How Maguire is creating environment for Blues success

NSW coach Michael Maguire knows it is pointless settling on a squad for Origin in advance, so he is focusing on creating an environment to help the Blues achieve success no matter who is in the team.

Maguire, who will take charge of the Blues for the first time, wants to ensure that the players who run out in Origin I at Accor Stadium on June 5 have all of NSW and the state’s former greats behind them.

The NRL and Super League premiership winning coach, who steered the Kiwis to a record defeat of the Kangaroos in November's Pacific Cup final, has been busy meeting with players, ex-players and community groups since taking on the NSW job.

“We come from all walks of life and all cultures, but State of Origin brings the people of NSW together, where we are all supporting the same thing,” Maguire said.

“That Blues jersey is what it’s all about, and if I could bottle the passion I have experienced we will be successful.

“With the current group of players, the old boys to guide them and the people of NSW behind the team, we can do anything.”

Maguire met with key players from most Sydney clubs last Tuesday, and plans to catch up with others in coming weeks.

He also met with a group of 40 former Blues last Wednesday and wants his players to feel that representing NSW is among the greatest honours and achievements of their lives.

However, Maguire insists he doesn’t yet have a team in mind for his first match in charge of NSW.

Instead, he is preparing for the likelihood of needing to use a large number of players but wants to ensure the focus of the team does not change – even if the personnel do.

“Everyone talks about the many players we can pick from but what I know is that one week it might be one player in a position and the next week it might be someone else because of injuries or other factors,” Maguire said.

“Three weeks ago, if I had to pick a team on that day, I had no Nathan Cleary and no Mitchell Moses, as an example, in the halves.

“Therefore, we have got to make sure we are building a wider squad and creating an environment so that it doesn’t matter who is wearing that jersey, or what position you are playing, we are able to create success.”

Maguire joined Queensland coach Billy Slater, Maroons hooker Harry Grant and former NSW captain Ben Elias at the MCG on Tuesday to launch the 2024 Origin series, which will be played in Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane.

Elias was a member of the Blues team that played in the first Origin in Melbourne in 1994, which drew a then record crowd of 87,000 to the MCG.

“Benny was talking about [Steve] ‘Blocker’ Roach and many of the great NSW players of that era that he played with,” Maguire said. “They were a group of winners.

“When we were at the MCG, he was reminiscing about the pass he gave to big Glenn Lazarus to score in that match, and he said they were only expecting 40,000 people but 87,000 turned up.   

“That sort of stuff is what I want to bring to life. If you play in this arena, they are the type of memories that can carry on to the present to create the future of what the Blues jersey is about.”

Tickets for Ampol State of Origin 2024 start at $49 for adults and $137 for families, via nrl.com/tickets

To truly elevate the Origin experience, NRL Hospitality packages for Ampol State of Origin 2024 are also on sale via nrl.com/hospitality