Michael Maguire tears up over Wests Tigers’ horror NRL season

The Wests Tigers have struggled this season and some new never-before-seen footage shows it has all become too much for their coach.

An emotional Michael Maguire has teared up at the Wests Tigers’ horror season in some raw behind the scenes footage.

The Tigers have become the first NRL club to throw its doors open for an in-depth documentary series following the club’s turbulent 2021 season.

Wild Wests: Tales from Tiger Town is a FOX SPORTS Original Production and will be available to watch on Foxtel and stream on Kayo, premiering in primetime at 7.30pm on Monday, July 19.

The four-part documentary follows the Tigers’ season so far as they attempts to rebuild and make their first finals series since way back in 2011.

The first episode of Wild Wests: Tales from Tiger Town focuses on Maguire and his leadership style, as he endeavours to instil belief in his side during his third year in charge at the club.

The documentary is given unrestricted fly-on-the-wall access to the coach’s box and change rooms during games as the camera captures Maguire revving up his players with motivational speeches.

Episode 1, which airs on Foxtel and Kayo on Monday night, covers the first four rounds of the season, which included losses to the Canberra Raiders, Sydney Roosters and Parramatta, as well as a rare bright spot for Tigers fans when they defeated the Newcastle Knights in Round 3.

The Tigers sit 14th on the NRL ladder with only five wins to their name this season.

Even though they are only two wins outside the top eight, it will be a very tall order for the Tigers to break their 10-year finals drought.

Maguire’s desperate attempts to rev up his troops were on show in the change rooms after the disappointing 30-12 loss to Canberra in Round 1.

“At the six-minute mark, I could see everyone like this (slouched over),” he said.

Wests Tigers coach Michael Maguire is the focus of Episode 1 of the Wild Wests: Tales from Tiger Town documentary.

“When you’re alive, you can always win a game of rugby league.

“At 24-6 (down), I had every confidence we could win the game. But you guys have got to deliver it with you body language.

“We weren’t getting into position, we were down and out, it’s a f***ing mindset.

“The Wests Tigers are always in the f***ing game, get it into your minds.

“No matter what the f***ing time is because I would have backed you if I had you guys in the right head space. At 24-6, you win the game.

“If you don’t believe it, get it in your minds because I’ve seen it.”

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Maguire is clearly heavily invested in the development of his players but the frustration caused by a lack of results on the field became too much for him after the Round 4 loss to the Eels.

“Hey boys, the first thing I want to say here is what you’re building is right,” he said.

“What you have out there boys — you had moments at the start of the game (where) we didn’t do what we needed to, which put ourselves under pressure.

“But you had that team on the f***ing rack ready to be beaten and they’re a top four team.”

The 47-year-old broke down in tears when addressing his players after their third defeat in four games.

“We’re all hurting at the moment boys, I understand that,” he said.

Wests Tigers coach Michael Maguire gets fired up in the coach’s box.

“But what you’ve got to understand here is that … I keep going back to — f***ing hell (tearing up) — you got me you blokes.

“I just saw the effort out there is what we’re about as a team. You keep putting that effort in, we’ll keep f***ing growing this team.

“I am a little bit emotional here because the f***ing effort that we’re putting in is f***ing right and I want you to f***ing believe that.”

Wests Tigers CEO Justin Pascoe is interviewed in the documentary and is full of praise for Maguire’s passionate coaching style.

“Madge is a guy that cares more about his players and his players’ life than any other coach I’ve ever worked with,” he said.

“He’s genuine, he’s authentic about that and he’s a hard worker.

“He’s a hard worker because he realises that this club hasn’t had success.

“He’s working them to make sure they’re the best athlete and as a consequence, they develop and become the best footballers they can.”

The long gap between finals action hits home in the documentary when an avid young Tigers fan says: “Yeah that would be good (to win a premiership) because when they won it (in 2005) I wasn’t born yet”.

How to watch Wild Wests: Tales From Tigertown

All episodes will be available on FOX LEAGUE Channel 502, FOX8 & Kayo

Episode 1: Monday, July 19, 7.30pm AEST

Episode 2: Monday, August 9, 7.30pm AEST

Episode 3: Monday, August 16, 7.30pm AEST

Episode 4: Monday, August 30, 7.30pm AEST

Originally published as Michael Maguire tears up over Wests Tigers’ horror NRL season