
Gray-Hand
Roar Rookie
To be fair… this is apparently exactly how Madge dealt with players that he didn’t want to re-sign.
Eelsalmighty
Roar Rookie
That's got to be a 'professional (ism) foul'. Unless there has been some genuine dialogue behind the scenes between Madge and Wests, which I doubt, it reads like 'we're stuck with you for now, until we lock in someone better - P.S anyone/everyone is better - but in case we can't sign someone/anyone you're the awemostest'. You could sign that Donald Trump. Make a call.
Tony
Roar Guru
Bumblefcukery :laughing: