The Parramatta Eels are drawing up their shortlist for the head coaching position vacated by the axed Brad Arthur, and one name expected to be on that list is attracting particular attention: current New South Wales coach Michael Maguire.
Maguire is now less than a week away from guiding the Blues in his maiden State of Origin clash – and signed a two-year deal with the state – but is believed to be keen on a return to full-time coaching with an NRL club.
Unlike Queensland mentor Billy Slater, who firmly shut down any talk of taking on the hot seat in Parramatta, Maguire has not responded to the ongoing speculation linking him to the Eels gig.
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Speaking on NRL 360 on Wednesday night, News Corp’s Michael Carayannis said: “The (Eels) board meeting’s happening right now. I think after that they’ll finalise that shortlist. I daresay that (current interim coach) Trent Barrett will be given an opportunity to interview for the job. The other names are ones that we’ve all heard.
“It’s a scheduled board meeting. As part of that, naturally you’re going to discuss who the coach is going to be.”
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The Eels have convened a subcommittee that will interview the prospective head coaches then make recommendations to the board.
According to Carayannis, the shortlist is likely to include Barrett, Michael Maguire, Melbourne Storm assistant coach Jason Ryles, Sharks and Maroons assistant Josh Hannay, and potentially a left-field option like former Wallabies coach Michael Cheika, who has experience coaching rugby league as a Roosters assistant and Lebanon head coach.
Barrett was yesterday asked if he will apply for the full-time role, replying: “Look, again, I haven’t thought about it … I just need to prepare the team as best we can and those sorts of things will look after themselves.”
But James Hooper said that the return of star playmaker Mitchell Moses and captain Clint Gutherson could spark a return to winning ways for the Eels – and boost Barrett’s hopes of getting the job moving forward.
Hooper said: “Baz is a competitor, so I’ve got no doubt whatsoever – we’ve seen previously he took Manly to the finals then he spent some time in Canterbury-Bankstown where it went pear-shaped – I’ve got no doubt the competitor that beats inside Trent Barrett, he’s going to be thinking: ‘Now I’ve got my best players back, if I can get this time to go on a run that’s as good a claim as I can stake.’”
Braith Anasta said: “The reality is he needs to be very successful with this team over the next two months.”
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Ahead of him in the likely pecking order of potential signings is Storm assistant Jason Ryles, who is highly regarded in rugby league circles but is effectively waiting on current head coach Craig Bellamy to retire in order to step up to the top job in Melbourne.
Carayannis added: “I think Jason Ryles is the frontrunner. There’s been lots of talk around Michael Maguire but I think Jason Ryles … you can’t wait for Craig Bellamy.”
Anasta was full of praise for the up-and-coming coach, saying: “Rylesy is ready. I’m a big fan of him. I played with him, played against him. I watched him be an assistant at Melbourne and the Roosters. I think he’s ready. I think they’ll do well if they have him but I mean – (when it comes to who they pick) I wouldn’t have a clue!”
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But the most controversial name on the coaching shortlist is undoubtedly Maguire.
Hooper declared: “They put Madge in for two years … he’s going to coach three games potentially.”
Carayannis explained: “We had this argument last week. Hoops doesn’t like the prospect that Michael Maguire will potentially sit down with the Paramatta Eels. I don’t have a problem with it. NSW knew what they were getting. They were getting the guy that wants to be an NRL coach.”
Hooper fired up: “If he signed a two-year deal, this doesn’t sit well. He signed a two-year deal, they sacked the previous coach that had been in for about six seasons.
“He’s got to pay the role the respect it deserves and put his chips all-in, and not be half-in and half-out and go: ‘oh hang on, there’s a club job, I’ll go that way’.”
Carayannis replied: “There’s no way he’s half-in, half-out. I can get your stance on the fact that is it a bad look? 100 per cent. But we all know Michael Maguire, Michael Maguire is all-in on winning this series.
“And after Wednesday’s game if he goes to interview with Paramatta, I don’t have a problem with it. If he broke camp and did it, I’d be filthy.”
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There’s no doubt that Maguire is fully committed to delivering State of Origin glory to NSW for as long as he remains in the role.
Anasta said: “Madge obviously wants to be a club coach, we know that. It’d be disappointing if he left. but one thing I’m not worried about, Hoops, Madge – everything he does is 100 miles an hour and with passion and with heart. He’s invested in that Blues team, he wants them to win and he’ll do everything in his power to do it.
“But it’s not the best look to come in for one series, create your own team and destiny and then say ‘right, I’m out of here’.”
Hooper said: “I’ve got no concerns about his work ethic, his intensity, or his commitment to the cause that he’s involved in at the moment. But he should pay that role (the respect it deserves). That is one of the most prestigious coaching jobs in the country.
“You signed a deal for two years, you’ve committed to the state for two years. You owe them that.”
For now, speculation continues to ramp up that Maguire is strongly interested in a return to coaching in the NRL in the near future.
But Carayannis said that Maguire could easily stifle the rumours and commit to the Blues, saying: “Michael Maguire could have come out quite easily and said what Billy (Slater) said … the easiest way to shut it down is to say: ‘No, I’m here for two years, I won’t entertain an NRL coaching job.’”
Slater, for the record, said: “I am all in for the Queensland job and if I’m not coaching Queensland, I’m not coaching anyone else.
“I have been very forward with that … I’m Queensland’s coach and if I’m not Queensland’s coach, I’m not coaching anyone.”