Madge Maguire - Mega Thread

[bigsiro]

@GNR4LIFE I agree Cleary is a good coach. But do you think he would have taken this rabble any further? I don’t. Which only reinforces the notion that you need a good team to win - even with a good coach. But sometimes you don’t need such a good coach cos the players are that strong.

And btw Stuart did not have success wherever he went. Parra, rep level, even his Cronulla stint - but that was frought with disaster. Whatever.


He was only at Parra for a year. Whose to say he wouldn’t have had success there if he didn’t skip off down the Federal Highway. He won an Origin series in 05. The last year before Qld went on their run.

You just changed your argument and presented fake news to suit your opinion.
?
Cool.

 

[GNR4LIFE]

@GNR4LIFE I agree Cleary is a good coach. But do you think he would have taken this rabble any further? I don’t. Which only reinforces the notion that you need a good team to win - even with a good coach. But sometimes you don’t need such a good coach cos the players are that strong.

And btw Stuart did not have success wherever he went. Parra, rep level, even his Cronulla stint - but that was frought with disaster. Whatever.


He was only at Parra for a year. Whose to say he wouldn’t have had success there if he didn’t skip off down the Federal Highway. He won an Origin series in 05. The last year before Qld went on their run.

You just changed your argument and presented fake news to suit your opinion.
?
Cool.

What was fake?

 

[Telltails]

Usually don't make posts like these, but the "sack Madge" storyline NEEDS to stop. The leaks about crisis meetings, players not wanting to play under Madge - they're coming from the same sources. People need to wise up and stop and think about why there are these leaks and what the possible agenda is behind them.

It is simple, the leaks come from the board in order to pass the blame on to the coach and take the focus away from them and their bad decisions. It has happened with all the previous coaches. If the team isn't performing, the board will leak stories to the media so the media and the fans run with the story and blame the coach. It makes it easier to sack the coach with the media and the fans backing while avoiding all blame.

The main shining lights to come out of the first 6 rounds are Stefano, Laurie, Simpkin, Luciano and Doueihi - all young guys bought the to club by Maguire. What more can Maguire do? Beyond that, what is any other coach currently available going to do.

Meanwhile, all these leaks and stories do is give underperforming players an excuse - instead at looking at their own performances they will just blame the coach. Once again, because the board are looking to shift blame and save face the fans, players and coach are the ones that suffer.

The blame rightly rests with the coach. We know it is a results based business.

Deflecting blame to the Board and players is unhelpful.

We know leaks occur when the end is near. I hope Maguire goes quickly and with dignity. No one wants this to drag out.

Do you really believe a new coach will fix this and fix it quickly?

Yes.

We urgently need a new coach with excellent people mgmt skills like Sheens, Bennett, Cleary or Morris.

The new coach should have the benefit of the salary cap that is available next year.

Maguire will not attract the quality players required.

I'd like to see a sustained improvement in our defence, attack and game plan. This does not mean winning but being highly competitive providing a platform from which to build upon. Instead we have regressed.

Maguire has zero leadership on the field with senior players that don't show an ounce of passion on the field for the club or the jersey - LL excluded. The young players have no one to lead and the player who has been there the longest and in a key position seems more than content to hang around and accept the coaching merry go round. Great example to set.
Last year we saw what a quality player in Harry Grant can do for a team. At 22 he had more desire than the lot of our blokes, and the players followed him. We all know what they should be doing but they don't have to because they know who will wear the blame for their lack of desire and it won't be them. That is what we are about.

We have regressed.

Our roster is better than results indicate.

Tamou was purchased by Maguire to lead.

The other player you refer to performed well under Cleary.

Tamou is only leading because the obvious player who should be is incapable of leadership. Tamou has been at the club for five minutes, and yet the player most identified with the club in a key position, and is on the field for 80 mins at 26yrs old is still not up to it. He should be demanding the job.
Our roster is better than results indicate - based on what? A spine with a 19 and 20 year old with less than 10 FG games between them and a new halves pairing where the senior player is reluctant to lead?
Brooks could play well under anyone he has the skills and as a senior player he has a responsibility to set the standard. He is singley not to blame for our position no more than Maguire is but he has a responsiblity to own his deficiencies. The "He played well under Cleary" line is getting just as old as the Maguire won a premiership.

 

[Guest]

Usually don't make posts like these, but the "sack Madge" storyline NEEDS to stop. The leaks about crisis meetings, players not wanting to play under Madge - they're coming from the same sources. People need to wise up and stop and think about why there are these leaks and what the possible agenda is behind them.

It is simple, the leaks come from the board in order to pass the blame on to the coach and take the focus away from them and their bad decisions. It has happened with all the previous coaches. If the team isn't performing, the board will leak stories to the media so the media and the fans run with the story and blame the coach. It makes it easier to sack the coach with the media and the fans backing while avoiding all blame.

The main shining lights to come out of the first 6 rounds are Stefano, Laurie, Simpkin, Luciano and Doueihi - all young guys bought the to club by Maguire. What more can Maguire do? Beyond that, what is any other coach currently available going to do.

Meanwhile, all these leaks and stories do is give underperforming players an excuse - instead at looking at their own performances they will just blame the coach. Once again, because the board are looking to shift blame and save face the fans, players and coach are the ones that suffer.

The blame rightly rests with the coach. We know it is a results based business.

Deflecting blame to the Board and players is unhelpful.

We know leaks occur when the end is near. I hope Maguire goes quickly and with dignity. No one wants this to drag out.

Do you really believe a new coach will fix this and fix it quickly?

Yes.

We urgently need a new coach with excellent people mgmt skills like Sheens, Bennett, Cleary or Morris.

The new coach should have the benefit of the salary cap that is available next year.

Maguire will not attract the quality players required.

I'd like to see a sustained improvement in our defence, attack and game plan. This does not mean winning but being highly competitive providing a platform from which to build upon. Instead we have regressed.

I think Madge may well be part of the problem, but the bigger issue IS the board - things need to be cleaned out at the top before any meaningful change below can be fully realised. We jump into another coach right now, nothing much will change, they'll have a roster they aren't happy with and we're back to square one.

 

[GNR4LIFE]

If Madge goes,sobeit,we move on with a new coach and hopefully he has success that atm we are not getting...
However,if he has results the same as Madge,do we judge him the same way and demand he gets sacked after 2/3 seasons with no finals and nothing but whinging,moaning and bellittling him as we have Madge..where does that leave us...IN THE SAME PLACE...
Madge has developed the junior pathway,signed talented young players mixed in with older players..he is trying to mend a broken club left shattered by sacked coaches a coach who was "on the bus'' and spent ridiculous amounts on players he wanted that would suit his coaching style and then jumped off the bus mid stream to find something better which he always had..his son at Panthers..
I can understand the disappointment by many on here,I also see that Madge can coach players to become NRL level players,Harry Grant comes to mind,Laurie was a great get just as we needed a fullback and is doing well...
We have a very young immature roster with experience mixed in,Im more than happy to see the end result after this season before supporting the "sack Madge"squad..
We also have a number of origin players,Tamou,Joe O,Mbye,Roberts and they are maybe not coping with the youth surrounding them,who really knows what mentally is happening with the team who are under pressure to perform,the seasoned players must react positively to their performances so as the younger ones become tougher NRL performers playing with heart and soul for the jersey and understanding what it takes to play at this level...I just dont think its all Madges fault,his staff,players as well all contribute to the lack of success we are having.....


Elevate Maguire to coaching director, bring in Flanagan or Morris , everyone saves face

What's the go with Morris suddenly being mentioned as a competent NRL coach? It shows how desperate the WT lens at judging competence has become. And, his Sharks mate Flanagan is a drug-cheating bogan. I want neither of them anywhere near the Tigers thanks.

Morris is unproven. We’re the last club that an unproven coach can make his name. Even premiership winning coaches are taking the club backwards.

 

[pawsandclaws1]

Usually don't make posts like these, but the "sack Madge" storyline NEEDS to stop. The leaks about crisis meetings, players not wanting to play under Madge - they're coming from the same sources. People need to wise up and stop and think about why there are these leaks and what the possible agenda is behind them.

It is simple, the leaks come from the board in order to pass the blame on to the coach and take the focus away from them and their bad decisions. It has happened with all the previous coaches. If the team isn't performing, the board will leak stories to the media so the media and the fans run with the story and blame the coach. It makes it easier to sack the coach with the media and the fans backing while avoiding all blame.

The main shining lights to come out of the first 6 rounds are Stefano, Laurie, Simpkin, Luciano and Doueihi - all young guys bought the to club by Maguire. What more can Maguire do? Beyond that, what is any other coach currently available going to do.

Meanwhile, all these leaks and stories do is give underperforming players an excuse - instead at looking at their own performances they will just blame the coach. Once again, because the board are looking to shift blame and save face the fans, players and coach are the ones that suffer.

The blame rightly rests with the coach. We know it is a results based business.

Deflecting blame to the Board and players is unhelpful.

We know leaks occur when the end is near. I hope Maguire goes quickly and with dignity. No one wants this to drag out.

Do you really believe a new coach will fix this and fix it quickly?

Yes.

We urgently need a new coach with excellent people mgmt skills like Sheens, Bennett, Cleary or Morris.

The new coach should have the benefit of the salary cap that is available next year.

Maguire will not attract the quality players required.

I'd like to see a sustained improvement in our defence, attack and game plan. This does not mean winning but being highly competitive providing a platform from which to build upon. Instead we have regressed.

Maguire has zero leadership on the field with senior players that don't show an ounce of passion on the field for the club or the jersey - LL excluded. The young players have no one to lead and the player who has been there the longest and in a key position seems more than content to hang around and accept the coaching merry go round. Great example to set.
Last year we saw what a quality player in Harry Grant can do for a team. At 22 he had more desire than the lot of our blokes, and the players followed him. We all know what they should be doing but they don't have to because they know who will wear the blame for their lack of desire and it won't be them. That is what we are about.

We have regressed.

Our roster is better than results indicate.

Tamou was purchased by Maguire to lead.

The other player you refer to performed well under Cleary.

Tamou is only leading because the obvious player who should be is incapable of leadership. Tamou has been at the club for five minutes, and yet the player most identified with the club in a key position, and is on the field for 80 mins at 26yrs old is still not up to it. He should be demanding the job.
Our roster is better than results indicate - based on what? A spine with a 19 and 20 year old with less than 10 FG games between them and a new halves pairing where the senior player is reluctant to lead?
Brooks could play well under anyone he has the skills and as a senior player he has a responsibility to set the standard. He is singley not to blame for our position no more than Maguire is but he has a responsiblity to own his deficiencies. The "He played well under Cleary" line is getting just as old as the Maguire won a premiership.

Tamou was purchased by Maguire as a leader. Has he been jettisoned by Maguire already?

And being flogged by Manly, not considered a genuine premiership threat, is hardly indicative of our roster strength.

Brooks will be another WTs disaster story going on to success at another club if he leaves.

I don't believe Maguire can attract quality players required and in any case it would be a futile exercise with the coaching, tactics, defensive structures in place

The approach to Sam Burgess story if true reaffirms a coaching change is needed.

 

[JC99]

Why the Wests Tigers need to stop blaming coach Michael Maguire

Andrew Webster
Andrew Webster
Chief Sports Writer
April 27, 2021 — 6.00am

Well, of course it’s all Michael Maguire’s fault. When isn’t the coach to blame at the Wests Tigers?

Tim Sheens. Mick Potter. Jason Taylor. Ivan Cleary. Now Maguire after the Tigers’ diabolical 1-6 start to the season.

At what point does chief executive Justin Pascoe, chairman Lee Hagipantelis and the rest of the board start taking ownership and accepting blame for the club stumbling about the NRL competition like the drunkest man at the party?

Is this club ever going to get it together?

The problem with joint ventures, much like St George Illawarra, is they’re as united as the Brady Bunch when the team is winning. When it is not, they leak like a waterfall and stab each other in the back.

Perhaps the greatest indication of what Maguire is up against is the leaking from within the club of a get-out clause in his recent contract extension, which was signed in December last year and takes him through to the end of 2023.

It’s been presented as outstanding management from the club; that it can sack Maguire if it wants and only pay him a paltry sum.

In reality, as confirmed by three separate sources, it’s a standard termination clause found in most contracts, in all forms of business and in most coach contracts these days.

To sell it as smart management is signature arse-covering for a club that’s had to cover its arse quite a lot of over the past decade. It reeks of something out of the Broncos’ playbook last year with Anthony Seibold.

Maguire isn’t without fault in the way things are developing at the Tigers – we’ll get to that in a minute – but it’s near impossible to coach a side when there’s so much chatter coming from above, whether it’s public or not.

You can set your clock to when the Tigers are playing the Panthers because you can guarantee Pascoe will make a comment about how Cleary disrespected and walked out on the club, stuffing up the salary cap.

As for Hagipantelis, he’s on speed dial for every almost every reporter in the business because he always talks. (That said, he didn’t return this columnist’s call on Monday to answer some hard questions).

Earlier this month, Hagipantelis let go with a stream of consciousness about besieged halfback Luke Brooks, saying he “will not partake in that narrative whatsoever” before partaking in an extraordinary narrative about Brooks and his future and what people are saying about him and what the club thinks of him …

The smart chairs know when to shut up. Hagipantelis doesn’t have an off switch.

In fairness, he’s only been chairman since November 2019.

Pascoe has been chief executive for just under six years. Sure, he cops it from angry members via social media and email, but he’s a darling of most league roundsmen/women and has barely been fingered for the malaise that’s infected this great club.

The Tigers have so much going for them, not least a $75 million centre of excellence and platoons of resources the NRL team has never really had. But the team hasn’t soared whatsoever on his watch.

The problem at the Tigers is their roster, pure and simple, and for that a whole stack of people need to take responsibility.

The abject lack of experience explains why they are drifting in and out of matches; why they can trail the Cowboys 28-6 at halftime, then come screaming back into it in the second; why they can appear to have Manly’s measure for 20-or-so minutes then fold like a cheap suit for the remaining 60.

Consider their spine.

Fullback Daine Laurie, 21, has played 10 matches. Hooker Jake Simpkin, 19, just two. Five-eighth Adam Doueihi has played 56 matches but is also just 22 and still finding his feet in the halves.

Then there’s Brooks, 26, who has played 155 matches but hasn’t developed into the playmaker many of us expected after watching him carve up the Dragons on debut at the SCG all those years ago.

Roster management is about keeping the players you want. The best clubs do it with shrewd aplomb.

The Tigers will be eternally paying the price for letting the best player in the game, James Tedesco, walk out and join the Roosters.

Because it’s so painfully clear this side is in desperate need of a superstar. Or half a superstar. But which superstar would want to join the Tigers unless it’s on enormous money?

Instead, the Tigers have had to recruit whoever they can get and this is where Maguire must shoulder some of the responsibility.

James Roberts was signed on very little money. So were BJ and Luciano Leilua.

The problem is they are completely not Maguire-style players, only sometimes seeming interested.

Players like Corey Thompson and Paul Momirovski are Maguire-style players, ripping in at training and never giving up in matches, yet they are no longer at the club.

Interestingly, the former players I spoke to on Monday thought these types of departures have hurt the club more than that of Benji Marshall.

It’s too simplistic to say Maguire and the Tigers got it wrong with Marshall. He’s revelling in a well-established team at Souths, surrounded with international- and Origin-standard players, having been given a roving commission to do whatever he wants.

What Maguire did miscalculate was the fallout that came when he dropped Marshall early last season. The veteran playmaker was one of his biggest allies. It didn’t take long for the sentiment to swing the other way.

The other criticism of Maguire is he can only “coach one way”. In other words, with the intensity of an SAS officer, not happy until someone or all them are vomiting lactic acid.

To be honest, that’s a copout – something that’s also been acknowledged by former players.

Because what they notice from some members of this Tigers squad is that some care deeply about the result (like Doueihi who was in tears after the Cowboys’ loss), and others (like the ones who are posting on Instagram less than an hour after another defeat) do not.

Those who can’t dance blame it on the music. Too often at the Wests Tigers, players who don’t care enough and officials who aren’t doing their job, blame it on the coach.

If Michael Maguire goes, will life be any different under the next poor soul who comes along?

 

[Goldust]

Leadership to me is a myth.
All these boys have been playing footy their whole lives ,they don’t need a senior player to motivate them and lead them around the park.
Our game plan is so predictable,we are trying to play like 2012 Melbourne Storm.Not the squad for that style,also the game has moved way past that.
The Lack of effort shown by most of the squad once the chips are down is hardest thing to accept for me.
I’ll still support Madge cause I don’t think chopping another coach will achieve anything,but he definitely needs to tweak his gameplan.Also a lot of his selections are questionable.im well aware we don’t have much better in the ranks,but Twal at 13 and MCK in the centres is a joke.
Let’s hope for a better performance this weekend to shut some of the media rubbish down.

 

[sleeve]

It's a hard call if it's Madges coaching, or a terrible roster. TT, JTJ, Noufa, JL, even Brooks and Doehie are not up to the standard of players in opposing sides. I expect people here will scream at me knocking their favorite player, but it's a fact. I doubt any of these players would get signed by other clubs on their current money. We have given all of these players more then a fair chance to perform, and they are just not good enough. ( i forgot Mbye on the list !) Where we go from here i don't know , maybe Flannagan, but as Gould said we just don't have a top 8 roster.

 

[Rugba]

If Madge goes,sobeit,we move on with a new coach and hopefully he has success that atm we are not getting...
However,if he has results the same as Madge,do we judge him the same way and demand he gets sacked after 2/3 seasons with no finals and nothing but whinging,moaning and bellittling him as we have Madge..where does that leave us...IN THE SAME PLACE...
Madge has developed the junior pathway,signed talented young players mixed in with older players..he is trying to mend a broken club left shattered by sacked coaches a coach who was "on the bus'' and spent ridiculous amounts on players he wanted that would suit his coaching style and then jumped off the bus mid stream to find something better which he always had..his son at Panthers..
I can understand the disappointment by many on here,I also see that Madge can coach players to become NRL level players,Harry Grant comes to mind,Laurie was a great get just as we needed a fullback and is doing well...
We have a very young immature roster with experience mixed in,Im more than happy to see the end result after this season before supporting the "sack Madge"squad..
We also have a number of origin players,Tamou,Joe O,Mbye,Roberts and they are maybe not coping with the youth surrounding them,who really knows what mentally is happening with the team who are under pressure to perform,the seasoned players must react positively to their performances so as the younger ones become tougher NRL performers playing with heart and soul for the jersey and understanding what it takes to play at this level...I just dont think its all Madges fault,his staff,players as well all contribute to the lack of success we are having.....


Elevate Maguire to coaching director, bring in Flanagan or Morris , everyone saves face

What's the go with Morris suddenly being mentioned as a competent NRL coach? It shows how desperate the WT lens at judging competence has become. And, his Sharks mate Flanagan is a drug-cheating bogan. I want neither of them anywhere near the Tigers thanks.

I don’t know he inherited a side that had salary cap mess , salary cap sanctions , players on big money injured half the time an tking up the cap , huge injury toll playing a lot of youngsters — scenario sounds familiar .. and would have been 3rd season in a row he would have got his side in the 8 if wasn’t punted

 

[tony soprano]

@GNR4LIFE I agree Cleary is a good coach. But do you think he would have taken this rabble any further? I don’t. Which only reinforces the notion that you need a good team to win - even with a good coach. But sometimes you don’t need such a good coach cos the players are that strong.

And btw Stuart did not have success wherever he went. Parra, rep level, even his Cronulla stint - but that was frought with disaster. Whatever.

Anyone could coach that panthers team.

 

[rihannafan1]

My concern is that Maguire isn't getting enough out of the team he has nor are players keen on coming here to play for him. Aloiai left. Matterson left. We are linked to the right players but in the end they don't want to come here. We have identified good young players and have a decent squad but they are playing horrendously.

 

[pawsandclaws1]

If Madge goes,sobeit,we move on with a new coach and hopefully he has success that atm we are not getting...
However,if he has results the same as Madge,do we judge him the same way and demand he gets sacked after 2/3 seasons with no finals and nothing but whinging,moaning and bellittling him as we have Madge..where does that leave us...IN THE SAME PLACE...
Madge has developed the junior pathway,signed talented young players mixed in with older players..he is trying to mend a broken club left shattered by sacked coaches a coach who was "on the bus'' and spent ridiculous amounts on players he wanted that would suit his coaching style and then jumped off the bus mid stream to find something better which he always had..his son at Panthers..
I can understand the disappointment by many on here,I also see that Madge can coach players to become NRL level players,Harry Grant comes to mind,Laurie was a great get just as we needed a fullback and is doing well...
We have a very young immature roster with experience mixed in,Im more than happy to see the end result after this season before supporting the "sack Madge"squad..
We also have a number of origin players,Tamou,Joe O,Mbye,Roberts and they are maybe not coping with the youth surrounding them,who really knows what mentally is happening with the team who are under pressure to perform,the seasoned players must react positively to their performances so as the younger ones become tougher NRL performers playing with heart and soul for the jersey and understanding what it takes to play at this level...I just dont think its all Madges fault,his staff,players as well all contribute to the lack of success we are having.....


Elevate Maguire to coaching director, bring in Flanagan or Morris , everyone saves face

What's the go with Morris suddenly being mentioned as a competent NRL coach? It shows how desperate the WT lens at judging competence has become. And, his Sharks mate Flanagan is a drug-cheating bogan. I want neither of them anywhere near the Tigers thanks.


Morris is unproven. We’re the last club that an unproven coach can make his name. Even premiership winning coaches are taking the club backwards.

As opposed to Maguire who is proven (at what)?

 

[Blocker1963]

What I found hard to fathom was Chee Kam a second rower in the centres, have you seen his form in NSW Knockout Cup, not inspiring, poor selection. James Roberts is busting for the right balls to score, but NO, have a look at his tries scored, 6o% are a nice kick into the in goal and he burns to the ball. Whoever the defensive and attacking coaches are the need to get with the modern game, but saying that Madge has overall responsibility. Watching Flegg and Knockout, Hartigan is doing a great job.
Fitzgibbon has real potential, hands are not the best, but runs hard and fast, a real project.

 

[tony soprano]

My concern is that Maguire isn't getting enough out of the team he has nor are players keen on coming here to play for him. Aloiai left. Matterson left. We are linked to the right players but in the end they don't want to come here. We have identified good young players and have a decent squad but they are playing horrendously.

It’s very concerning momo, Thompson, aloiai, left and our current squad have 💣

Laurie hasn’t and don’t know if he will be an elite fullback, BJ was never the centre we wanted him to be who’s to blame and who can help us with recruitment moving forward.

Has Hartigan failed us with the first grade squad the noise has been very quite with him.

Would a better recruitment guy and recruitment minded ceo help with the squad

 

[tony soprano]

Would Flanagan is hartigan role work??

 

[The_Patriot]

We urgently need a new coach with excellent people mgmt skills like Sheens, Bennett, Cleary or Morris.

The first we punted because we couldn't win, why go back to that?

The second doesn't want to come here, and only has a track record of success at star-studded clubs. At Newcastle he was abysmal. Coaching England and Great Britain he was a disgrace and was hounded out. If he came here we would get his Newcastle record, not his Broncos/Souths record.

The third we tried, he was useless here, we couldn't make the 8, he was the worst recruiter in club history, and ultimately the greatest dog in club history.

The fourth is a good bloke who has briefly done ok, but has no long term track record to judge.

None of the above will solve our issues.

That's not a particularly strong case for retention! You would retain him because there is no one else suitable?

There are suitable candidates, Morris being one.

But that's the Luke Brooks argument lol. Double standards paws.

 

[TillLindemann]

We urgently need a new coach with excellent people mgmt skills like Sheens, Bennett, Cleary or Morris.

The first we punted because we couldn't win, why go back to that?

The second doesn't want to come here, and only has a track record of success at star-studded clubs. At Newcastle he was abysmal. Coaching England and Great Britain he was a disgrace and was hounded out. If he came here we would get his Newcastle record, not his Broncos/Souths record.

The third we tried, he was useless here, we couldn't make the 8, he was the worst recruiter in club history, and ultimately the greatest dog in club history.

The fourth is a good bloke who has briefly done ok, but has no long term track record to judge.

None of the above will solve our issues.

That's not a particularly strong case for retention! You would retain him because there is no one else suitable?

There are suitable candidates, Morris being one.

He is a good coach with a good track record, who has chosen the longer term approach of youth over instant success. This WILL pay off in the years ahead, even if not this year. But if we get yet another new coach in, it's all for nothing and we start the whole process again. People used to scoff at Gould saying "he's into the 8th year of his 5 year plan" or whatever, but it was precisely that long term planning that has paved the way for what Penrith has now. The Penrith team in 2021 is the product of Gould and Griffin, NOT Cleary.

This is precisely what Madge is doing here. And we are going to throw all that in the bin and waste another 3 or 4 years because of a simplistic narrative that he's 'too hard and can't manage players'. Even though half his signings played for him previously and wanted to join him again.

The fans have had enough, understandably, after a decade and a half of no success. That's not on Madge though. He has won premierships in different hemispheres, he has beaten Australia as an international coach, his win rate over his career is higher than Sheens and Cleary. But because some veteran players who should know better couldn't be bothered to put the effort into a tackle, all of a sudden the narrative is "Madge can't coach". It's rubbish.