Kaito
Well-known member
John Morris was the street corner tip to replace Michael Maguire at the weekend. Then again, Maguire has looked like a dead man walking before.
Late last year, there were some within the Wests Tigers who wanted Maguire gone. Powerful people too.
Maguire survived but the Tigers have won only three games since and he is once again in the crosshairs, with his fate seemingly already determined.
It would be a major surprise if Maguire is at the helm of the Tigers by the end of the week. The capitulation to South Sydney at the weekend looked to seal his fate, although the club’s board will have the final say.
The Tigers were woeful in the second half. Every try the Rabbitohs scored weakened Maguire’s grip on his position. That said, it would be wide of the mark to suggest his future rode on the outcome against Souths.
Dig a little deeper and the Tigers have won only six of their past 23 games. They aren’t exactly setting the world on fire. They have shown flashes of quality during his tenure but every win has been a false dawn.
No corners have been turned. Hence the talk that Morris was rather favourite to take over. The connection was an educated one. Morris played under Sheens and comes from his school of coaching.
He had success at Cronulla before departing to make way for Craig Fitzgibbon. He is known to covet a return to head coaching but any potential comeback may hinge on Maguire and his fate.
What makes a decision on Maguire’s future all the more interesting is that if he is shown the door, he would immediately become one of the favourites for the Canterbury job.
Only in rugby league could a coach be sacked one day and then land another - potentially more lucrative job - at a rival not long after.
First, to the Tigers. Maguire’s fate largely rests in the hands of head of football Tim Sheens, who will be charged with making a recommendation on the club’s coaching direction.
Sheens has had his feet under the desk for a good six months now.Long enough to get a gauge on where the club is heading and whether Maguire is the right man to take it forward.
Pure results suggest it isn’t working. Hasn’t been for quite some time. The issue for the Tigers is that they want to begin contract talks with some of their most important players and they will want to know who the coach is.
Think Luke Brooks, Jackson Hastings, Daine Laurie and Adam Doueihi. They are the heartbeat of the team and they will want clarity around who will be in charge beyond this season. For that reason, it has become crucial that the Tigers make a call on their coach.
The Bulldogs similarly need to provide some clarity around their coach so that they can continue an impressive recruitment drive. They have already strengthened the side for next season with the addition of Viliame Kikau and Reed Mahoney but they have millions to spend in 2024.
Their priority is likely to be Penrith assistant Cameron Ciraldo but should he declined the job, Maguire may be next in line.
What a turn of events that would be. Yet there has been talk that Canterbury head of football Phil Gould is an admirer of Maguire and while he hasn’t had success at the Tigers, Maguire remains a quality coach with premiership credentials.
The Tigers will need to make the first move. It could be only days away.
Late last year, there were some within the Wests Tigers who wanted Maguire gone. Powerful people too.
Maguire survived but the Tigers have won only three games since and he is once again in the crosshairs, with his fate seemingly already determined.
It would be a major surprise if Maguire is at the helm of the Tigers by the end of the week. The capitulation to South Sydney at the weekend looked to seal his fate, although the club’s board will have the final say.
The Tigers were woeful in the second half. Every try the Rabbitohs scored weakened Maguire’s grip on his position. That said, it would be wide of the mark to suggest his future rode on the outcome against Souths.
Dig a little deeper and the Tigers have won only six of their past 23 games. They aren’t exactly setting the world on fire. They have shown flashes of quality during his tenure but every win has been a false dawn.
No corners have been turned. Hence the talk that Morris was rather favourite to take over. The connection was an educated one. Morris played under Sheens and comes from his school of coaching.
He had success at Cronulla before departing to make way for Craig Fitzgibbon. He is known to covet a return to head coaching but any potential comeback may hinge on Maguire and his fate.
What makes a decision on Maguire’s future all the more interesting is that if he is shown the door, he would immediately become one of the favourites for the Canterbury job.
Only in rugby league could a coach be sacked one day and then land another - potentially more lucrative job - at a rival not long after.
First, to the Tigers. Maguire’s fate largely rests in the hands of head of football Tim Sheens, who will be charged with making a recommendation on the club’s coaching direction.
Sheens has had his feet under the desk for a good six months now.Long enough to get a gauge on where the club is heading and whether Maguire is the right man to take it forward.
Pure results suggest it isn’t working. Hasn’t been for quite some time. The issue for the Tigers is that they want to begin contract talks with some of their most important players and they will want to know who the coach is.
Think Luke Brooks, Jackson Hastings, Daine Laurie and Adam Doueihi. They are the heartbeat of the team and they will want clarity around who will be in charge beyond this season. For that reason, it has become crucial that the Tigers make a call on their coach.
The Bulldogs similarly need to provide some clarity around their coach so that they can continue an impressive recruitment drive. They have already strengthened the side for next season with the addition of Viliame Kikau and Reed Mahoney but they have millions to spend in 2024.
Their priority is likely to be Penrith assistant Cameron Ciraldo but should he declined the job, Maguire may be next in line.
What a turn of events that would be. Yet there has been talk that Canterbury head of football Phil Gould is an admirer of Maguire and while he hasn’t had success at the Tigers, Maguire remains a quality coach with premiership credentials.
The Tigers will need to make the first move. It could be only days away.
