Rugby league great Paul Gallen says he expects Tigers coach Michael Maguire to be under the most pressure this season, predicting the Concord-based club to take out the wooden spoon.
After finishing last season in 13th-place with just eight wins, there were fears Maguire would be axed before a club review process determined it would keep the 2014 premiership-winner on for another season.
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Gallen said based on recent public opinion and the uncertainty surrounding Maguire’s future, that it was an easy prediction to say he would be under the most pressure.
“I’ve got to say Madge (Maguire),” Gallen told 2GB’s Wide World of Sports radio. “There’s been plenty of talk already.
“I like Madge, I love him as a bloke, but I think the talk there’s been previously and the fact I don’t think they will go any good this year, I think he’s probably under the most pressure.”
Maguire, who won a premiership with South Sydney in 2014, joined the Tigers at the start of the 2019 season. In his three seasons in charge, he’s won 26 of 68 matches.
Gallen said he expects the Tigers, along with the Cowboys and Knights, to battle it out for the wooden.
Despite the Knights finishing last year in seventh-spot, the former Cronulla skipper said Newcastle’s premiership hopes would be dependent on superstar fullback Kalyn Ponga remaining injury-free.
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“The wooden spooners, the Tigers it’s easy at the moment [to pick them],” Gallen said.
“I think it’s between the Tigers, Cowboys and Newcastle.
“I don’t see Newcastle having a great year unless guys like Kalyn Ponga can stay on the field for 18 plus games.”
Ponga was plagued with a groin injury last season and managed just 15 games for the Knights.
Meanwhile, Gallen has high hopes for the Parramatta Eels.
He said he’s confident this is the year the Eels can make the grand final, predicting an Eels-Roosters matchup.
“I’ve got them in the grand final [against the Roosters] and in the top four,” he said of the Eels.
“If they are ever going to do it, this has got to be the year.
“What I like in this team, is time played together as a team. This team has probably spent the last three years together.
“I remember there was a little bit of optimism about them being premiership contenders two years ago and I laughed, and it was nothing personal against Parramatta or anyone in the team, it was that they hadn’t played together a lot.
“I think this is the time for them now and they have to do it now because they’ve got guys like Reed Mahoney and Isaiah Papali’i leaving… you need to spend time playing together on the field.
“It’s just a huge opportunity for them this year. If they can’t do it this year, I think they go back to the rebuilding phase.”
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