Sport Confidential: Michael Maguire loses key ally at Wests Tigers in backroom reshuffle
One of Michael Maguire’s key allies at Wests Tigers has parted ways with the club after a backroom reshuffle.
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Michael Maguire has lost one of his key allies at Wests Tigers after Scott Woodward parted ways with the club.
Woodward was the recruitment and list analyst at the Tigers, often providing recommendations to Maguire on potential signings. However, the arrival of Tim Sheens and the return of Warren McDonnell reduced the reliance on Woodward. The club also has Matt Betsey and Brett Kimmorley involved in their pathways.
They were overstocked in that department and Confidential understands the Tigers felt the club would be better served directing Woodward’s money into other aspects of the football operations.
CLUBS CIRCLE ENGLISH SBW CLONE
NRL clubs are circling an English youngster who has been compared to Sonny Bill Williams. Kai Pearce-Paul plays for Wigan and has just been selected in an extended England squad by coach Shaun Wane.
Sports Confidential understands at least two NRL clubs are watching the 21-year-old, who is fast becoming the most coveted English player alongside teenager Will Pryce.
Pearce-Paul’s brother Kameron, a rugby league player himself, was the first one to notice the SBW similarities.
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“He’s been saying that since I was young, that I’d be the next Sonny Bill Williams,” Pearce-Paul said last year. “I like to offload, a similar style to Sonny Bill. He’s a great, great player, someone I looked up to when I was young.”
Pearce-Paul has been playing in the centres for Wigan but seems destined for the back row. Wane has certainly been impressed – he indicated he was a serious contender to play for England this year.
“He’s very strong, has a great offload and he gives us something else,” Wane told media in England. “As time has gone by he’s become a very good defender too and I can see him playing Test match rugby.
“That’s why he’s in there. If he keeps going the way he is, it’ll be hard not to pick him.”
MANLY OPEN CONTACT TALKS WITH DCE
Manly have opened talks with captain Daly Cherry-Evans over a contract extension that would ward off potential interest from the Dolphins and see the Sea Eagles star finish his career on Sydney’s northern beaches.
Cherry-Evans has another year remaining on his mega deal with the club but the expectation is that he will extend for at least one more season, taking him through until the end of 2024.
The Queensland half, who recently turned 33, is as fit as ever and showed few signs of slowing down last season as he led Manly into the finals.
Fitness has never been an issue for Cherry-Evans – he still leads his teammates in pre-season testing. Hence the belief at Manly that their skipper can play deep into his 30s.
The looming threat of the Dolphins is also a serious one where Cherry-Evans is concerned.
Cherry-Evans was born in Redcliffe and his father Troy played for the club.
He would seem a logical target, yet Manly have no plans to let Cherry-Evans leave as he prepares to begin his 12th season with the club.
Injury permitting, at some point in the next two years he will pass 300 games for Manly and he could yet threaten Cliff Lyons’ club record of 332 games for the Sea Eagles.
Beyond that, Steve Menzies is also in his sights – Menzies played 280 games for Manly and 69 for the Northern Eagles.
“I’m looking to finish my career at Manly,” the Maroons and Manly captain said.
“I can’t see myself going anywhere. Manly seem pretty receptive to keeping me there for as long as I can keep playing well.
“I have this year and next left contract wise, but I would be pretty surprised if I was a free agent at the end of the year.
“We are both in agreement that I am giving them something and they are getting something out of me, so that’s what it’s all about, return on investment.
“At this stage of my career, it’s not about the money. I am very happy at Manly.”
DOGS ADD MORE MONGREL TO THEIR PACK
Canterbury are expected to add another British Bulldog this time closing in on Canberra’s Ryan Sutton on a long-term deal as they continue to spend big on their forward pack.
It can be revealed that Sutton is close to accepting a three-year contract to join the Bulldogs from next season.
He is the third high-profile addition to the club already for 2023 — before a ball has been kicked this year — after their purchases of fellow forwards Reed Mahoney and Viliame Kikau.
The 26-year-old will add to an already star-studded forward pack after being squeezed out of the Raiders because of salary cap constraints.
Sutton’s impending arrival may cast further doubt on fellow Englishman Luke Thompson’s stay at the club. Thompson is contracted until the end of 2023 but was linked with an early exit at the end of last season.
It could also mean the Bulldogs struggle to keep Paul Vaughan who signed a one year deal after being thrown a lifeline by Canterbury this year.
Sutton has played 58 games since joining the Raiders in 2019 and has become a vital cog in their squad having arrived from Wigan.
Throwing Mahoney, Kikau and Sutton into the forward pack totally reshapes the Bulldogs who already have Josh Jackson and Tevita Pangai Jr jnr contracted. They are hopeful backrower Raymond Faitala-Mariner makes a successful return from injury while there is a mutual option on Jack Hetherington’s services for next season.
POTENTIAL BULLDOGS 2023 STARTING PACK
8 Jack Hetherington/Luke Thompson
9 Reed Mahoney
10 Ryan Sutton
11 Viliame Kikau
12 Tevita Pangai Jr
13 Josh Jackson
VERRILLS UP FOR FIGHT
Sam Verrills understands why the Roosters signed Brandon Smith but that does not mean he is willing to give up his No.9 jersey without a fight.
Verrills was unwillingly dragged into the headlines during the pre-season as the club secured Smith from next season. Despite Smith’s imminent arrival, Verrills is contracted until the end of 2024 and said he was willing to challenge the Kiwi international for a starting spot.
“He is a great player and a great signing for the club,” Verrills said. “It’s unfortunate they wanted him as the nine option with me there but that’s not until 2023. It’s 2022 and I have the whole year to prove why I’m the No.9.
“I don’t plan on leaving. I want to be the starting nine. The club means so much to me.
“I enjoy coming to training and I enjoy these group of guys.
“I know he is coming but it’s so long away. I haven’t spoken to any other clubs. My main focus is playing good footy this year.
“If I play good footy this year who knows what can happen. He is not here, he is not in the picture. We’re focused on how we can go this year. Our main target is very clear.”
Verrills said coach Trent Robinson had guaranteed he would be the first-choice rake this year.
He will miss the season opener against the Knights because of suspension but benefited from a long pre-season for the first time in a while.
Verrills has played just 19 games since being part of the Roosters 2019 premiership win as he dealt with knee and eye injuries. “The pre-season has helped me get as fit as I want to be,” he said. “I haven’t been able to play much footy in the past two years.”
KAMBOSOS PUMPS UP ROOSTERS
Undisputed world lightweight champion George Kambosos grew up a Sydney Roosters fan and went to school with centre Paul Momirovski.
So he didn’t need a second invitation when he was given the chance to speak to the Roosters this week, having made Roosters board member Mark Bouris aware of his support for the club when he appeared on his podcast.
“I have been a Roosters supporter since I was born,” Kambosos said.
“My dad was a mad Roosters fan. Trent Robinson reached out to do some talks with the boys.
“We had our first talk today about the warrior mentality and being composed. We talked about that iron will to win.
“It was a great chat with all the boys. I got the belts out and they loved it. Throughout the season there will be many more talks with the boys.
“I believe they can be a real threat to the premiership.”
Rooster prop Jared Waerea-Hargreaves said Kambosos was at ease in front of the group.
“People can get a guy in and ask a few questions and that be it,” Waerea-Hargreaves said.
“The environment (coach) Trent Robinson creates made it so comfortable for George, his dad and a group of footy guys having a conversation for an hour.”
TAGO GETS TICK OF APPROVAL
Nathan and Ivan Cleary have declared youngster Izack Tago ready to start the season for the defending premiers.
The Panthers are on the lookout for two new starting centres following the off-season departures of Matt Burton and Paul Momirovski. Stephen Crichton will be one while Tago is also the likely stater.
Coach Ivan said Tago had impressed during the pre-season.
“He is going well,” Cleary said. “He is a young man but his path has been stable in terms of coming in last year and doing our pre-season where he was really good.
“He excelled at NSW Cup level and his short burst of first grade he looked good.
“He is ready to be introduced as a regular in the NRL arena.”
Nathan said “he is ready”.
“It’s exciting,” Nathan said. “He will have a lot of help around him. We’re not expecting him to be a super star straight away.”
MEDAL AN HONOUR FOR SIMS
The Ruan Sims Medal will be up for grabs for the best player in the NRLW.
ABC Sport has decided to name its player of the year award after the decorated Jillaroo, who is also part of the station’s rugby league coverage.
“Ru was the obvious choice as a trailblazer and a World Cup-winning captain,” ABC’s Andrew Moore said. “She is someone who has done so much for rugby league – men’s and women’s. She was shocked but extremely proud when I asked her about this last weekend. “Our elite women players deserve the recognition.”
The winner will be judged based on both NRLW seasons this year plus the State of Origin.”
INJURY BLOW FOR YOUNG BULLDOG
Exciting Bulldogs junior Paul Alamoti will have a delayed start to the season after needing surgery to repair an injured ankle.
Alamoti hurt himself during a Bulldogs reserve grade trial last Monday. He suffered a syndesmosis injury which will sideline him for about two months.
Alamoti, 18, is considered a future star with the Bulldogs holding out hopes he cracks the top grade at some stage this year.
BULLEMOR’S BIG CHANCE
Haumole Olakau’atu is expected to return to the field in round four after suffering a forearm injury in the pre-season. His absence along with that of Josh Schuster is likely to mean that Broncos recruit Ethan Bullemor gets an early shot at locking down a place in the starting side.
WARRIORS HALF UP FOR GRABS
Warriors half Chanel Harris-Tavita is officially on the lookout for a new home after his manager emailed officials at rival NRL clubs last week asking them to formally express an interest in the 22-year-old.
Harris-Tavita is coming to the end of a contract that is understood to pay him about $300,000 a season. He played 11 games for the Warriors last season and had two try assists and would make a handy pick-up for an NRL club.
KENNAR IMPRESSES BUNNIES
Richie Kennar is expected to sign a top 30 deal with South Sydney after impressing in the pre-season.
Kennar spent a season at Souths in 2018 – between stints at Melbourne and Brisbane. The outside back spent last season at the Broncos but has been training with Souths and looks set to be rewarded with a deal.
The Rabbitohs are yet to sign Shaquai Mitchell – brother of Latrell – to a new deal but it is understood there is still a good chance he will earn a top 30 contract.
EXTRA INCENTIVE FOR VICTORY
Braith Anasta will waive his company’s regular management fee if their signing Dimitrios Papadatos wins the TPS Sydney at Bonnie Doon this week.
The tournament will be shown live on Fox and hosted by Paul Gow, Geoff Ogilvy and Anasta. Foxtel has also announced they will have a dedicated pop-up channel for the The 2022 Players Championship, which will be played from March 11-14.
The dedicated Players Championship pop-up channel starts on Monday, March 7.
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Originally published as Sport Confidential: Michael Maguire loses key ally at Wests Tigers in backroom reshuffle
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