Couldn't agree more.

MM will see out the season and could very well leave with 2 SL titles, despite the nonsense about him being "found out" that is being hopefully pedalled on the Saints and Wire boards.

I'm sure he'll do very well at Souths too.

Andy Wilson's now chipped in on the rumours...
[urlhttp://www.guardian.co.uk/sport/2011/apr/12/wigan-warriors-michael-maguire-south-sydney-rabbitohs[/url

Completly agree.

The only possibility (as always) is that theres something we don't know.

Not like him to be delayed in stirring things in relation to Wigan.

Is anyone worried he may be interested in bringing some players over once he goes back. He always goes on about what a brilliant athlete Josh Charnley is and how highly he rates Sean O'Loughlin and Liam Farrell. I just hope he doesn't get any ideas. Thankfully most of our young lads have signed new contracts and those young lads would probably want to make a name for themselves at Wigan first. Just a thought I was thinking with so much money flying around in NRL, contracts could easily be bought out.

www.sportal.com.au/league-news-d ... ire-118424 A source close to the club told Sportal: "It's a done deal. They moved on him as soon as word came through about Bennett." It's understood Maguire has agreed a three-year deal worth around $1m.

www.sportal.com.au/league-news-d ... ire-118424 A source close to the club told Sportal: "It's a done deal. They moved on him as soon as word came through about Bennett." It's understood Maguire has agreed a three-year deal worth around $1m.

I don't wish to sound disloyal, but I'd be surprised if there was anyone outside the Tomkins brothers who would be deemed as exciting prospects in the NRL.

I'm not saying that other players couldn't make a good go of it, but I'm sure Souths have plenty of existing players who are of a comparable standard to Lockers and co.

We were bitterly upset about losing Platt, Betts and Clarke to Aus - it ripped the heart out of our unstoppable pack. But we haven't got anyone in that class at present.

I think Liam Farrell has got all the makings to be a top class player as well as Josh Charnley and plying their trade in the NRL would only accelerate that I feel. Mossop also. Just glad IL signed them all up. Perhaps he was worried about this situation coming up

joke,joke!

Too right it was.

Given I was coaching the most famous RL side in the world, if I'd signed a three year deal I would say no. It's not exactly a bad job is it! This isn't Saints we are talking about here

There are plenty of people who work on short term contracts in all walks of life who honour the contract they sign and they do so because if they don't, their reputation suffers. If we lamely accept that walking out onto a freely entered into agreement is OK the minute a bit more cash hits the table we have hit a pretty poor state of affairs. I remember the first person to break a high profile contract was Iyestin Harris who signed a five year deal at Wire and then when Leeds came sniffing he went into a sulk. He got bucket loads of flak for that at the time from all quarters but these days it seems its acceptable to walk away with complete disregard for your commitment.

It would also mean Madge has been talking to other clubs about leaving a mere 16 months into his deal. That is not the right attitude of a committed coach IMO. Noble was slagged off on this board for talking to other clubs but at least he had an excuse he didn't know where he stood whereas Madge has over half his contract remaining.

Raper's name has been mentioned in this thread and when he did the same thing as is being suggested here he was shown the door and if Madge does the same I would not be disappointed if he left early as you need a committed coach not someone the players think may well be going through the motions while he sees his time out. There is actually a huge difference between honouring your contract and deciding not to renew it compared to leaving early in terms of what it says about you and your commitment.

All that said its about time IL made some sort of statement. After all he once promised to keep the fans informed (no secrets etc) and given all the major newspapers are running with this its about time the fans were put in the picture as its naive to think he doesn't know the score.

Well, definitely looks like he's off. It's just a matter of when and who'll pick up the reins. Is Wane up to the job? Is it better he takes over now, so we get a better idea of what he can do?

That's all very well, but Wigan have sacked more than their fair share of coaches before their contract was up over the years and reputations work both ways.

If Maguire's contract is a two year deal with a third year as option, as stated, then if he goes at the end of this season how come he's supposedly quitting before the end of his contract?
If he does two years he's fulfilled his initial contract.
Andy Wilson's speculation re Giz is interesting.

Also, I don't think we can really quote examples of coaches talking to other clubs as if it's proof that they are somehow dishonourable people. They have to look to their life beyond the next couple of years, and if possible to increase their earnings and their profile. Talking about your future does not necessarily mean that you're about to duck out of a contract mid-way through.

Nobby isn't a good example because he played a very deliberate game - to force IL's hand IMO - wherein he seemed to court newspaper speculation that he was going for interviews and looking for a way out.

As things are, I don't think Michael Maguire has done anything that Graham Lowe didn't do towards the end of his stint at Wigan. Lowey had a job waiting when he announced that he was leaving, so clearly he too had been talking to other clubs while serving as Wigan coach, and no-one thought any the less of him.

"Looks nailed on" he says. I just wish they'd get it sorted. If he goes at the end of the year it won't be a big blow, we'll have the best part of six months to prepare for it.

Quote ="Father Ted"If Maguire's contract is a two year deal with a third year as option, as stated, then if he goes at the end of this season how come he's supposedly quitting before the end of his contract? If he does two years he's fulfilled his initial contract. Andy Wilson's speculation re Giz is interesting.'" The first we have heard of a two year deal with an option for a third is since this rumour started. When he was signed all we were told is a three year deal and this was not corrected by the club e.g. [urlhttp://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/rugbyleague/6268901/Michael-Maguire-to-coach-Wigan-Warriors.html[/url And more importantly from the clubs web site: www.wiganwarriors.com/WContent.a ... &type=news Which actually says in the first sentence: "Wigan Warriors are delighted to announce the appointment of Michael Maguire as their new Head Coach. Michael has signed a three-year Contract with the Club for Seasons 2010, 2011 and 2012. " You can't get much clearer that it was a three year deal when they actually spell each year out.

Quote ="Father Ted"If Maguire's contract is a two year deal with a third year as option, as stated, then if he goes at the end of this season how come he's supposedly quitting before the end of his contract? If he does two years he's fulfilled his initial contract. Andy Wilson's speculation re Giz is interesting.'" The first we have heard of a two year deal with an option for a third is since this rumour started. When he was signed all we were told is a three year deal and this was not corrected by the club e.g. [urlhttp://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/rugbyleague/6268901/Michael-Maguire-to-coach-Wigan-Warriors.html[/url And more importantly from the clubs web site: www.wiganwarriors.com/WContent.a ... &type=news Which actually says in the first sentence: "Wigan Warriors are delighted to announce the appointment of Michael Maguire as their new Head Coach. Michael has signed a three-year Contract with the Club for Seasons 2010, 2011 and 2012. " You can't get much clearer that it was a three year deal when they actually spell each year out.

But that is entirely what the speculation amounts to, that Madge will duck out of his contract early.



Madge is not remotely at the end of his stint here so there is no comparison. If he was talking to clubs about half way through 2012 that would be fine and as expected but if there is anything in this he has been doing so less than half way through his deal. If that is true it is just as bad as Noble IMO.

If Michael Maguire is contacted by Russell Crowe midway through his Wigan deal, I'm not sure he personally can be blamed. Likewise, I'm not sure he can be blamed if he finds a fabulous offer to go and coach a top side in the NRL so enticing that he doesn't seek a chat with IL and try to find out if he can leave his contract after serving two years out of three.

However, I am starting to suspect that all of this may be at the root of our indifferent form. Especially now that a national journalist has introduced Shaun Edwards into the discussion, it's difficult to imagine that quite a few people won't have their mind on other things when they should be preparing for matches.

Agree entirely. I posted on here a last week that he has a 3 year deal with the club and that I would expect him to honour that. Maguire is integral to our plans, he has led the recruitment and forward planning for a 3 year term. IL has given him the authority to bring in the 3 from melbourne on deals which roughly shadow his own - for him to leave now would be really disruptive.

Wigan have given him a chance to shine as a head coach - and he has excelled, hence the interest in him from the NRL. It cant be right that we end up suffering for our success last year - thats the whole point of securing him on a contract, it (theoretically) ties him to the club - rain, hail or shine.

Contracts are reallly not worth the paper they are written on...IMO.

True, but in contrast our new chairman stuck with the coach he inherited, and at the end of his 4 and a half year tenure, replaced him.

The thing that is confusing me is to why people need to bring up a contract at all.

When it comes to coaches in sport, contracts are almost irrelevant should they decide they want to swap jobs.

IL needs to come out and box this one off as soon as possible. The rumours are gathering by the hour, for once he cant stick his head in the sand.

I personally am very annoyed with Madge, at the end of his deal, I would have held him amoungst the best coaches we ever had, wished him well and moved on, but so soon into the second year leaves me to wonder how long have these talks been going on?

The only difference between what Noble was supposed to have done & what Madge is supposed to have done is Madge plays everything with "no comment" which is pretty much the same thing. All his talk of building a dynasty and being happy as long as we keep moving forward is clearly now just that, talk. The players clearly feel the same and that would easily account for the drop off in form.

Obviously thoughts now have to move to players OOC like Pat, are they now going to be following Madge to Souths and this is why it needs nipping in the bud quickly. This has the potential to really damage our season.

Yes, I know he was always going to go to the NRL and the idea of Wane with a good assistant (possibly Edwards?) is appealing as he has done his time, it doesnt mean im not upset and annoyed at Madge, as he has let everyone down.

I dont see why the panic, MM was always going home as soon as he got an offer, but its not like youve not got a good coach waiting to take over is it?

I am sure good coaches get contacted about various vacancies that crop up but you would expect a coach who has just won a title with Wigan to be the last person who could be tempted to break his contract after so short a time. I think we sell ourselves way short assuming South's are such a big draw. It's clear from the club statement when he signed it was a three year deal not one for two with an option for a third. There may be a get out clause which is very different from an straightforward option but to use such a clause would require the right circumstances to occur and Madge to be in the position to conclude a deal with Souths which can't have happened overnight. It also requires him to want to leave and take a different job and both are extremely disappointing if true.

If it had been clear from the start it was a two plus one option we would have all been urging IL to sign him up for the third year ASAP and would have expected the speculation but none of us had any idea this was a possibility.



I agree and now its reached the UK sports and national press it needs sorting out sooner rather then later.

There could be other factors not acknowledged here.

Maguire moved his family over to Wigan with him. What if they're not happy?

He could have seen there was an opportunity for him to take his family back to their country, and as a father and husband they would come first over his job.

Pure speculation, but to paint him as the villain of the piece is a little naive IMO.