Tigers coach Michael Maguire has rejected speculation that he could consider a switch to join Canterbury in 2023.
Centre Brent Naden will go from Canterbury training on Monday morning to facing the Bulldogs on Friday night as a mid-season NRL recruit for the Wests Tigers but the coach is not interested in heading the other way next year now that the Bulldogs are searching for a replacement following Trent Barrett’s abrupt departure.
Instead, Maguire’s focus remains solely on turning around the Tigers’ tough start as they sit above only Canterbury on the ladder after 10 rounds.
And he is hoping Naden can be part of that. The first man to exit Canterbury after Trent Barrett’s resignation as coach, Naden’ can give the Tigers some backline strike-power after he was named at No.21 on Tuesday.
The Tigers have one more spot on their roster for 2022, but Maguire would not enter into speculation on whether fellow former Penrith and Bulldogs player Jack Hetherington would follow Naden across.
Maguire is off contract at the end of this year, and is far from assured of an extension at the Tigers after fighting to keep his job at the end of last season.
The Tigers are 2-8 and desperately need a win on Friday night, with Luke Brooks out for up to four weeks with a hamstring injury and Adam Doueihi also not due back until Round 14.
But Maguire laughed off questions over whether he was eying off the Bulldogs job for next year.
“My name has been tossed up for many things across the past six or 12 months,” Maguire said. “It’s the world of rugby league. But we’ve got a big game tomorrow night … I’m real focused on the playing group that we have at the moment.
“I have really enjoyed the coaching with the attitude of the players. While we haven’t managed to get the results we would have liked, the fight the players have shown for the jersey and everyone around the club (is commendable). The foundation is there for us to propel ourselves for where we want to get to.”
Pressed further on whether he had spoken to his management since Barrett’s exit, Maguire said he had not discussed the Canterbury situation. “No, I’ve got my eyes on my players right now,” he said.
“It’s a really important game for us. I have seen a real change in this playing group in the way they are going about things. Everyone wants a result, but the way they are building the foundations of how we are playing.”
The Papua New Guinea Hunters have formed an alliance with new NRL outfit the Dolphins, providing a pathway for their young players.
With the Dolphins joining the NRL in 2023, four PNG players will be invited to their pre-season training, with two staying on for the full year to push for NRL selection.
While the Queensland Cup club is based in Port Moresby, the Hunters have relocated to the Gold Coast for the past two years due to COVID-19.
PNG league boss Scott Barker said the partnership was a huge opportunity to develop Papua New Guineans.
“We know there is a wealth of rugby league talent and potential within Papua New Guinea, and this is the next step in our mission to introduce that talent into the NRL,” Barker said.
A number of NRL stars have PNG roots and have represented the Kumuls in recent seasons including Storm pair Justin Olam and Xavier Coates, Rabbitohs winger Alex Johnston, Roosters halfback Lachlan Lam and Broncos back David Mead.
Dolphins’ chief executive Terry Reader said his club, including coach Wayne Bennett, wanted the club to play a major role in developing them.
“Through previous visits to the country, we understand how passionate the entire nation of Papua New Guinea is about the game of rugby league,” Reader said. “Our head coach Wayne Bennett has long admired the unique talent players from Papua New Guinea possess and the way they approach the game.
“We are very pleased to offer a pathway for player development that will open up opportunities for players from that country to succeed at the highest level of the game.”
(Photo by Getty Images)
Star fullback Tom Trbojevic has taken the blame for Manly’s unimpressive start to the season by saying he hasn’t been good enough.
After a winless first month, Trbojevic led the Sea Eagles to the grand final qualifier last year but this year he has not had the same impact after being hampered by a knee injury.
Trbojevic doesn’t take last year’s Dally M Medal-winning form into account when analysing his 2022 efforts and simply said he needed to lift his game.
“I haven’t been good enough this year and I need to find ways to fix that.
“I don’t read into having performance analysed so much. I wouldn’t say it affects me but you know it’s there. It’s part of the game. I played some good footy last year and that’s what comes on the back of it.
“If you want to be successful you’ve got to beat the top sides. We haven’t been able to do that this year and we’ve got to find a way to be more competitive against those sides and win footy games.”
The Sea Eagles copped a 38-0 flogging from the Broncos last week to drop to a 5-5 record and ninth spot while they are yet to win a match from their five outings against top-eight opponents heading into Saturday night’s CommBank Stadium clash with sixth-placed Parramatta.
Melbourne have Andrew Johns to thank for Craig Bellamy signing on for another season, with the master coach saying the former NRL star persuaded him to stay.
Bellamy has announced he will be at the helm for an incredible 21st season in 2023 and he said “Joey” called him a few weeks ago while he was still deciding whether to remain as coach or move to a part-time director of coaching role with the NRL club.
“It took a while to get there and there were a few things that stalled the decision,” Bellamy said.
“I turned a bit of a corner when I had a chat to Joey Johns – Andrew rang me a couple of weeks ago and made a couple of points and it seemed to make a bit of sense to me and that swung me the way I decided to go.”
Bellamy didn’t want to illuminate their conversation but said he appreciated the input from Johns.
“I will leave that between me and Joey but I appreciate him ringing me up and that was the main thing that turned me.”
The 63-year-old didn’t rule out coaching beyond 2023 and is contracted to the Storm until the end of 2026, but said he also wanted to spend more time with his four grandchildren.
“There’s a couple of things I want to do before I get too old,” he said.
“We will see what happens in this 12 months and go from there.”
Since taking over as coach in 2003 Bellamy has steered the team to nine grand finals, winning five, although two were stripped for salary cap cheating.
The Storm are second on the NRL ladder after 10 rounds and trail defending champions Penrith by two points after losing their Magic Round clash in Brisbane last week.
Former mentor Wayne Bennett welcomed Bellamy’s decision as he prepares to coach against him for newcomers the Dolphins next season.
“I’m pleased; if he’s still enjoying it and that’s what he wants to do, why would you retire?” Bennett said.
“You don’t get less knowledge as we get older. Enthusiasm and the passion for what you do has to remain, but you learn something every year.”
It’s a relief for Melbourne given they are set to lose a number of veterans with skipper Jesse Bromwich, his brother Kenny and fellow representative forward Felise Kaufusi all leaving for the Dolphins at the end of the year while Brandon Smith is heading to the Sydney Roosters.
Bellamy’s one-year contract could potentially impact the future of superstar playmaker Cameron Munster, who is off contract at the end of 2023.
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