Michael Maguire approached by NRL to become referees coach

The NRL has finally acted on years of refereeing and bunker controversy by chasing former South Sydney coach Michael Maguire to overhaul the referees’ ranks.

Former Souths coach Michael Maguire is set to join the refereeing ranks. Picture: Mark Evans

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The NRL has finally acted on years of refereeing and bunker controversy by chasing former South Sydney Rabbitohs coach Michael Maguire to overhaul the referees’ ranks.

Under a new proposal, current referees boss Tony Archer will be moved to a national development role and will have no input on the appointment of referees or video officials each weekend.

Maguire, if he accepts the job, will be on a panel of three to appoint the referees each week to remove any perception of bias or favouritism in the appointments.

Former Souths coach Michael Maguire is set to join the refereeing ranks. Picture: Mark Evans

The NRL’s Head of football Brian Canavan recently approached Maguire to take on a full-time coaching role with the referees when it was clear Brad Fittler had the inside running to be appointed coach of the NSW Blues, a job the former Souths coach had applied for.

He is seriously considering the offer and has denied a report linking him to the Parramatta Eels as an assistant coach.

“It would be good to come from a footy angle, and not just refereeing,” Maguire said.

“I’m looking at it with interest and I know nothing about anything at Parramatta.

“At some stage I’d like to get back into the coaching ranks but I also want to stay in the game and help grow the game in some capacity.

“Having a break gives you a chance to stop and assess what you’ve been doing. Long term I think it’s going to be beneficial.”

Archer has been under enormous pressure for several years at the NRL.

A current referee recently contacted The Daily Telegraph to reveal there was unrest among the whistleblowers over their coaching and weekend appointments.

The same referee is understood to have met with Canavan on behalf of his colleagues.

Maguire would be joined by chief video reviewer Bernard Sutton on the three-man panel to appoint the referees each week.

Archer again created controversy this week by appointing Gerard Sutton to referee Saturday night’s World Cup final between the Kangaroos and England at Suncorp Stadium.

This is despite Matt Cecchin being clearly the number one referee in the game for the last two years.

Originally published as Michael Maguire approached by NRL to become referees coach