Maguire is Mr Cool
If Michael Maguire is under pressure to deliver silverware, he doesn't look it - the Australian has been brought in by success-hungry chairman Ian Lenagan to end the club's eight-year trophy drought.
But Maguire is careful not to make rash promises as he prepares for his Super League baptism this Friday night.
"The only thing I'm worried about is how we're performing," he said.
"I'm focusing on improving as a group, that's all I'm looking for at the moment.
"We've not spoken about any goals or anything like that. We're just going to go from week to week, and from one game to the next."
Maguire made a big impression in his first two months in charge, installing a tough training regime which produced a leaner and slimmer group of players and dispensing with the captaincy in favour of a five-man leadership group.
Aside from new recruit Paul Deacon, he has inherited a squad – with more changes taking place to the coaching staff than the playing roster.
He has given prominent roles to two ex-Wigan stalwarts, Shaun Wane and Kris Radlinski, and brought in former Central Park No.1 Steve Hampson to assist the Under-18s players.
And he believes strengthening their ties to the past can inspire the current players.
He said: "I think it'll be a positive thing – as well as something we can aspire to.
"They've had some great players through the place, and hopefully we can develop a lot more.
"Everyone talks about the history of the club, and it's good to have people with a lot of that knowledge.
"That's why Hampo will be a great asset for the juniors. He's been there and done it as a player. He'll be good for us."
A winger or centre with Canberra, Maguire's playing career was brought to a premature halt in 1998 due to persistent neck problems and he took up teaching before embarking on a coaching career with the Raiders.
He joined Melbourne in 2004 as Craig Bellamy's assistant, and the Storm claimed NRL Grand Final triumphs in 2007 and 2009 – prompting Lenagan to hand Maguire a three-year deal.
He feels settled at the club and – having spent Christmas with his brother in London – has now settled at home, too, having recently been joined in England by his wife and two children.
Now, he just can't wait to get their Super League campaign underway against Brian Noble's Crusaders this Friday night.
"I've met Brian a number of times before," he says. "I'll be focussing on the game. This is my first game as head coach and I'm really looking forward to it."
Noble's Crusaders made a solid start last Friday before going down 34-6 to champions Leeds.
"The Crusaders played their part in a competitive game, although the snow made things different than usual," added Maguire.
Interview from this week's FREE 12-page Warriors supplement available from today (Tuesday) ... only in the Wigan Observer
Email to a friend
Print this page Looking for...
Featured advertisers
Local pages
Looking for a...
Jobs
Search for a job
Motors
Search for a car
Property
Search for a house
Weather for Wigan
Thursday 02 September 2010
Today
Sunny spells
Temperature: 8 C to 22 C
Wind Speed: 8 mph
Wind direction: East
Tomorrow
Sunny spells
Temperature: 9 C to 20 C
Wind Speed: 8 mph
Wind direction: South east
