New Raiders assistant coach Michael Maguire has moved on from his Tigers axing and is focused on helping Ricky Stuart bring a title back to Canberra where his rugby league journey began.
The New Zealand coach has put the disappointment of his side’s World Cup semi-final exit behind him and told The Daily Telegraph he wants to leave his failed tenure at the Tigers in the past, ahead of his new mission with the “Green Machine”.
“I’ve moved on, there’s no point looking back,” Maguire told The Daily Telegraph of his Tigers exit.
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Maguire’s rugby league journey has come full circle after he began his playing career at the Raiders and supported the team as a kid, while he also coached at the club in various roles early in his coaching career.
Maguire reflected on his journey from the Raiders and back via stints with the Storm, Wigan in the Super League, the Rabbitohs and Tigers amid his first pre-season with Ricky Stuart and his team since signing a two year deal with the club.
“It’s ironic to be back 30-odd years after I arrived here,” Maguire told The Daily Telegraph.
“Canberra has always held a special place in my heart and I’ve always had a great passion for the Raiders.
“I actually supported Canberra as a kid. Guys like Gary Belcher and Bradley Clyde were my favourite players back then.
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“It was the club that gave me my first opportunity.”
Maguire made his debut for the Raiders in 1992, but only played one game for the club that season – but injuries continued to prove problematic.
Between 1992 and 1996 he played just seven games in first grade and finished with 16 games, 11 of which were with Canberra and five with Adelaide in the Super League.
Maguire admitted injuries took a toll on his playing career, before the Raiders gave him an opportunity to stay involved in rugby league when he hung up the boots and his coaching career just evolved from there.
“I fell out of the club as a player through injury quite early actually,” Maguire recalled.
“That pulled me up. Mal (Meninga) got me back in to help out as an assistant coach and then with some strength and conditioning work.
“We stayed in touch after I finished and asked that I come back in, help out and stay around the game, which is something that I wanted.
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“I learnt my trade and then Matt Elliott came in (as Raiders coach) and asked me to be an assistant coach, full-time.
“(Craig Bellamy) got me down to Melbourne for five years and I was then at Wigan for two seasons. Then there was Souths for six years and the last period at Wests Tigers for three years. It’s been a great ride.”
Maguire has been impressed with the connection between the current Raiders squad and the proud history of the club and its greatest players.
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He believes the combination of veterans and exciting youngsters has the club primed for success, but warned there is plenty of work to do to build a premiership winning team.
“I tell you what’s really noticeable – the recognition of the past greats at the club and how the young ones want to aspire to be like they were,” Maguire said.
“The former greats are in and around the club and the old boys are talked about a lot at this club. The young blokes, even the older players, talk about having those old boys being part of the club.
“So as an old boy coming back, it’s actually really enjoyable.
“I just want to help ‘Sticky’ (Stuart) and for the club to be the best they can be.
“It’s an exciting group, they have a lot of good youth coming through and some exciting young backs. Then you’ve got a sprinkling of the older guys up front who steer the ship. It’s a good blend.
“There are exciting times but there’s lots of work to do.”
