Maguire’s Game Plan; Faith in the System
There has been a noticeable change in the way Wests Tigers approach games in 2019. One that is methodical, not born from talent or emotion. It is eerily similar to the Melbourne Storm. Nobody gets lost because everybody knows where they are meant to be at a particular point in time, and what they should be doing when they are there.
The fact that almost every player has improved under his coaching is a testament to the systems Michael Maguire has put in place. Most clubs take at least 2-3 years to change old habits and ways of thinking. He has managed to do so in only 10 months. A team full of players who, in the past when the chips were down, would revert to bad habits of desperation. Players who would look at each other for blame as try after try was run in by the opposition.
Now, the players are beginning to understand what it takes to be competitive. A previous train of thought of an average Wests Tigers player in a tough position would be “what can I do to make a difference here?”, whereas the Maguire-molded player is thinking “what is required of me in this situation?” Two nearly-identical thought processes, yet they heavily differ in philosophy. The former asks a player to think subjectively as an individual, the latter wants that player to think objectively in the interests of the collective.
Fans should be excited for season 2020. Michael Maguire has his team heading in a good direction.
