Documentary ‘Wild Wests: Tales from Tiger Town’ shows real Michael Maguire
The eagerly anticipated Wests Tigers documentary will give fans a new appreciation of the pressures facing NRL coaches, here’s why.
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Wests Tigers chairman Lee Hagipantelis is convinced Michael Maguire has done his much maligned image absolutely no harm by allowing Fox Sports cameras a never-before-seen access to the inner sanctum of an NRL club.
It comes as the Tigers internally shot down fresh speculation that halfback Luke Brooks was being shopped to rival clubs.
There has certainly been no shortage of rumours about Maguire’s future even though he has two more years left on his existing contract.
There has been renewed talk that former Sharks coach Shane Flanagan is now waiting in the wings if the Tigers fail to make the finals this year.
Watch new FOX SPORTS Original Production ‘Wild Wests: Tales from Tiger Town’ four-part docu-series premiering Mon July 19 at 7.30pm on Kayo >
But the first part airing of the Fox Sports documentary Wild Wests couldn’t have come at a better time for Maguire and the Tigers in the wake of Sunday’s win over the Broncos.
Hagipantelis was given an early viewing of the highly anticipated documentary and he says the depiction of Maguire exposed the real “Madge”, “not just the snippets you see in the media and in the coaching box”.
“This is an opportunity for people to get to know Madge the man,” Hagapantelis said.
“It is an opportunity to get to take a look behind and see who he really is … someone who is absolutely committed and passionate and dedicated to the role. And someone who has really endeared himself to the playing group in a way that is rarely seen.”
Long regarded one of the NRL’s most complex and criticised coaches, Maguire put himself up for scrutiny by allowing the cameras to follow him and the team for the entire season.
It is understood there was absolutely no areas that were off limits areas and the multi-part series (that is still to be finalised) is described as a “warts-and’all” insight that is as inspiring as it is at times confronting.
“It is an exceptional documentary that provides a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for fans and members to see behind the curtain and what goes on with the running of an NRL club,” Hagipantelis said.
“It is a very brave decision by the board to take early in the year at a time when the performances of the team where not known of course.
“But I think it is an opportunity also for people to get to know Madge and to see the man we all know.”
Meanwhile, there is just no denying the Tigers have a dilemma to sort out in relation to where new recruit Jackson Hastings will fit into the picture when he arrives from the Super League next season with Brooks and Adam Doueihi already contracted.
While the Tigers are adamant Brooks is not for sale the has been talk among rivals that there was definitely some suggestion put out that Brooks could become available if there was genuine interest.
The reality is three doesn’t go into two and Doueihi has made no secret of the fact he wants to stay playing five-eighth, while some at the Tigers see Brooks as a future No 6 and Doueihi as a long-term centre.
As for Maguire’s future, Hagipantelis said he is contracted until the end of 2023 and that is where it is right now.
“It is unfortunate that there is that level of focus on the one role where as a club we see it as something that pertains to the entire organisation,” Hagipantelis added.
“We are in it together.
“As to how the season is viewed will be determined at the end of the season when we look back.”
‘Taking the p***’: NRL’s six-again controversy erupts
NRL referees have been told they should “not be afraid” to use the sin bin if teams continue to blatantly abuse the controversial six-again rule.
That message comes from NRL head of football Graham Annesley in the wake of NSW coach Brad Fittler’s fresh claims teams are now “taking the piss” with deliberate spoiling tactics.
In one instance over the weekend the Sydney Roosters gave up three six-again calls in one tackle by shamelessly standing offside while the Cowboys attacked their tryline — yet the sin bin was ignored.
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With the race to the NRL finals well and truly underway, we have broken down some of the biggest talking points to come out of the weekend’s round.
From Wests Tigers’ heart-stopping win over the Broncos that couldn’t have come at a better time for Michael Maguire ahead of Monday night’s highly anticipated Wild Wests documentary on Fox Sports, to Craig Bellamy’s phenomenal ability to continually reinvent the Melbourne Storm by recruiting rival rejects.
Then there’s fears of another bout of Parra-noia, and why Manly can now be counted in as a genuine premiership threat.
But with only seven rounds of the regular season remaining, the blatant abuse of the six-again rule has emerged as a serious issue that match officials need to get on top of fast.
Fittler said it was something Queensland did to nullify the Blues in last Wednesday’s shock Origin upset.
And on Saturday night the Roosters continued the trend.
The irony is the six-again was brought in last year to counter a previous tactic where teams would run the gauntlet by giving up deliberate penalties, especially close to the line.
Fittler and Peter Sterling debated the issue on Channel 9’s Sunday Footy Show.
Sterling said “with the game on the line and the Cowboys surging home” the Roosters spoiling tactics highlighted the issue.
“How fortunate are the Roosters not to have a sin bin,” Sterling questioned.
Fittler added: “We nearly need to have a look at that rule I believe, with the 10 metres especially, about maybe switching that back to penalties because teams are just taking the piss.”
Sterling said the Roosters “probably deserved the win but that was a crucial time in the game”.
Plenty of coaches and experts want to blame the six-again for the massive jump in blow out scores this year because, they claim, it is too hard to fight back from a one-sided run of possession.
But once again the coaches seem to have found a way around it by bending another rule to breaking point.
Annesley said refs “are already authorised to award a full penalty and use the sin bin if they believe teams are deliberately conceding ‘six-again’ to gain a tactical advantage, or in case of repeated infringements.
“Like most things in our game, views will often be at the opposite ends of the spectrum based on nothing more than personal views.”
Asked if there needs to be a greater use of the sin bin, Annesley added: “It’s a judgment call by referees, but they should not be afraid to use it if warranted by the circumstances.”
BELLAMY EMBARRASSES RIVALS
The next time someone wants to argue there’s not enough talent to justify expansion please point them in the direction of the Storm.
How many times over the years have we seen ‘no names’ arrive from less successful clubs and somehow Bellamy turns them into ‘overnight sensations’?
George Jennings is Bellamy’s latest success story.
It’s not unfair to call the 27-year-old former Panther/Eel/Warrior an NRL journeyman. But this season Jennings has also emerged as one of the competition’s form wingers who just makes scoring tries look easy.
How about the effort when he steamrolled Kalyn Ponga on Saturday night?
Ditto former Bulldog Reimis Smith.
For years we debated if it was the Big Three (Smith/Slater/Cronk) who made Bellamy the success he’s been. Then it was the Big Two … the Big One.
Now it’s just Bellamy remaining.
Yet he has reinvented the Storm without any star signings.
Everyone was understandably making excuses for the Knights after Saturday’s 48-4 belting given they lost Ponga to a first half head knock — and were already without Mitch Pearce, Daniel Saifiti and Bradman Best. But it’s easy to forget the Storm were also missing a few handy players in Ryan Papenhuyzen, Harry Grant and Nelson Asofa-Solomona.
They have now won their last 14 games and the reigning champs are without doubt the team to beat again.
PARRA-NOIA
Forget what’s happened before now. Brad Arthur’s measurement for success this year is going to be if he can take the Eels to a grand final.
Right at this minute, the jury is still out as to whether they have that extra gear to go with the best teams.
As impressive as the 26-8 win over Gold Coast sounds, it was only a video refereeing decision on full-time that stopped the Titans scoring three consecutive late tries.
They also have an extremely tough final seven games that includes a rejuvenated Raiders, Roosters, Rabbitohs, Sea Eagles, Cowboys, Storm and Panthers.
We are about to find out where the Eels are really at.
RAIDERS’ MAKE OR BREAK
The Raiders don’t have the easiest run home either and Jack Wighton’s rib cartilage injury couldn’t have come at a worse time ahead of this crucial showdown with Parra.
For everything that has gone wrong for Ricky Stuart so far this year, they are slowly starting to look like a fair dinkum footy team again
If they could upset the Eels suddenly their season would be looking very exciting.
But sitting ninth they just can’t afford to drop too many more games. This match could be their making or breaking. They also face the Storm, Sea Eagles and Roosters among their remaining games.
NRL’S X-FACTOR
Despite missing their three best in Tom and Jake Trbojevic as well as skipper Daly Cherry-Evans against the Dragons, Manly really showed why they are considered the X-factor in this run home.
Des Hasler not only has some tremendous young talent but when they’re on they play with a confidence that borders on arrogance. It certainly creates the impression they’re ready to back themselves regardless of who they’re up against in the coming months.
They take on the Tigers this round followed by the Sharks, but the big one is round 21 against the Storm. Right now they look a serious threat.
‘DUMBEST EVER’
Talk about coach killers. Lachlan Lewis’ brain snap would surely go down as the dumbest play in NRL history.
There is just no excuse for his after-the-siren tackle on Cody Walker that led to an all-in melee.
There was some debate about whether it deserved a sin bin as the Dogs went to the rooms up 12-10.
For God sake.
Lewis should be suspended for stupidity.
BIG BILLY UNLEASHES
If you had a spare $1 million to spend on an edge forward would you want David Fifita or Viliame Kikau?
Queensland legend Billy Moore made a solid point in Fox Sports commentary when he labelled the Panthers’ two-try wrecking ball against the Warriors as “the jewel in the crown” in what is a red hot back row — that also includes Origin stars Isaiah Yeo, Kurt Capewell and Liam Martin.
Playing without Nathan Cleary and Jarome Luai, the Panthers weren’t anywhere near their clinical best but they sure have some firepower to play with.
When they get their halves back, look out.
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