@watersider said in [Madge Maguire \- Mega Thread](/post/1478233) said:
It's the right decision.
Madge was a good selection when he started and he's had a horrible set of circumstances over the last three years. The results have been disapppointing but the disciplined approach to recruitment has meant we're in a good financial position for the first time in ages.
Madge therefore deserves to coach us next year. You recruit a coach to build something and you can point to the disappointing players being let go and the new young players coming in as evidence of progress at the club. The main thing is he is putting the club in a better position than what it was. And that can't be said for Potter (who wasn't really given a chance), Taylor (who stuffed his) and Cleary (who did more damage to our club than any other coach we've ever had).
Most importantly, it is important for our club's reputation that Madge be given next year. Tearing him down after re-signing him fits the media narrative and would really damage our ability to recruit a quality coach next time.
My one hesitation is that the club hasn't really backed Madge in a way that shows confidence in him. It looks like he's only just holding on, and that undermines both our ability to recruit and the message to the current players. Handicapping him in this way makes his job harder and lets players off the hook.
This isn't an excuse for Madge next year, whatever the circumstances we need to improve next year, but it wasn't well handled by the club and I think there needs to be work going into how to make the decision making process less public and how to develop better media strategies that mean we're not able to so easily be portrayed as a shambles.
Obviously, winning changes everything. I'm glad, whatever happens, that the club gave Madge the opportunity next year.
Agreed.
Not only that, people say it's Madge's team and they point to Tamou, Roberts and Leilua vs Cleary's Packer, Mybe and Reynolds. They conveniently leave out Laurie, Stefano and Blore.
On that point, Madge signed those guys for a total of $1 million a season ($550k of which is Leilua) and on very short contracts. He didn't trash our cap! Cleary's duds cost us 2.5 million and put us on the back foot for 4 years - we are LUCKY Matulino was medically retired or it would have been worse.
Every coach knows there is a risk players don't perform and these guys didn't, but they are on virtually nothing, so if you have someone better, who cares? Put them in reserves...the issue is he doesn't have anyone better, so he's playing the cards that have been dealt.
The reality is, with a side lacking depth, experience and talent, even the Roosters got towelled up this season.
We are seriously lacking players and I don't think Maguire is 100% responsible for that.
Matulino was the cheapest of the 4 signings and was pretty much busted when he arrived but gave his everything on the field.He also retired when he knew he just could not play anymore,he will always have my respect as a supporter of WT.He does not deserve to be called a Cleary "dud" unlike the other 3.I certainly agree with the rest of your post
He was on $800k and he was busted and Cleary knew that before he signed. Definition of dud signing.
I didn't say the guy couldn't play when fully fit or that he ripped off the club.
I dont know where you get the 800k from i heard it was about 500k-530k,certainly not cheap but acceptable
Here is a reference to the $800k.
https://www.foxsports.com.au/nrl/nrl-premiership/teams/tigers/nrl-2019-wests-tigers-ryan-matterson-release-ben-matulino-retirement-17-million-war-chest/news-story/d6ab4fade18b7b5c965d75e260924168
Thanks for the link but it is Pooper making the claim so i am very reluctant to believe it