Tim Sheens has poured hot water on claims Michael Maguire had no say in recruitment for the Wests Tigers, labelling them “garbage”.
Talking to Fox Sports’ NRL 360, the Tigers’ football boss said Maguire, who was sacked on Tuesday, had sign off on every recruitment decision made while he was coach.
“There’s not a player there he didn’t sign or sign off on. He was on our retention committee – no decision was ever made without Michael’s approval. None,” Sheens said.
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Sheens took full responsibility for the club’s decision to sack Maguire.
“It’s my decision, it was my recommendation, and the board have unanimously agreed to it,” Sheens said.
“This time last year they were talking about (sacking Maguire), he was given an opportunity and we’re halfway through a season and we’re worse than where we’ve been.
“This is a result-driven business, and at the end of the day, as fair or unfair as it is, the decision had to be made with a dozen games to go.”
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Sheens said the timing of the decision to sack Maguire – who was the second coach to be sacked on the same day – was to give his successor time to settle before making recruitment decisions in November.
“So many coaches have gone into a club and said ‘oh I didn’t get a chance to recruit, we didn’t get a chance to use the salary cap, it’s not my group’, so we’re looking to sort that out now,” he said.
Sheens said it was the intention for Maguire’s permanent replacement to be a “development coach”, likely ruling out a play for the likes of Shane Flanagan and Paul Green, who have both won premierships as head coach.
“Someone who’s prepared to give our youngsters an opportunity. There’s going to need to be patience – there’s not going to be a simple fix tomorrow,” Sheens said.
“We’ve got great pathways now. We’ve grabbed Group 6 and all the kids that come with it, it’ll take a little time, (but we’ll develop) these kids, as well as the younger players and the veterans that we’ll need to pick here and there.”
Sheens was quizzed specifically about Cameron Ciraldo, who is the most sought after young coach in the game and has been linked to the vacant jobs at the Bulldogs and Warriors, as well as the Knights, who are struggling under Adam O’Brien.
“Cameron has been mentioned … we’ll have to go to market and find someone who we’re happy with and who will be happy with us,” Sheens said.
“Over the next month or two, we’re going to have to sort through what’s the best option for the club so they’re well on board before we have to make (recruitment) decisions in November.”
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