Michael Maguire has insisted that form will come first when he picks his NSW team, with the new coach promising that previous picks will matter less under the new regime.
“I’m going to keep a very open page on where I go,” he told the media conference to mark his unveiling as Blues boss.
“I’m big on form. The biggest thing I can say to the players is just come and play the best footy you can play. That’s going to play a part in who is picked.
“When you’ve got people in really good form coming into camp, with a really positive mindset about how you want to do things, I go after those players.
“I’m looking forward to letting the players go and play and then we can have discussions around what’s going to work for NSW.
“Just go and play, enjoy doing what you’re doing. When the time comes, we’ll pick the team.
“At the end of the day, I have a pretty open sheet.
“That’s the joys of being able to start fresh and allow the players to not have to think. I just want them to play, and if they do that then the performances will sort things out over time.”
Maguire will have a raft of experienced coaches to help him along the journey.
Matt King, one of Trent Robinson’s right-hand men at the Roosters, and John Cartwright, himself a former NRL head coach with the Titans and currently an assistant to Kevin Walters at the Broncos, will be in the box alongside Madge, as will Brett White, currently an assistant on the Gold Coast.
“The Blues jersey is everything and we will ensure that we foster an environment that allows everyone to perform at their very best. Leadership and culture will be critical to do this,” said Maguire.
“Just as important will be bringing everyone along the journey with us, and by that I literally mean everyone, from the front office to the volunteer in Bourke and the thousands of junior footy players who idolise the Blues and are passionate about Origin.
“Everyone has a part to play and I want everyone across the state to feel a part of the Blues Origin campaign.”
Frank Ponissi of the Melbourne Storm is set to be team manager and Andrew Gray and Sean Edwards the high performance staff.
“Michael is a multiple premiership-winning coach in two hemispheres and has been successful in the international arena as head coach of the New Zealand team,” said NSWRL CEO David Trodden.
“Together with Michael’s recent experience at the Raiders, they all bring strong current NRL experience to the Blues as assistant coaches – with John working alongside Kevin Walters at the Broncos, Matt with Trent Robinson at the Roosters, and Brett with Des Hasler at the Titans.
“Along with Frank Ponissi’s involvement with the Storm, we now have a High Performance team that is not only impeccably credentialled but also has the breadth and depth of current experience across four NRL clubs.”
Red Rob
Roar Rookie
Fair enough, certain sources suggested he was going to actively approach Wighton to entice him back but you’re right that the actual quotes don’t support that.
astro
Roar Rookie
Maguire was asked about Wighton in the press conference by a journalist looking for a headline. Its not like he stood up in his first press conference and begged for Jack to come back...He said "I’ll let him find his feet there at Souths and when the time’s right, we’ll have that conversation. I fully respect where he’s at and what he wants to do" I think that's a perfectly fine thing to say upon being asked...
Red Rob
Roar Rookie
But at the same time he's publicly penciling in a bloke who doesn't want to play SOO.
astro
Roar Rookie
I think this is more Madge sending out a bit of an early warning to guys like Teddy, Cook, Fox etc, that just because they've been there before, doesn't mean they'll be there again this year...their form will matter.
Muzz Manyana
Roar Rookie
So Jackson Hastings should be selected if he's dominating club footy leading up to SOO if Nathan Cleary's form is patchy? Pull the other one Madge!
Forty Twenty
Roar Rookie
Selecting a player like Tedesco who appears to be past his best by a long way comes with peril as well as NSW showed last series. Maguire will have rocks in his head if he picks Tedesco unless he regains form. It's all very well to claim he is a proven performer in big games because that's in the past. He was a shadow of his former self in the last SOO series.
Red Rob
Roar Rookie
:laughing: Yes ironically the key to improving Ch 9 commentary may be giving them coaching jobs.
Red Rob
Roar Rookie
Yep, the uplift in pressure is a big factor. Plus some players go up a level when those around them are a higher standard.
sheek
Roar Guru
Nat, At the risk of being Dudley Do-Right, all these sayings like Tyson's, are variations of a German general's observation at the outbreak of WW1: "No plan survives first contact with the enemy". But it's probable, all these types of observations go back millennia.
sheek
Roar Guru
Hoy, Back in 1988 Ian Healy was catapulted into the test keeping role off the back of less than half a dozen Shield games, but included a very cool under pressure performance in the 1987/88 Shield final. He leapfrogged his Qld teammate Peter Anderson (who was extremely miffed), & previous test incumbents Tim Zoehrer, Greg Dyer & part-timer Wayne Phillips. His promotion was actually due to outstanding selection, particularly by Greg Chappell. I often read Roarers demand form players be selected for whatever team. Bu what are they showing form in? There are plenty of guys who can look good in home & away matches, but are found wanting when the standard & pressure rises. What you look for are guys who perform in out of the ordinary matches, like 'top of the table' clashes, must-win games or finals matches. That's the clue to capability. One guy under severe pressure is Roos & NSW fullback & captain James Tedesco. Lots of folk have all sorts of reasons to drop him. But Maguire needs to be sure if or why he drops Tedesco. Tedesco is a proven performer in big games. He is cool under pressure & calm as a captain. Even if his form isn't first-rate at the time of selection, you drop him at your peril.
Jackson Rogers
Roar Rookie
QLD be like yeah ok Madge bring it on... yawn...
mushi
Roar Guru
Well you'd hope the professional coaching team is across that! Normally it's one is the expectation and the other is the variation from it. If you believe the expectation then that's the more likely outcome. So the key is knowing when to change the expectation and realise it's not variation I suppose
Hoy
Roar Guru
Very interesting... I love this stuff... but where does capability start and end?
Tony
Roar Guru
Let's hope he also ends the ridiculous live Channel 9 commentary thing as well
Red Rob
Roar Rookie
Genuine lol for that one :thumbup:
Duncan Smith
Roar Guru
A team picked on form? We can't have that.
Albo
Roar Rookie
Hopefully Madge will recognise good form when it comes around ! As he hasn't seen a lot in the past decade of club coaching ! :silly:
Andrew01
Roar Rookie
Well appointing actual coaches, not life long friends like Freddy did, as advisors, is probably a step in the right direction.
Nat
Roar Guru
He hasn't shown his hand yet.
Phil
Roar Rookie
Good positive talk from Madge to hear he's big on form. I hope his philosophy is as far away from Freddy's as possible especially with selections. No more picking hookers on the bench and have him play centre. No more picking Dally M winners and not knowing what to do with him.