Good luck to him...let's hope we send him out on a high after another successful season. Let's leave it to IL and the rest of the board now to find the best man for the job next year, be that Wane or anybody else. Madge is one of the hottest prospects in RL coaching and this was always somewhat inevitable, it would have been nice for him to see out 3 years but as soon as the chance to coach players like Inglis and Burgess in a quality Rabbitohs side, not to mention Russell Crowe's bank balance, he was always going to go.

I agree, Hoffman is pure class. I've been very impressed with him.

That's pretty much what was expected. I think it was just one year deal with the option of a second year only in the unlikely event that Storm couldn't afford to bring him back or didn't want him or if he didn't want to go to another NRL club.
I think he's only really needed here for 1 year anyway to add a bit of size to the pack and allow Farrell and Tuson to play their second seasons without any pressure before they look to become established players (although Faz just goes from strength to strength). Hock may be seen as a prop by Maguire but if Wane takes over next year he may move him back to the left side second row where he was so good before his ban.

I'd sooner he takes his time and ensures the next person in the hotseat is the right man for the job.

Let's not make any hasty decisions, it's vital we get this right to continue our progress.

They can have Lima now. Another ban coming up. The bloke should have his pay stopped.

Yes but potter didn't make a difference.

Agreed, one more year in SL would have done that and he would still have had his pick of the NRL. All his talk about being happy as long as we improved seems quite fanciful now doesnt it.

I understand his decision on one hand, but lets be honest, he's been focused on this all season, this deal hasnt just happened. Thats what I find hard to stomach.

Confirmed what I think we all expected after the speculation over the last couple of weeks. He was never going to stay more than three years anyway, so it's not a disaster. I think it was the best thing for the club, Maguire and the fans to get the announcement out in the open. Hopefully the team can use this as extra motivation for the rest of the season.

I just hope that a section of our fans don't decide to give Maguire stick for leaving, or blame him for any downturn in form/performances. He came in and turned our peformances round, winning us the Championship. He's proven himself as a head coach now and the South Sydney head coaches job is definitely a step up, I wish him all the best for the future!

expected..but totally gutted

Thank you madge for giving us a season to remember in 2010..lets hope we can do the same this season.

MICKY MAGUIRES BARMY ARMY !!!

You know what this reminds me of?

Being 22 again.
Bagging the best looking girl in the nightclub (to the amazement of your mates).
Walking around with her proudly on your arm for a couple of months.
Hearing your mum arguing at your dad for 'staring'.
Then realising that it's too good to be true and not long from now - she'll be off.


It was always going to happen.

You didn't know that as the teams were walking out before the match.

Care to fill those of us who didn't go, in please?

Fighting on the final hooter wasn't it?

Yeah please, i wanted to know too but was afraid of what i might hear

According to the highlights and Rod Studd report on extra time, a dodgy tackle leading to KR kickin off, the whole thing is on report but Alibert was pointing at Lima.

After watching some of the NRL games this year. Is Madge taking a risk going straight back to head coach over there , Yes he came over here and we won alot in his 1 st season because he brought new ideas ,But over there they all play the same type of rugby ,If you watch some of the teams ie ,rabbitohs,west tigers etc. you can see were Wigan got there game plans from from playing familiar rugby to some of them . My view is he wont have a big impact over there than he did over here, But your welcome back any time Madge .

Lima had blood pouring from his mouth. The whole incident was put on report not just Lima as far as I could tell. It all stemmed from a late hit on tommy in the build up to carmonts try. Tommy was furious and was hunting for cockayne. I can't see any further action tbh.

How long was Madge's contract for initially?

Any further bans and Lima would be better off with a season ticket with the time spent sitting in the stand instead of out on the pitch.

As for maguire I'm just glad it's out in the open and we can all kick on. He's been awesome but has bread a no excuse culture and that must carry on. Him leaving opens up an opportunity for somebody else(wane) and he'll take it. I'm sure maguire will go out on a high and leave us in a fantastic position to kick on.

Same here. It didn't happen overnight so after a very short time with us he was negotiating his future elsewhere. His contract here wasn't a life sentence and if he'd stuck it out he could have gone back to the NRL easy enough integrity in tact. Not now, no time for lightweights who behave like that. He can leave tomorrow for me as his future focus will be Souths and what happens with them in 2012.

3 years according to the Wigan website.

Going off Twitter:

andywiz Andy Wilson
ian lenagan confirmed maguire will be released at end of season.

SkySportsFraser Fraser Dainton
Wigan apparently saying mike Maguire will leave for souths at end of season. #wiganwarriors

wiganrlfans cherryandwhite.co.uk
RT Wish FM commentator ¡markWilsonRadio confirms Michael Maguire has resigned as Wigan coach at the end of the season

Seems nobody really knows what the circumstances of him leaving are.

The club statement says



Which does zero to clarify it, other than it was Madge's choice.

Spot on, really hope people dont hold this against him. We got at the time someone who was regarded as the next big thing in the NRL it was always going to be short term. Some things in life are just too good to turn down and i really do think that Maguire himself would have prefered this chance to coach the bunnies come around next yr but these things happen.

He will be leaving the club in a strong position with at least 1 trophy to show for his time here. Anyone who says that he is wrong for leaving with 1 yr left is deluded and needs to open there eyes to the real world.

I fully expect Hoffman to go to Souths with him, Richards needs to be signed up ASAP and thankfully all our kids are under long term deals.

Lets be honest though, this decision being announced only opens up the real rumour mill. Wane, Edwards, Sheens, Elliot, Taylor, Folkes etc etc.

We have to bear in mind that he achieved far more in year one than anyone thought.

If he manages to retain the title this year, and possibly the CC, what more would there be for him?

Even if he stayed for a third year he would be trying to set something up or his return to Aus - so DaveO's point is not valid IMO.