Madge Maguire - Mega Thread

[Viking Warrior]

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)?

he has won a comp a long time ago but still has. The game has just passed him by now.
All these players didn't want to play for Madge
Matterson
Aloia
Latrell
JAC

they all talk, he is.obviously not a man manager

By the same logic, Bellamy isn't a man manager because JAC wants to leave. Robinson is a bad coach because Latrell left.

JAC wants to come back to Sydney
Latrell wanted fullback money and got it at souths

Trell got $300k less

We offered $1.1 million, he signed at souths for $600k, a ringing endorsement for Madge and the club

Only so South's could stay under the cap - significant upgrade after the first year.

Significant, it went up to $800k, still $300k a year under our offer, that is $800k over the last 2 years he has given up to not play here, and Madge was a big factor

Disagree,

Our club was shambolic at the time and didnt want to be the first one on the boat. Madge is known as being disciplined and a hard worker, Something Latrell (very talented) is rumoured not to be.

Were are in the middle of a rebuild.

We need a Ponga, or a David fafita to help bring us the street Cred we truly have never had.

The Sack Madge movement lacks true foresight

Madge can't attract elite talent, so there is plenty of cred in the oust him movement, poor team selections, poor or no game plan or structure, we stand too flat in attack, and too deep and passive in defence, we suck at all aspects of the game. More than enough foresight to send him packing, accountability needs to be shown

Cleary couldnt attract elite talent either @851 and maybe that's more about the club than the coach. DWZ - CNH both had relationships with Cleary and both decided to sign for other clubs. Did Cleary attract one talented player from the Penrith nursery when he was here?
It's evident Maguire is on borrowed time but he is not responsible for our recruitment problems. Can't see one player in this squad that other players would identify that they would want to play with. Whoever replaces him will have the same challenges, and will need to continue the rebuild that has started - while the club forks out 600k to get rid of him.

Madge was the one trying to get DWZ here he also had a crack at CNH after he was let go by the dogs.

 

[Telltails]

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)?

he has won a comp a long time ago but still has. The game has just passed him by now.
All these players didn't want to play for Madge
Matterson
Aloia
Latrell
JAC

they all talk, he is.obviously not a man manager

By the same logic, Bellamy isn't a man manager because JAC wants to leave. Robinson is a bad coach because Latrell left.

JAC wants to come back to Sydney
Latrell wanted fullback money and got it at souths

Trell got $300k less

We offered $1.1 million, he signed at souths for $600k, a ringing endorsement for Madge and the club

Only so South's could stay under the cap - significant upgrade after the first year.

Significant, it went up to $800k, still $300k a year under our offer, that is $800k over the last 2 years he has given up to not play here, and Madge was a big factor

Disagree,

Our club was shambolic at the time and didnt want to be the first one on the boat. Madge is known as being disciplined and a hard worker, Something Latrell (very talented) is rumoured not to be.

Were are in the middle of a rebuild.

We need a Ponga, or a David fafita to help bring us the street Cred we truly have never had.

The Sack Madge movement lacks true foresight

Madge can't attract elite talent, so there is plenty of cred in the oust him movement, poor team selections, poor or no game plan or structure, we stand too flat in attack, and too deep and passive in defence, we suck at all aspects of the game. More than enough foresight to send him packing, accountability needs to be shown

Cleary couldnt attract elite talent either @851 and maybe that's more about the club than the coach. DWZ - CNH both had relationships with Cleary and both decided to sign for other clubs. Did Cleary attract one talented player from the Penrith nursery when he was here?
It's evident Maguire is on borrowed time but he is not responsible for our recruitment problems. Can't see one player in this squad that other players would identify that they would want to play with. Whoever replaces him will have the same challenges, and will need to continue the rebuild that has started - while the club forks out 600k to get rid of him.

Madge was the one trying to get DWZ here he also had a crack at CNH after he was let go by the dogs.

Stand corrected - on those two.

 

[bigsiro]

Before the season began, we were predicted to finish towards the bottom of the ladder.

A lot of people thought we'd challenge for the 8, including myself. Our roster isn't as bad as our results suggest.

Our roster IS that bad.
For the last 10 years the same people (mostly) are in denial of this and predicted we would be top 8, often top 4!
It's as unrealistic as Bulldogs fans who thought they would make the 8.
Heart over head, or something like that...

 

[avocadoontoast]

Before the season began, we were predicted to finish towards the bottom of the ladder.

A lot of people thought we'd challenge for the 8, including myself. Our roster isn't as bad as our results suggest.


Our roster IS that bad.
For the last 10 years the same people (mostly) are in denial of this and predicted we would be top 8, often top 4!
It's as unrealistic as Bulldogs fans who thought they would make the 8.
Heart over head, or something like that...

I'm pretty realistic about us as a team and haven't been confident of making the 8 for years. In saying that, I think our roster is a lot better than our results suggest. It's the best roster we've had in quite a few years imo.

 

[bigsiro]

Before the season began, we were predicted to finish towards the bottom of the ladder.

A lot of people thought we'd challenge for the 8, including myself. Our roster isn't as bad as our results suggest.


Our roster IS that bad.
For the last 10 years the same people (mostly) are in denial of this and predicted we would be top 8, often top 4!
It's as unrealistic as Bulldogs fans who thought they would make the 8.
Heart over head, or something like that...

I'm pretty realistic about us as a team and haven't been confident of making the 8 for years. In saying that, I think our roster is a lot better than our results suggest. It's the best roster we've had in quite a few years imo.

I don't disagree with that. I thought the off season recruitment looked very promising and I was optimistic (I still didn't think we'd make the 8 but).
I just don't think we will ever get into finals unless we fix our spine and get a kicker.

 

[momo_amp_medo]

Before the season began, we were predicted to finish towards the bottom of the ladder.

A lot of people thought we'd challenge for the 8, including myself. Our roster isn't as bad as our results suggest.

I’m sorry but if you thought that ..... you were with the fairies at the bottom of the garden.
You might have been hoping that but with our unproven spine and forwards on L plates .... top 8 ..... really?

 

[eyewondertwo]

Opinion on this forum appears to have tempered over the past two days to persist with madge as coach.Fair enough.
Another lacklustre display this weekend and the tide will turn again.
Which players are playing improved football under the coaches instructions?Lucy and twal perhaps and perhaps Nofa last year.Who could maguire point to as improving under his coaching?
No daly m points for any wests tigers player over the past two weeks is evidence of the poor form players are in.
saints at woollygong should be a telling game .I dont have any faith in the direction the team is going. Like all forumers,lets hope for a form and attitude reversal.

 

[happy_tiger]

Before the season began, we were predicted to finish towards the bottom of the ladder.

A lot of people thought we'd challenge for the 8, including myself. Our roster isn't as bad as our results suggest.

I’m sorry but if you thought that ..... you were with the fairies at the bottom of the garden.
You might have been hoping that but with our unproven spine and forwards on L plates .... top 8 ..... really?

2021 was always going to be a tough year

 

[avocadoontoast]

Before the season began, we were predicted to finish towards the bottom of the ladder.

A lot of people thought we'd challenge for the 8, including myself. Our roster isn't as bad as our results suggest.

I’m sorry but if you thought that ..... you were with the fairies at the bottom of the garden.
You might have been hoping that but with our unproven spine and forwards on L plates .... top 8 ..... really?

So you didn't think we were a mid table side during the preseason?

 

[momo_amp_medo]

Before the season began, we were predicted to finish towards the bottom of the ladder.

A lot of people thought we'd challenge for the 8, including myself. Our roster isn't as bad as our results suggest.

I’m sorry but if you thought that ..... you were with the fairies at the bottom of the garden.
You might have been hoping that but with our unproven spine and forwards on L plates .... top 8 ..... really?

So you didn't think we were a mid table side during the preseason?

I was definitely full of hope but gee when you step back and just look how many ducks you need to have quacking ..... Yep I was just delusional.
I will say one thing ..... we will not get the spoon and should see some cohesion by the end of the year.

But for me the Nofa long term signing was a mistake, the centre 3/4 and back line is a shambles, I don’t see our 5/8 problems resolved this year, persisting with Chee Kam and Garner in starting sides does not work for me and our lower grades up and comers are nowhere near ready for top grade.

As I said many times already on here .... 2021 year is an experiment and I will judge this coach on 2022 year results. If nervous nellies allow it.

 

[Spartan117]

**‘‘Cannot escape criticism’: Cleary left a $2.4m Tigers mess .. and Maguire shouldn’t pay the price**

https://www.foxsports.com.au/nrl/nrl-premiership/cannot-escape-criticism-why-maguire-shouldnt-pay-price-for-clearys-24m-tigers-mess/news-story/1d9691fd09c11ce32256c1c9dcd99cf9

April 27, 2021 9:40am
by STAFF WRITERS Source: FOX SPORTS

Michael Maguire should not be held accountable for the mistakes made by his predecessor Ivan Cleary, who “cannot escape criticism” for the Wests Tigers’ current struggles.
That’s the view of the Daily Telegraph’s Phil Rothfield amid talk Maguire is fighting to save his job just seven games into the season.

The Tigers and their coach are under heavy pressure with just one win to their name in 2021, and reports emerged after Sunday’s dismal loss to Manly suggesting Maguire’s future was being discussed at board level.

Rothfield said on NRL 360 on Monday night it was unfair to solely point the finger at premiership-winning coach Maguire for the club’s struggles, claiming it was also suffering because of a lack of long-term strategic planning.

He also said Maguire had inherited the baggage left by Cleary, who sensationally walked out on the Tigers in 2018 to re-join Penrith. While Cleary is thriving at the foot of the mountains, Rothfield pointed to the legacy left by Cleary’s big-money Tigers signings including Josh Reynolds, Moses Mbye and Russell Packer — a trio reported to be taking up about $2.4 million in the salary cap.

“Do you blame Madge? Do you blame Justin Pascoe, the chief executive, and the fact there’s been no proper strategic plan for a long period of time? That they haven’t developed out at Campbelltown?,” Rothfield said.

“We’ve seen champions come out of that area, (James) Tedesco, (Israel) Folau, Jarryd Hayne. They are building a high performance centre in Concord. Why aren’t they doing what Penrith did and setting up elite junior pathways in a growth area like Campbelltown?

“The other person who cannot escape criticism is Ivan Cleary, for the manner in which he left this club.

“I looked at a record of a few players he signed; Josh Reynolds, 800k a year, — 22 games in three years. Moses Mbye, averaging 12 games a year. Russell Packer in four years, 33 games of football. Is that Madge’s fault? Should Madge get sacked because of previous recruitment?”

NRL 360 co-host Paul Kent agreed the Tigers woes were not Maguire’s fault.

“And I think that’s what’s bought him some leeway here,” Kent said.

“My understanding is he’s not going to get sacked at the moment but this is how it begins and I think Michael Maguire is more than aware of that. Once you starting hearing about the crisis meetings ...

“... Madge has got to go back to his time at South Sydney when the rumours started and the first time coaches get sacked, they don’t want to believe it. It’s just external talk, don’t worry about it.

“But this is where it begins and he’s got to get on top of this very quickly and the club has got to get on top of this very quickly.,

“He has got some time but he doesn’t have a lot of time.”

 

[tigerbalm]

I wonder how much sleep Ivan will loose?

 

[avocadoontoast]

Before the season began, we were predicted to finish towards the bottom of the ladder.

A lot of people thought we'd challenge for the 8, including myself. Our roster isn't as bad as our results suggest.

I’m sorry but if you thought that ..... you were with the fairies at the bottom of the garden.
You might have been hoping that but with our unproven spine and forwards on L plates .... top 8 ..... really?

So you didn't think we were a mid table side during the preseason?

I was definitely full of hope but gee when you step back and just look how many ducks you need to have quacking ..... Yep I was just delusional.
I will say one thing ..... we will not get the spoon and should see some cohesion by the end of the year.

But for me the Nofa long term signing was a mistake, the centre 3/4 and back line is a shambles, I don’t see our 5/8 problems resolved this year, persisting with Chee Kam and Garner in starting sides does not work for me and our lower grades up and comers are nowhere near ready for top grade.

As I said many times already on here .... 2021 year is an experiment and I will judge this coach on 2022 year results. If nervous nellies allow it.

But that's the thing, if we got our players playing at their best we actually do challenge for the 8. We're just not getting them firing.

Completely agree re: Nofoaluma. He shouldn't have been re-signed at all, let alone a 4 year extension.

 

[TigerVinnie]

I wonder how much sleep Ivan will loose?

None. Gets to coach his son, has a potential premiership winning team with plenty of good years in front of them. Had a golden opportunity and took it, most would do the same if similar arises in their workplace.

 

[facepalmer]

The problem is that I have seen coaches get better results out of worse Tigers squads than this before. I feel for him that he was never able to put his stamp on things properly but he knew what he was signing up for and promised results quicker than this. He was unable to. That sucks for him. But I believe there are coaches out there who could have gotten results with less. Not necessarily amazing results. But demonstrable improvement year on year. Effort. Character.

 

[happy_tiger]

**‘‘Cannot escape criticism’: Cleary left a $2.4m Tigers mess .. and Maguire shouldn’t pay the price**

https://www.foxsports.com.au/nrl/nrl-premiership/cannot-escape-criticism-why-maguire-shouldnt-pay-price-for-clearys-24m-tigers-mess/news-story/1d9691fd09c11ce32256c1c9dcd99cf9

April 27, 2021 9:40am
by STAFF WRITERS Source: FOX SPORTS

Michael Maguire should not be held accountable for the mistakes made by his predecessor Ivan Cleary, who “cannot escape criticism” for the Wests Tigers’ current struggles.
That’s the view of the Daily Telegraph’s Phil Rothfield amid talk Maguire is fighting to save his job just seven games into the season.

The Tigers and their coach are under heavy pressure with just one win to their name in 2021, and reports emerged after Sunday’s dismal loss to Manly suggesting Maguire’s future was being discussed at board level.

Rothfield said on NRL 360 on Monday night it was unfair to solely point the finger at premiership-winning coach Maguire for the club’s struggles, claiming it was also suffering because of a lack of long-term strategic planning.

He also said Maguire had inherited the baggage left by Cleary, who sensationally walked out on the Tigers in 2018 to re-join Penrith. While Cleary is thriving at the foot of the mountains, Rothfield pointed to the legacy left by Cleary’s big-money Tigers signings including Josh Reynolds, Moses Mbye and Russell Packer — a trio reported to be taking up about $2.4 million in the salary cap.

“Do you blame Madge? Do you blame Justin Pascoe, the chief executive, and the fact there’s been no proper strategic plan for a long period of time? That they haven’t developed out at Campbelltown?,” Rothfield said.

“We’ve seen champions come out of that area, (James) Tedesco, (Israel) Folau, Jarryd Hayne. They are building a high performance centre in Concord. Why aren’t they doing what Penrith did and setting up elite junior pathways in a growth area like Campbelltown?

“The other person who cannot escape criticism is Ivan Cleary, for the manner in which he left this club.

“I looked at a record of a few players he signed; Josh Reynolds, 800k a year, — 22 games in three years. Moses Mbye, averaging 12 games a year. Russell Packer in four years, 33 games of football. Is that Madge’s fault? Should Madge get sacked because of previous recruitment?”

NRL 360 co-host Paul Kent agreed the Tigers woes were not Maguire’s fault.

“And I think that’s what’s bought him some leeway here,” Kent said.

“My understanding is he’s not going to get sacked at the moment but this is how it begins and I think Michael Maguire is more than aware of that. Once you starting hearing about the crisis meetings ...

“... Madge has got to go back to his time at South Sydney when the rumours started and the first time coaches get sacked, they don’t want to believe it. It’s just external talk, don’t worry about it.

“But this is where it begins and he’s got to get on top of this very quickly and the club has got to get on top of this very quickly.,

“He has got some time but he doesn’t have a lot of time.”

This is 2021 isn't it

Ancient history and something we can't change

 

[izotope]

Roster isn't even relevant in these discussions
The effort they are putting is is abysmal.

 

[Papacito]

This is why you can't buy a premiership in 2021.

Signing anyone half decent means you're paying overs for the blokes that other clubs don't see as a priority.

Once these guys get injured or drop in form, you're trying to field a squad with rookies and plodders.

For all the PR hype over the past few years about being a sustainable club, it seems like we're anything but.

 

[Spartan117]

SMH **Why the Wests Tigers need to stop blaming coach Michael Maguire**

April 27, 2021 — 6.00am
https://www.smh.com.au/sport/nrl/why-the-wests-tigers-need-to-stop-blaming-coach-michael-maguire-20210426-p57mi0.html

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.

Maguire facing the axe as pressure mounts at Wests Tigers
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?

Andrew Webster is Chief Sports Writer of The Sydney Morning Herald.

 

[gallagher]

SMH **Why the Wests Tigers need to stop blaming coach Michael Maguire**

April 27, 2021 — 6.00am
https://www.smh.com.au/sport/nrl/why-the-wests-tigers-need-to-stop-blaming-coach-michael-maguire-20210426-p57mi0.html

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.

Maguire facing the axe as pressure mounts at Wests Tigers
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?

Andrew Webster is Chief Sports Writer of The Sydney Morning Herald.

Thats a fantastic column.