NRL 2022: Michael Maguire says Wests Tigers sacking has only given him more motivation to succeed

Dumped Tigers coach Michael Maguire insists he is still passionate about coaching and is determined to return to the NRL and chase another premiership.

Former Wests Tigers coach Michael Maguire is refusing to abandon his NRL coaching career, declaring: “I’ve never walked away — and I never will.”

Maguire opened up on Wednesday following his demise last week at Concord, insisting the adrenaline of success would override the excruciating pressure and scrutiny of NRL coaching.

Dumped 18 months before his Tigers’ contract was to expire, Maguire will now direct all his focus and energy into coaching New Zealand for a one-off Test against Tonga in Auckland on Saturday week.

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Sacked Wests Tigers coach Michael Maguire says he has more to do in the NRL.

THE DRIVE

A NRL premiership winner at South Sydney, Maguire knows better than most the emotions, demands, exhilaration and despair that accompany coaching.

“I’ve never walked away and I never will,” Maguire said. “Coaching gives you that buzz. It’s about the challenge to bring a group of men together to succeed. I really love that challenge.

“Yeah, I did (wake up to daily headlines) but (quitting) never crossed my mind.

“I wouldn’t say it wasn’t a challenge at the time, but we are all built a little differently. When you work your way to the top, that’s what drives you to want more.

“To be honest, I respect (the scrutiny) because that’s part of the game.

“But I am aware of what you have to do to get yourself through it. You have a vision of where you want to get to.

“Coaching will have its ups and downs – that’s the reality of the game. To feel the highs that I have over time, that keeps driving me back to want more.”

Maguire is focused on his role with the Kiwis ahead of the World Cup. Picture: Hannah Peters/Getty Images

THE REPUTATION

Maguire understands players would have different views on him as a coach. His often volatile addresses were captured on the documentary Tales from Tiger Town last season.

“We are all different. I’m sure my players say I’m a little bit different,” he said.

“I can handle that, it doesn’t worry me because they all know I’m coming from the right spot to achieve with them as a group.

“It’s your staff, your players, the camaraderie, when you get that connection and everyone in sync, that’s what makes the big teams what they are. You do a lot of work to be able to achieve but sometimes it doesn’t turn out as planned.”

Michael Maguire fires up in the coaches box in an episode of Tales from Tiger Town.

THE DECISION

The 48-year-old was in his office, preparing notes for the Tigers’ clash against Manly, when he was summoned to a meeting with chief executive Justin Pascoe and head of football Tim Sheens.

The duo delivered the bad news. It hit Maguire like a sledgehammer. Despite winning just three games all season, Maguire believed the Tigers were showing signs of progress under a fresh footballing program being driven by Sheens, the club’s first and only premiership coach.

Maguire insists he does not want to be bitter towards the club, but he is adamant his demise at the Tigers will not finish him as an NRL coach.

“At the end of the day, for everything that has happened, I am a coach, I enjoy coaching and this won’t break me,” Maguire said.

“I haven’t lost confidence. I haven’t lost my self-belief. To be honest, if anything, what’s happened has made me hungrier to keep coaching.

“Every team you coach has their differences and I will apply the many years I’ve had as a head coach for my next role.”

Tigers head of football Tim Sheens and the club cut ties with Michael Maguire last week. Picture: Toby Zerna

THE FUTURE

Asked why he doesn’t want to walk away from the game after an ugly split, Maguire said: “Because I’ve had a feel at the other end too, the winning.

“For a fairly large portion of my career, with the teams I’ve worked with, we had success. The challenge now is to build that again. It’s about understanding what it takes and seeing what it looks like.

“If I want to continue in the coaching then the highest level is the NRL but where it takes me and what I do next, that will find its own path.

“How long I coach for will determine itself down the track.

“I’ve still got a burning passion to keep coaching. It’s the one thing I really do love.

“I just want to win another premiership. I want to taste that success again. I had a taste of it in the NRL and overseas (at Wigan) and that’s why I love doing it.

“I want to be successful at this year’s World Cup and I’d love another chance to win another trophy in the NRL.”

Sheens last week went on the front foot with his desire to land a development coach at the Tigers, however Maguire is adamant it’s an area where he has excelled.

Maguire won a premiership with South Sydney in 2014 and wants that feeling again. Picture: Gregg Porteous

“I consider myself a development coach and I have developed players to the highest levels,” he said. “Turning young players into the next generation of the game is something I enjoy doing.

“Now, I’m in a really good position to have an understanding of what it takes to build teams and get an understanding of salary caps and list management. They are crucial parts of coaching these days.

“When you do get it right in the NRL, you really savour those moments because that’s what the sport does to people. Nothing beats winning with a group of good men. It makes me want to come back for more.”

Maguire has been linked with the vacant Canterbury coaching position and the Warriors’ top job.

It is understood a third-party with ties to the Bulldogs made furtive inquiries with Maguire a fortnight ago, but the fallen Tigers coach insists he has no approach of any kind from Canterbury chiefs.

He remains unsure where he will land, only saying: “I haven’t thought about that, to be honest. I haven’t thought about anything else other than what I need to do now with the Kiwis.”

Michael Maguire hasn’t lost his passion for coaching after being dumped by Wests Tigers. Picture: Toby Zerna

THE KIWIS

Maguire has surrounded himself with family and friends since his Wests Tigers departure. He was in good spirits when interviewed by News Corp.

“I’m pretty lucky I have a good family,” he said. “You come home, dust yourself and you keep going.

“You’ve obviously got a vision with the people that you work with and what you want to achieve. You’ve got to keep driving towards that and getting the people around you who have the same view.”

Maguire will fly to New Zealand on Friday to start preparing for the Test match against Tonga. Coaching New Zealand has been a welcomed distraction after losing his job at Wests Tigers.

“It allows me to continue plying my trade and passion - that’s coaching,” Maguire said. “To be able to talk to a lot of international players, especially over the last few days, it’s got me very excited.

Michael Maguire is excited about the chances of the Kiwis team on the international stage. Picture: Nigel Roddis/Getty Images

“I’m fortunate I can shift my focus to the Kiwi team. I’ve got a fair passion for the international game. It’s a very important part of the game which needs to be looked at. To be part of it, to reignite the international game, it’s something we need to bring alive.

“There’s only a certain number of players who can play in the Origin arena but there’s a lot of players representing their own country, which is really important to them.

“They are representing their families. Representing your country should be one of the pinnacles of the game.”

New Zealand is among four genuine chances – the others being Australia, England and Tonga — to claim the prestigious World Cup later this year in Britain.

“If we can keep building on what we have been doing, there’s no reason why we can’t be at our best,” Maguire said. “And given the quality of players, there’s no reason why we can’t perform and win the World Cup.”