Maguire in for long haul at Tigers, expecting success

Wests Tigers coach Michael Maguire insists he's in for the long haul at the club, believing they can have success next season and over a sustained period.

The Tigers have now had five coaches over the past six seasons since the departure of Tim Sheens, recently appointing Maguire on a three-year deal to replace Ivan Cleary after he opted to return to Penrith.

Maguire, who is on tour in England as the New Zealand coach, said he was a "big believer" in the strength of the club's roster and is adamant he is primed to re-enter the NRL coaching ranks after a year off following the 2014 premiership-winning mentor's exit from South Sydney.

He used his year out of coaching to meet different people within the game, from front office to the commissioners at the NRL, in a bid to get a better feel for how things ticked.

Maguire joined the NRL in a role as a referees' consultant and was able to dive into viewing games from a different perspective.

He insists only time will tell if it has an impact on the next chapter of his career, but for now he's just happy to be back coaching in a full-time role after the Tigers recently announced his appointment on a three-year deal.

"Having that space between finishing up [one coaching role] and moving into another one has probably been the best thing for how I go about things," Maguire told NRL.com.

"It gave me a bit of a step back to look at what I feel was right, things I could improve on. I'm a person who looks for improvement all the time and try to instil that in players.

"It's given me a fresh mind to jump back in and I'm really looking forward to going back to coaching again and being around the players, to be around the boys and form a team that can build something special."

Maguire spoke at length to NRL.com in the UK on the Kiwis' day off to discuss several elements of his new role with the joint venture.

Chasing stability

Wests Tigers fans are crying out for it, so too the players. After four different coaches in five years the club needs some stablity and Maguire wants it known he's in it for the long haul.

The Tigers haven't featured in a finals series since 2011 – the longest finals drought of any club in the Telstra Premiership.

"I've always planned to stay at clubs for as long as you can," Maguire told NRL.com.

"I want to take the Wests Tigers to the heights of where I've been before and do it for a long period of time. The enjoyment of being able to build an organisation with the people and have stability is a major part of success.

"I'm a big believer that the current squad is very capable of doing some big things if we choose to. If they all come together in the right way there's no reasons why they can't have short-term and long-term success."

The Ivan effect

There's no denying when Ivan Cleary arrived at Concord, he brought the likes of Ben Matulino and Russell Packer with him. Players have re-signed under the assumption Cleary would remain.

He played a part in bringing Robbie Farah and Benji Marshall back and signing former Bulldogs duo Josh Reynolds and Moses Mbye.

It may be the team that Cleary built but Maguire is ready to take them back into the top eight.

"You take the opportunities as they come. The circumstances that have allowed me to come to the club, I'm lucky," he said.

"It's a club of huge magnitude. If those players come together and we can create something, it will be an incredible ride."

Perception v reality

Maguire is perceived to be a tough coach, one that flogs his players at training. One that doesn't have an off switch.

He helped guide South Sydney to their first premiership in 43 years in 2014, but was sacked by the club two seasons later.

"Everyone's going to have a different perception but if I can find a way to improve someone with what I do then that's what I'm about," Maguire said.

"If that's being a little bit intense or relaxed, that's part of enjoying what you're doing. I've learnt from four organisations, they were hard working teams that everyone wanted the same outcomes, for the club to do well and understanding the success of clubs."

Madge and Robbie

Maguire faced a coaching conundrum in his final year at South Sydney with two quality hookers in Robbie Farah and Damien Cook chasing a starting spot.

He rotated the pair throughout the year in contrast to his successor Anthony Seibold, who used Cook as an 80-minute player and kept Farah in the Intrust Super Premiership before he was granted a mid-season release. Farah returned to the Tigers while Cook went on to win the Kangaroos No.9 jersey.

Maguire will reunite with Farah in potentially the veteran rake's final season in the Telstra Premiership.

"I really commend Robbie, the way he conducted himself and helped build someone like Damien Cook; he's played a big part in the reasons why Cookie is where he is and he jumped on board with everything we were doing at the time," Maguire said.

"I'm looking forward to coaching him again, we've text messaged each other back and forth. Robbie's a man that breathes success and when you've got people like that around you and how you get to that is by how we come together."

If those players come together and we can create something, it will be an incredible ride.

Michael Maguire

Luke Brooks

No player has experienced more instability at the Tigers than Luke Brooks with a change in halves partner in 2018 and a host of new coaches during his time at the club.

Following his best season in the NRL, he is off contract in 2019 and after going close to winning this year's Dally M Medal, is likely to be in demand from rival clubs.

"I think it would be nice to see a player of his stature who's been at the club a long time get some reward for everything that they've gone through from this point," Maguire said.

"We're moving forward and he can be a big part of that, to take all those supporters to the space we want to go to – and that's grand finals and winning them."

Taking on South Sydney

For a man who was let go from his old job with two years remaining on his contract, Maguire insists he isn't eyeing the clash against the Rabbitohs in round 11.

He wasn't even aware of when the two sides would face off when asked.

"That time is behind me now, I'm all about moving forward," Maguire said.

"We had so many incredible moments in time. That's what makes me so hungry to want to get back and do it again."