@willow said in [Signing Suggestions & Rumours](/post/1446491) said:Madge reveals four-year plan and SEVEN players to take Tigers to ‘another level’
Andrew Jackson from Fox Sports
August 16th, 2021 2:02 pm
Forget questions over Michael Maguire’s immediate future, the Wests Tigers coach has a long-term plan to build sustained success at the NRL’s perennial underachievers.
Two-straight wins over the Bulldogs and Cowboys have the Tigers right back in the frame for a top-eight finish - a feat the club has not achieved since 2011.
Maguire took over at the Tigers in 2019 and inherited an underperforming roster and out-of-shape salary cap.
Over two years laterhe is finally building the roster he wants and starting to get the salary cap in a strong enough position to land marquee signings.
But that is only one part of Maguire’s long-term plan to transform the Tigers into an NRL powerhouse.
MAGUIRE HITS BACK AT RECRUITMENT ‘POTSHOTS’
The Tigers have long been criticised for their inability to attract big-name players but Maguire said on Sunday there is a reason for all of it.
“What we have done at our club is we have taken the long-term view,” he told Triple M on Sunday afternoon.
“You can blow your salary cap, I’ve been through it for the last two to three years. Once you do it your club is in a really tough position.
“We’ve gone to youth and young development players coming through and over a period of time those young men will be what I would like to think [are] the next superstars of our competition.”
Maguire said “it is easy” for critics to take potshots at the Tigers for their failed bids to lure those ‘superstar’ names without considering the context.
“At this current moment no-one is leaving the Storm, no-one is leaving the Roosters, no-one is leaving Penrith because they want to stay at that club,” he added.
The Storm may be losing Nicho Hynes and Dale Finucane while Penrith have let Matt Burton leave for the Bulldogs but that is not Maguire’s point.
Instead, he argued the majority are happy to stay put for the on-field success even if it means sacrificing money and that has a direct impact on a club like the Tigers.
“To be able to grab one of those players you have to spend overs, which can then completely disjoint your salary cap,” he said.
The Tigers are getting close to fixing their own salary cap issues.
Moses Mbye sought permission to negotiate with rival clubs earlier this season after admitting the club was not getting value for money out of him.
Meanwhile, Russell Packer and James Roberts are two other Tigers recruits unlikely to be offered a new deal at the end of this season.
Most recently the Tigers were linked to Dale Finucane and Tevita Pangai Jr but did not end up signing either, with the duo instead heading to Cronulla and Canterbury respectively.
Maguire admitted the club will have to go to the market for a “strong marquee player” at some point but said the timing was not right.
“The key to that is there is not many out there and over the last couple of years we haven’t been able to be in a position to go out hard like that,” he said.
“We are moving into that situation where the salary cap is way better balanced. For us we are being patient and at the right time we will find that but along the way we are building strong foundations with these players coming through.
“Whoever that may be will come into a strong squad.”
Maguire already has an idea of what that “strong squad” will look like too.
While there has been heavy criticism of the club’s recruitment and retention in recent years, the Tigers do have to be commended for shrewd signings this year.
Specifically, Daine Laurie, Stefano Utoikamanu and Shawn Blore were all highly-rated prospects at Penrith and Parramatta but the Tigers saw the potential in all three.
That trio along with four others will all be part of Maguire’s plans moving forward.
“We’re planned for the next two, three, four years,” Maguire said.
“If I can keep Shawn Blore, Daine Laurie, Stefano [Utoikamanu], Kelma [Tuilagi] has shown some good form, Tommy Talau, Tuki Simpkins even Adam Doueihi.
“Holding that group together builds cohesion and then to be able to bring top-end talent around that is going to take us to another level.”
Maguire confirmed the club is “looking at” possible new recruits currently, emphasising the need for players who can handle the big moments.
“The Wests Tigers are looking at the longer-term building so that when you do have success you can actually get there and make sure once you actually arrive at the top end of the competition, you’ve got the players that can win you the comp,” he said.
“What I mean by that is you have guys that have Origin and International experience. Once you jump into that top end, you’ve got to have players that can step up.
“Semi-finals are a different game, grand finals are a different game. You’ve got to find those players that can handle that. We’re identifying those players we believe can step up once you get into that space.”
Cameron Smith suggested Clint Gutherson could be one of those “top-end” talents to target last week on SEN Radio.
“He’s very fit, he works hard, he seems like a very good leader, he’s the captain of Parramatta, he could bring a lot to a club that’s looking for a leader,” he said.
“If someone like the Tigers wanted a player like Gutherson, and I think he’d be great for the Tigers, he’s worth whatever they’re willing to pay him.”
Gutherson, for all his strengths, does not make much sense for the club’s current situation though.
With Laurie and Doueihi both viewed as long-term options at fullback and five-eighth respectively it leaves centre as the only open spot for Gutherson.
His management is reportedly looking for up to $1 million per year, so paying him that kind of money to play in the centres would be irresponsible regardless of his leadership qualities.
Then there is what Maguire said about not getting into bidding wars that blow the salary cap out of proportion.
FIXING THE LEADERSHIP VOID
Outside of the salary cap complications, a lack of genuine leaders has been another consistent issue at the Tigers.
For those who did not already know it though, Fox Sports’ Wild Wests: Tales from Tiger Town has revealed a clear emerging leader in the club’s ranks - Adam Doueihi.
Current captain James Tamou told reporters last month he was impressed by the 23-year old’s vocal presence on the field.
“That’s one thing about Ads [Adam] that I do commend him for – making others accountable for their actions and decisions on the field,” he said at the time.
That quality has never been lost on Maguire, who helped convince Doueihi to make the switch from union to league before he even made his NRL debut.
“He is excellent,” Maguire said.
“I met Adam prior to us both arriving at the club and identified him as a young player coming through who was actually playing rugby union at the time.
“I sat down with him and convinced him to come across to rugby league and it is really great to bring a homegrown player like Adam back to the club that came through the junior systems.
“He is really passionate about making sure the club moves forward in a strong manner.”
Outside of Doueihi, Maguire admits the leadership void is “definitely” something he is addressing.
“I guess I came through in the early 90s and I arrived at the Raiders as a young 18-year-old and had the likes of Mal Meninga, Ricky Stuart, Bradley Clyde, Gary Belcher and you could see then it was really player-driven and that was the strong character of players,” he said.
“If I fast-forward to my time at Souths, I had some really strong characters there and you’ve got to be able to grow those guys in that environment and allow those players to be able to develop those skills.
“I have got a younger crew [at the Tigers] which I need to develop. The understandings of leadership and what driving an organisation means takes time in a younger group but they are being accountable for it.”
Back in May, halfback Luke Brooks revealed Maguire had an accountability lunch over beers, which he credit for instilling “belief” into the struggling club before a win over the Dragons.
“That is a big part of where I believe our club is going, which is the group of young men I have and their development,” Maguire added.
“We’ve faced some pretty tough periods throughout the season, bashed around a little externally but that is the makings of the group and how we come together. I think leadership is a big part that is needed at the club and I know the boys are working hard on that.”
one year better than penrith
