The NSW rugby league will appoint former Wests Tigers coach Michael Maguire to the position of Blues head coach for 2024.
Maguire was offered the job on Thursday and has accepted the position with terms still to be agreed, according to a source who did not want to be named due to the confidential nature of the contract negotiations.
On Wednesday, the NSWRL board decided Maguire was the right man to take over from Brad Fittler at the helm of the state’s Origin team.
Former Wests Tigers coach Michael Maguire has been offered the Blues coaching job.Credit: NRL Photos
NSWRL officials, on Thursday, told the Herald they were awaiting confirmation from Maguire, who is currently overseas in New Zealand with the Kiwis Test team.
Maguire, who is Ricky Stuart’s assistant coach at the Raiders, has informed Canberra officials of his desire to coach the Blues next year.
Unlike Fittler, who became the first Origin coach in NSW history to be given a full-time job, Maguire’s contract runs from March 1 until the end of July.
Fittler wanted a two-year deal, but was only offered a five-month tenure last month. He subsequently stepped away from the job.
It is unclear whether Maguire will step down from his role with the Raiders, who told Stuart that they did not want Maguire coaching the Origin team while also coaching the Raiders.
Maguire last coached in the NRL with the Tigers in a tumultuous four-year period with the club. He has previously won two premierships in two different competitions, leading South Sydney and Wigan to titles in the NRL and Super League respectively.
More to come
