The New South Wales Rugby League are reportedly “ropeable” with the way Michael Maguire’s exit played out.
Maguire coached the Blues to a State of Origin series win earlier this year after signing a multi-year contract with NSWRL.
However he was granted an immediate release from that deal this week to sign a three-year deal as head coach at the Broncos.
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It’s understood NSWRL knew that Maguire’s goal has always been to return to clubland but as News Corp journalist Dave Riccio revealed on NRL 360, the governing body is not happy about certain elements with how it was handled.
“There’s certainly a feeling from a NSWRL point of view that it could’ve been handled a little bit better as far as the process of ‘Madge’ informing the NSWRL board,” he said.
“I can tell you that as of Thursday night the story broke (about Walters getting sacked), Maguire was installed as the $1.04 favourite as soon as the hammer dropped.
“Friday morning comes and Madge is due to conduct an already organised presentation as far as a series review and preview for 2025.
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“During that presentation Madge makes no mention of any approach or interest from the Broncos… and within 72 hours he’s signed a three-year deal with the Broncos.
“The Blues just felt as though that at some point prior to that contract there could’ve been a little bit more open transparency (along the lines of) ‘hey guys there’s a job available at a pretty good club, I might have a look at it.’
“I think there’s a feeling it could’ve been handled a lot better.
“As I said earlier, as soon as Kevvie Walters was sacked, Michael Maguire was clearly declared on every media platform that he was the favourite to get the job.
“There was an opportunity to address the elephant in the room.”
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Veteran journalist Paul Crawley backed up Riccio but believes the NSWRL are more than just a little unhappy.
“I would probably go a step further and say the Blues are privately ropeable,” he said on NRL 360.
“This happened when we got off air on Thursday night, on Friday morning at 8am the board meeting, at 12pm Madge speaks at a lunch. They go through the entire day with not a mention.
“Then on the Saturday I’m led to believe the Broncos were ready to announce Madge as the coach until they were informed by the Blues that he has a contract and if it’s seen to be you’re enticing someone to break a contract, there’s a legality there. From there over the weekend they had to work out the decisions behind his departure.
“They’re far from impressed and they believe that this backtracks several weeks.”
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The swift signing of Maguire suggests that the Broncos had a plan bubbling along much earlier than last week — despite CEO Dave Donaghy denying that on Tuesday in a press conference.
But Gorden Tallis asked NRL 360 host Braith Anasta — who is also a player agent — if it takes longer than three deals to strike a new deal.
“Of course it does. We all know that, it’s obvious that this has been in the pipeline for a while,” he responded.
The NSWRL are now on the hunt for a new coach ahead of next year’s Origin series with the likes of Laurie Daley, Trent Barrett and Paul McGregor among those expected to show interest in the role.
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