This is the behind-the-scenes photo that represents everything Michael Maguire was hoping to achieve in his time as the Blues coach.
It’s also the most unlikely image you could’ve imagined eight weeks ago, before NSW started its now-successful State of Origin campaign. The code’s nicest man and shock selection as captain, Jake Trbojevic, swinging a baseball bat in front of his Blues brothers in a Suncorp Stadium dressing room after breaking a 19-year Origin drought.
Rugby league nice guy Jake Trbojevic swings a baseball bat in front of his Blues brothers in a Suncorp Stadium dressing room. Credit: asdf
The bat is a legendary prop Maguire used in his coaching days at South Sydney. He wanted his players to hit the Queenslanders like they were wielding baseball bats. The Trbojevic pose says it all when it comes to buying in to the Maguire method. Maguire had to pay $4000 out of his own pocket after damaging a wall using a baseball bat in the dressing room in the lead-up to a game against Manly. This was just one of many methods he used.
Another favourite was taking photos of players they were going to target in games and showing them with wounds on them, bleeding. The pics were pinned up in the players’ locker rooms. There’s no indication he used this method in the lead-up to Origin though, and club bosses at South Sydney asked him to stop using that imagery, fearing the media would get hold of the pictures. He also famously wanted to bring a snake into a dressing room to illustrate how to strangle or devour the opposition. The Rabbits baulked at the $1000 fee to hire the snake; they also had concerns for star players with a fear of snakes.
Apart from seeing Trbojevic with the bat, the most obvious indication of the buy-in was another tough but mild player doing something we all thought we’d never see: Cameron Murray running in from the bench to stop the Queenslanders as they were setting upon Brian To’o. Maguire didn’t want to talk about the bat but spoke freely about Murray.
“I’ve known Cameron for a long time and I have to say I never thought he would do what he did on that night,” Maguire said. “Now I’m not condoning this, but it does represent the feeling that these players had for each other and what we developed as a group. The players develop to brotherhood and the feeling is we were there to look after one another. And that is exactly what Cameron did, and I will never forget that. Nor will his team.”
Cameron Murray jumps off the bench and runs into a sea of Maroons players as they’re setting upon Brian To’o.
Unsung heroes
Maguire’s sole selector and data analyst, Scott Woodward, has revealed the role the Blues greatest coach Phil Gould played in the Blues’ stunning series win.
There have been unsung heroes in the victory and they all deserve credit. One person who worked in the shadows was Woodward, as a sounding board for Maguire.
“Gus was one of the first to endorse Madge once they moved on from Brad Fittler,” Woodward said. “That says so much. When Gus speaks, people listen.”
Woodward does a similar job at the Bulldogs and previously did so at the Storm.
“Once I thought the Storm’s list was in great shape, Jimmy Smith and Laurie Daley recommended me to Madge. We had a beer at the Paddington Royal Hotel and have been close mates since.”
Woodward has given an insight into Maguire. “Madge has a reputation as a tough guy, a hard man that players fear. He is the opposite. I’ve never been in his company when he’s raised his voice. He constantly acknowledges hard work with a call of ‘thanks’. He is softly spoken and very caring, will do anything for his players and friends. His training is no harder than Craig Bellamy‘s Storm or Cameron Ciraldo’s Bulldog sessions.
“Like Craig and Cameron, he surrounds himself with the best available assistants and support staff and oversees a winning environment. Madge wanted players with a high winning, competitive character. Trench guys. Players in great club form and ideally at a career high. Players with Origin-rated data who could focus for 80 minutes if required. Players that Madge could create a cohesiveness [with] in the team.”
Wally Lewis Medal winner Angus Crichton, arguably in career-best form for the Blues under coach Michael Maguire.Credit: Getty Images
And when it came to selection, Woodward explained how it was done. “All 17 players in game three were in career-best form, and that showed in the second half. I designed and developed a talent identification program at the Storm and have taken it to a new level at the Bulldogs under Gus and our chairman, Adam Driussi. I built the player depth chart based on Madge’s ‘must haves’. Rarely did we disagree. Video and data analysis coupled with Madge’s gut normally found the best result.”
And here are the secrets to Maguire’s success. “He is all about ‘all in’ team effort,” said Woodard. “Everyone must complement the team. I have seen him sack a world-class player because he was taking shortcuts, not buying in 100 per cent ... off the field is just as important as on the field with him. He makes a big effort to know every player and his family tree.”
Powerbrokers meet
NRL bosses Peter V’landys and Andrew Abdo are heading to Paris for a week to experience the Olympics. Before they get accused of spending the game’s money, it’s understood they have been invited by Nine Entertainment, owner of this masthead, and will mix with many sport and media big wigs from around Australia and the world. It’s too early to knock over the next broadcast deal but there are plenty of opportunities to grow their strong relationship with key media and sporting types.
Walker in demand
Reece Walsh is emerging as the Roosters trump card when it comes to ensuring Sam Walker remains at Bondi Junction at a reasonable price.
Roosters half Sam Walker is considered the next big half in the NRL and will be in the sights of the Broncos.Credit: AP
Walker is the best young half in the competition. He’s also a quality human and the kind of player every team would want. Walsh is closing in on a deal worth about $1.4 million a season. With Payne Haas, Ezra Mam, Pat Carrigan and others on massive coin it’s hard to see how Brisbane can offer anything that the Roosters can toss at him. Walker is well managed by Clinton Schifcofske, who knows his talent’s worth. Smart observers say his next deal should make him close to the best paid Rooster. If he can get a deal worth somewhere around $1 million, that’s his mark. Of course a rival team will offer $1.2 million plus. The Roosters love Walker - they want to see him nail the big moments. Against the best. They don’t accept anything less and will hold Walker to that standard if they fork out the big dollars to keep him.
Luai’s Tiger support
If you think Jerome Luai is having second thoughts about the Tigers switch next season you don’t understand his character. He’s been in touch with Benji Marshall offering words of support in the background. He’s up for the challenge. Anyone who watched Origin will know he stood up under the most intense pressure and was the owner of the moment when he split the Maroons defence and broke the game open. He will have his greatest challenge at the Tigers, but now he’s excited. There’s no question that the role Stephen Crichton has played at the Bulldogs is a blueprint for Luai, and it shows the influence a strong and committed leader and winner can have on a team’s culture.
Dragons offside
Trent Barrett was not shocked to be unwanted by Jason Ryles at the Eels for next year. The relationship between the former Dragons teammates is not what it was. Barrett was complaining to people that he couldn’t get a call back from Ryles after his appointment.
Incoming Eels coach Jason Ryles.Credit: Getty Images
Great mind at work
Last week we suggested Cam Smith’s sharp mind is what Billy Slater missed most in Origin. Here is an example of Smith’s rugby league smarts. He was thinking out loud in the media box at half-time when it came to discussing the Cam Murray/Mitch Barnett sin-binning. He said it should have been up to Queensland and not the Blues to choose a player to be binned. Queensland could have binned Mitch Moses or Dylan Edwards to take advantage of the odd situation. That’s thinking on the run.
Marky Mark in demand
Actor Mark Wahlberg was the most sought after selfie in the Blues hotel. The whisper in camp was that he was staying in the team hotel, with the 30th floor blocked off to everyone - including the Blues. Moses was desperately hoping to bump into the Hollywood star.
Mark Wahlberg was in demand in the Blues hotel during Origin 3.Credit: Paramount+
Super move
The decision by Peter V’landys and Andrew Abdo to include Super League teams in the Las Vegas festival appeared an odd one given the incredible success of the first Vegas game - but it looks like a masterstroke. There have been 15,000 tickets purchased so far for the 2025 Vegas matches - 4000 have been bought by fans in the UK. Incredibly, the Warrington and Wigan supporter bays sold out during the club member pre-sale. “The English love to travel to support their teams,” Abdo said. “In 2024, over 2000 Brits travelled to watch the NRL double header [in Vegas], and so with the inclusion of two huge Super League sides we’re expecting a huge increase on that number.”
Karl Fitzpatrick, Warrington Wolves CEO, said: “Ever since the announcement a couple of weeks ago the excitement has reached fever pitch. There may only be one Super League fixture across a four-game extravaganza but early signs show that there is a good chance rugby league fans from these shores and our expats living in America will outnumber the Aussie and Kiwi contingent. In the words of my Irish comrade and Vegas resident, Connor McGregor, we are not here to take part but to take over!”
Said Kris Radlinski, the Wigan Warriors chief executive: “The unprecedented interest in the Las Vegas project is a testament to the global passion for rugby league. This is more than a game; it’s a historic moment uniting fans across continents in celebration of the sport they love.”
Happy 21st
Rooster and Blues star Joseph Suallii’s upcoming 21st birthday party in the CBD should be one of the hottest events on the sporting social calendar. But despite his player status, there will still be a heavy focus on family. Of course family includes his Rooster “brothers”. That reflects his personality and humble nature.
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