Leading into one of the best days on the rugby league calendar, the game that has a habit of eating its own is still reeling after one of the most brutal days in NRL history.
When news broke early yesterday of Nathan Brown’s departure from the Warriors, I wondered out loud if we would see the bizarre scenario of two coaches sacked in one day. Well, it happened.
Just after lunch, Michael Maguire’s job at the Wests Tigers was terminated. Two long-term head coaches - one a premiership winner, the other a UK Super League title winner - gone. Just like that.
You think the game of rugby league is hard and tough on the field? Step into a coach’s box in 2022, and unless you’re coming out after 80 minutes with consistent results, you’re spending the rest of the week looking over your shoulder.
What a contrast. There was Nathan Brown all smiles after being given the news he was being shown the door at the Warriors because he couldn’t commit to moving to New Zealand for the long term. Brown is done with head coaching, and he couldn’t look any happier about it.
Then there’s Michael Maguire. Madge turns up to training at Concord yesterday (Tuesday) and leads the team as per usual – only to be told by Tim Sheens and Justin Pascoe that he’d been sacked. It was a quick pack-up, a quick exit and a sorry sight as the shock and sadness for Madge settled in.
Tigers Chairman Lee Hagipantelis said: “The media speculation for the last 24-48 hours in particular was unhealthy for all concerned, for us and Michael. It felt it was such a toxic environment at the moment in terms of media speculation, very unfair to him and the club.”
I agree. Speculation at any club can be unhealthy. But unfair? What else is going to happen when you tell the world you’re having a mid-season review, a health check, and that the coach’s position will be part of that given it is a football operations review?
In terms of speculation, the Wests Tigers only have themselves to blame.
So now we have three of the sixteen clubs with interim coaches. Three 'position vacant' signs out there swinging on the doors of the Tigers, the Warriors and the Bulldogs.
Let the merry-go-round begin.
And while it’s been an astonishing attrition rate in the first half of this season, has there been a stronger market when it comes to coaches available? (Let’s count out Nathan Brown – he doesn’t want to do it anymore).
Michael Maguire - premiership winner, Shane Flanagan – premiership winner, Paul Green – premiership winner, Kristian Woolf – two UK Super League titles and a Challenge Cup, Cameron Ciraldo – the man most wanted. Then there’s John Morris and Trent Barrett … just to name a few.
And tonight, in the biggest game of the season so far, we’ll have two men who aren’t in the current NRL coaching picture in charge of State Of Origin.
One for the first time in Billy Slater and, of course, Brad Fittler for the Blues .. tried and tested, a winner.
Positions are vacant in the NRL, the most brutal game of all.
The question is, would you want the job?
Listen to your choice of three calls for Origin I with Blues Radio, Maroons Radio and SEN Origin Live broadcasting the big game! Download the SEN app for Apple or Android to tune in.