The writing is on the wall for Michael Maguire to part ways with the struggling Wests Tigers as the club stares down the barrel of an 0-7 start to the season.
The club have lost their first three games of 2022 and now face the Titans, Sharks, Eels and Rabbitohs in the next month, which are all unlikely to be wins given their current form.
Speaking on Triple M, Gorden Tallis, James Hooper and Brent Read diseccted the club’s woes believe it is in the best interests of both Maguire and the Tigers to go their separate ways after four seasons together.
“There is something not quite right there and it would probably be better for him long-term in the rugby league world to walk away from the Tigers,” Tallis said on Triple M.
“I think he has been there for four years. Sometimes coaches and players just need a new start and I think with the Wests Tigers they are just not responding are they?
“If you’re honest and we can tap dance around it, but he has had four years there. Madge is a really good coach and has won premierships, but sometimes you can get a dressing room and for some reason it just doesn’t gel and this dressing room is not gelling at the moment.”
Hooper pointed out that the blame for the Tigers’ woes, which has them on track to miss the finals for the 11th straight season and also has them as the favourites for the wooden spoon, can no longer be placed at the feet of former coach Ivan Cleary.
“We know he can coach and has won premierships, but my view is he is not the right coach for the Wests Tigers at the moment,” Hooper said.
“From an outside point of view it just looks like they need a circuit breaker.
“They have been going around in circles now. This is Madge’s fourth season. They have finished progressively worse. They were ninth the first year, 11th the second and 13th last year.
“Initially, I was more than happy to bide my time because I know Madge knows what success looks like and the foundations that need to be built to get there.
‘But the hangover from when Ivan Cleary was there when he signed four players to big money on long-term deals and it caused the club quite a bit of trouble for a number of years, that is gone now.
“Paul Crawley pointed out in The Daily Telegraph, that every single player in that roster now Madge has either signed and brought them into the club or he has re-signed them to the club during his tenure.
“If Madge went to the Melbourne Storm they would have success. If you give Madge a roster. When he came to Souths, there was a nucleus of superstar players either established or on the verge of being established.
“The Wests Tigers are nowhere near that. Who are the Tigers best five players?”
Wests Tigers Podcast - Talking everything Wests Tigers!
Woods is on the money there 👍
Wests Tigers Podcast - Talking everything Wests Tigers!
100% agree what Woods had to say.
I can’t believe anyone would think it’s a good idea he stays. Every year it’s been worse, almost all players have regressed and we’re now favourites for the spoon.
The entire organisation is rotten from the board all the way down. And before anyone says ‘go and follow someone else’ I’ve followed the club my whole life, I just cannot stand the current administration and coaching staff. What they have done is indefensible and I have genuine fears for the future of the club.
I can’t believe anyone would think it’s a good idea he stays. Every year it’s been worse, almost all players have regressed and we’re now favourites for the spoon.
The entire organisation is rotten from the board all the way down. And before anyone says ‘go and follow someone else’ I’ve followed the club my whole life, I just cannot stand the current administration and coaching staff. What they have done is indefensible and I have genuine fears for the future of the club.
Spot on. 36 plus years of following the Tigers and I feel the same way.
Wests Tigers Podcast - Talking everything Wests Tigers!
Woods is on the money there 👍
Simpkin drove me nuts ...he isn't a Farah or Cheese or even a Rua for that matter out of dummy half ....
Lots hate Woods ...he left the club ...and like all the others who have left the club proved THEY made the smart decision by leaving
Typical of Woods, dishing dirt on the Tigers when he should be focussed on his current club. Sounds like he is cut up about not being offered a contract here.
Typical of Woods, dishing dirt on the Tigers when he should be focussed on his current club. Sounds like he is cut up about not being offered a contract here.
I think what he said makes sense though.
Typical of Woods, dishing dirt on the Tigers when he should be focussed on his current club. Sounds like he is cut up about not being offered a contract here.
I think what he said makes sense though.
Agreed, he does make sense, he sees what we see. Doesn’t give him the right to talk about another club.
Woods was a dog for what he did, but you could also understand a player leaving given the basket case we have been the last 10yrs. Leaving wasn’t the issue but trying to recruit players to leave with you when you are captain was inexcusable. I’m sure what he says is true.
