The Wayne Bennett sliding doors moment that sees Michael Maguire end up at the Broncos

Before signing Michael Maguire in 2019, the Wests Tigers made a secret bid to poach Wayne Bennett from the Broncos – Peter Badel reveals how the supercoach’s rejection was the making of a Red Hill revolution.

Michael Maguire says his sacking at Wests Tigers has steeled him for success at the Broncos as Balmain legend Benny Elias declared ‘Madge’ is the coach to break Brisbane’s 19-year premiership drought.

A candid Maguire spoke about the toughest period of his career – his chaotic tenure at Concord – as he prepares to face the Tigers in Broncos colours this Saturday night at Suncorp Stadium.

For Maguire, it will be the first time he confronts the Tigers since the club’s decision to sever ties with the premiership-winning coach in 2022 after his drama-charged three-year stint at the joint venture.

(L-R) Michael Maguire and Wayne Bennett.

BENNETT KNOCKS BACK $3 MILLION BID FROM WESTS TIGERS

Right from the beginning, when the Tigers failed to land Wayne Bennett in a clandestine $3 million poaching raid and instead turned to Plan B in Maguire, the veteran coach was seemingly on a hiding to nothing.

Maguire could be forgiven for an ironic chuckle at the sliding doors moment involving Bennett.

At the time, Bennett was coaching the Broncos. His refusal to walk out early on his Brisbane deal ultimately delivered Maguire to the Tigers in 2019 and, finally, landed Madge in the Broncos hot seat Bennett occupied for 25 years in two stints at Red Hill.

Maguire won 29 of 80 games at Concord for a 36 per cent success rate, the Tigers incrementally sliding from 9th to 11th to 13th and a wooden-spoon finish that led to his dismissal midway through the 2022 season.

But amid the toxic infighting and political upheaval at the Tigers, Maguire emerged from the Concord circus refusing to be bitter. Instead, he vowed to get better.

Now, as he takes on the Tigers club he truly believed he could turn into a title force, Maguire believes the lessons of his wild ride at Wests can be a springboard to a Broncos premiership.

Michael Maguire loses it in Wests Tigers

TOUGH TIMES HAVE MADE ME A BETTER COACH

“My time at the Tigers was a piece of learning,” Maguire said ahead of Saturday’s showdown at Suncorp.

“I’d like to think I’m not that sort of (bitter) person.

“At the end of the day, the Tigers presented some challenges, but I gave that club 110 per cent and it’s exactly the same as my mindset here. I love coaching this group of players at the Broncos and all the experiences I’ve had have shaped me to where I am now.

“If anything, some of those tough times have made me a better coach and those learnings have brought me here to the Broncos.

“The key thing is I’m not shifting my focus to the Tigers. I’m not living in the past. I believe the Broncos are a special club like no other.

“The Tigers are long gone now.

“I’m sure people will find some way to talk it up (the Maguire-Tigers grudge match), but those former teams don’t really bother me.

“A few years ago as a younger coach, I may have got caught up in it, but where I am at the moment, I want my players and the Brisbane fans to know I’m fully focused about what I’m doing here.

“I’m totally committed to making the Broncos a great club.”

THE CLANDESTINE BENNETT/WESTS TIGERS MEETING

A staunch Tigers man, Elias wonders if any coach, Bennett included, could have resurrected the joint-venture outfit during the turbulent Maguire epoch.

The Tigers’ actual Plan A was hiring Bennett.

Former Tigers CEO Justin Pascoe had flown to the Sunshine Coast to meet with Bennett midway through the 2018 season. At the time, Bennett was waging a civil war with Broncos bosses, Red Hill ructions that convinced Tigers hierarchy the super coach was ready to move on.

Such was the clandestine nature of the poaching bid, Pascoe hired a hotel room at the Novotel Twin Waters. He left a second key at reception for Bennett.

Michael Maguire ready to tame his old Tigers. Artwork: Boo Bailey

Pascoe sat in the room waiting, preparing his pitch. He then heard the click of the door. In walked Bennett, with the pair shaking hands and talking for 90 minutes.

They held further talks on a three-year deal worth around $1 million a season, but it all collapsed when Bennett refused to leave Broncos players and staff early, prompting Pascoe to fly to New Zealand to secure Maguire, who was coaching the Kiwis.

Maguire almost delivered a finals appearance in his first season in 2019 – ironically the Broncos edged out the Tigers to eighth spot by one competition point – but gradually the pressure built.

Maguire was saddled with an inexperienced roster and salary-cap pressures, not to mention Wests and Balmain factionalism on a board that leaked like the Titanic.

Michael Maguire’s intense rugby league obsession might work better at the Broncos than it did at the Tigers.

‘MADGE IS EXACTLY WHAT THE BRONCOS NEED’

Since Maguire’s departure, the Tigers have won consecutive wooden spoons, but head to Suncorp on Saturday night showing signs of recovery under greenhorn coach Benji Marshall.

“If I knew about Madge then what I know now about him, I would have shown more patience with him if I was the Wests Tigers,” said Elias, the 233-game Balmain legend.

“That period would have been difficult for any coach. It was very political. They wanted a quick fix and the Tigers fans were entitled to quick success. Unfortunately, it was a churn-and-burn approach. I don’t know how many coaches could have had success during that period because politically it was very tough.”

There is a view Maguire, with his hard edge and intensity that borders on rugby league obsession, is better suited for an established roster. It’s why Elias believes he will deliver Brisbane’s first title since 2006.

“Madge is exactly what the Broncos need,” Elias said.

“I’ve had some of the best coaches of all-time: Jack Gibson, Bob Fulton, Phil Gould and Warren Ryan. I’ve had a stack of good coaches, but I’ve never seen someone with a harder work ethic than Madge.

“The Broncos have signed a winner. They have got the lucky ticket there and I truly believe his approach to hard work and being thorough, there is none better and he can win a premiership at the Broncos.

“Madge won a comp with South Sydney in 2014. He beat Australia when coaching New Zealand and beat Queensland last year in his first season as NSW coach, so that tells you Michael Maguire can get the job done.

“Knowing Madge the way I do now and his ethics, I would definitely have stuck with him at the Tigers.

“There’s no doubt in my mind he has the roster to win the premiership this year.”

‘I’M LOOKING FORWARDS WITH THE BRONCOS’

Maguire insists his Tigers tenure has not eroded his confidence. The Broncos have started the season promisingly at 3-1, but Maguire has warned his troops not to be ambushed by the Tigers after Brisbane’s flat display in their 32-22 loss to Canberra in round 2.

“I never had doubts, not really,” Maguire said when asked if he lost faith in his NRL coaching ability.

“Look, you have to review yourself. You review how you went and what you have learnt and I have been fortunate the last little period where I have worked with some of the best in the game (with NSW and New Zealand), they have taught me a lot around appreciating the players you get to work with.

“Every club is at a different stage of development. There was a different process at the Tigers and now it’s entirely different at the Broncos, it’s a big club and I’m working with what I’ve got here.

“But wherever you sit, even at the Tigers, that was a big learning for me ... every week you have to turn up again.

“This game is vital in us needing to be consistent because we learnt a lesson in round 2. Every game in the NRL you have to turn up and be ready to go. It was a big lesson against the Raiders.

“After a good win, it all starts again. I’m not looking backwards. I’m looking forwards with the Broncos and I want the Broncos players to know I’m committed to them.

“There’s no bad blood for me. In my coaching journey, I’ve enjoyed working with a lot of people in several roles I’ve had, but I’m with the Broncos now and we have a job to do here.”

Former Tigers boss Pascoe has no regrets about signing Maguire. It wouldn’t surprise him one bit if the 51-year-old delivered the success at the Broncos he was hoping for at the Tigers.

“One of Tom Brady’s greatest philosophies was that he learnt more from the tough times he’s had and the losses than the wins,” Pascoe said, referencing the NFL quarterback legend.

“I think that if you have the ability to demonstrate resilience and an open mind to learning, it holds you in really good stead.

“Madge’s time at the Tigers was a tough time, but there’s no doubt that he has grown and learnt from that and that’s been demonstrated with his New Zealand success and State of Origin success.

“I’m sure he will continue to strive and go forward in his current role at the Broncos.

“I’ve got no ill-feeling towards Madge. We got on well. I respected Madge for what he did at the Tigers and his capabilities as a coach.

“I have zero ill-feeling and only wish him well.”