Michael Maguire has told Wests Tigers he is going nowhere

Michael Maguire has told Wests Tigers that he is going nowhere amid speculation linking him with the Cowboys.

Despite the speculation, Michael Maguire insists he is committed to Wests Tigers. Picture: Toby Zerna

Wests Tigers say they have received assurances from coach Michael Maguire that he is committed to the cause amid whispers that the premiership winner has appeared on the radar of the North Queensland Cowboys.

Maguire has another year remaining on his deal with the Tigers, but the club has kicked off preliminary discussions over an extension beyond the end of next season.

As part of those early talks, Tigers chair Lee Hagipantelis said the club had been assured that Maguire had no plans to walk out on the final year of his deal to pursue an opportunity elsewhere.

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As well as the Cowboys, Maguire has also been linked with the Warriors. It is understood the New Zealand club is close to appointing a coach to take over from caretaker Todd Payten on a permanent basis, although they face competition in the coaching market from the Cowboys.

Payten is also believed to be a contender for the North Queensland job, where he was once on the coaching staff under Paul Green. Maguire won’t be in the mix, having told Tigers chief executive Justin Pascoe that his priority is to speak to them and no one else.

“Discussions have been held with Michael who has assured us he has no interest in entertaining discussion with any other club while he is contracted to the West Tigers, which is a very refreshing and commendable attitude,” Hagipantelis said.

“Every coach of course is interested in their long-term future. So in response to preliminary discussions with Michael, he gave us an assurance that he would be speaking only with us.

“So we have no concerns with respect to any other club and Michael. He is a very straight-up-and-down sort of fella.

“It was straight from his discussions with Justin (Pascoe) — he will not be entertaining discussions with any other club during the course of his discussions with the Wests Tigers.”

Maguire has been valiantly attempting to build some resilience at the Tigers, his frustrations at their inconsistencies on show again on Friday night after a loss to the Warriors.

Maguire kicked a chair in frustration as his side threw away a chance to press their top eight claims, losing a game many expected them to win.

The premiership-winning coach has made some big calls in his short time at the club, axing Benji Marshall earlier this year and then Luke Brooks in recent weeks.

Still, those calls haven’t resulted in the consistency that Maguire craves.

“The word extension has been raised of course,” Hagipantelis said. “As I said, everyone is interested in securing their long-term future. Michael would be no different to anyone else.

“We are very, very pleased with Michael Maguire. We have absolutely no concerns in that regard.”

Payten is firming as the man most likely to take over in Townsville, having made the shock decision to turn down the chance to coach the Warriors.

Payten confirmed that he was offered the Warriors job last week and made the agonising decision to say no, confirming his priority was to take over from Green at the Cowboys.

“I had an interview maybe 14 days ago,” Payten told NRL360. “It went well. I had been offered the job last Monday — so a week ago — and I informed the club I am going to turn it down.
“It wasn’t the right opportunity for myself and my family at this time. It was not an easy decision. At the end it was the first time I put my family first.
“It wasn’t the right time. My wife’s father just started chemotherapy. That was at the forefront of our mind. That was a big part of it.

“There were some other issues I don’t want to make public. That is my decision and I have made it. It was tough — it was tough for everyone. The club was shocked and disappointed.”