Re: Former coach Michael Maguire : Tue Apr 27, 2021 2:57 pm  

Cruncher wrote:

For me, Madge made a huge impact on a team that was packed with talent but severely underperforming.

It was difficult to work out what was wrong with Wigan in the late 2000s. They had so many good young players, and yet, while Mike Gregory's illness was a huge blow and Ian Millward;'s brief tenure seemed to be riddled with behind-the-scenes issues (plus I don't think Millward was that great - I just think he inherited a very well-oiled machine at Saints), Nobby took over with a rep for being one of the best coaches in the UK. And yet he never got us higher than 4th or 5th. He stabilized the ship, but I don't remember us ever really getting a sniff of any silverware.

Maguire changed all that in one off-season. By all accounts he was a real task-master. The stories of pre-season commando training were everywhere. the intense one-to-ones he did with players were legendary.

We were evidently miles fitter than before when we finally took the field. But also the attitude was markedly different. It was that 'search and destroy' attitude that was so exciting about 2010.

Would it work now? Again, it's difficult to say because we've hit our straps early this season, so we need to see where it takes us. It might be a culture shock to some players, though. I hear we're not big on backroom discipline, though to be fair, the ones I heard whispered about have mostly now left.

One thing I do believe is that, burned out in the NRL or not, Madge would still work wonders at clubs like Hull, Huddersfield, Catalans and Warrington, where the raw talent is immense but the attitude and performances are patchy.

Completely agree. If Madge goes to Hull FC or Warrington they’d win SL within 2years.

Re: Former coach Michael Maguire : Tue Apr 27, 2021 3:34 pm  

Pre-season beastings are kind of irrelevant and there's probably just as much evidence the other way.

E.g. didn't we go to Florida for 2013 pre-season and then won the double?

Re: Former coach Michael Maguire : Tue Apr 27, 2021 6:21 pm  

Wigg'n wrote:

Pre-season beastings are kind of irrelevant and there's probably just as much evidence the other way.

E.g. didn't we go to Florida for 2013 pre-season and then won the double?

I agree there, it’s more that the lads were probably expecting a warm weather camp which would be tough all the same mind, rather than the freezing cold UK winter with the army. Out of the two I know which is tougher and which may have contributed to our mindset in 2010.

In all honesty I couldn’t care less where a pre season camp is. Makes no odds to me if it’s in Scunthorpe or Brecon or Florida as long as we produce the goods in the season

Re: Former coach Michael Maguire : Tue Apr 27, 2021 6:25 pm  

Cruncher wrote:

Nobby took over with a rep for being one of the best coaches in the UK. And yet he never got us higher than 4th or 5th. He stabilized the ship, but I don't remember us ever really getting a sniff of any silverware.

I think the worst one for me was the cup semi against Catalans at Warrington. Wigan were favourites to progress to the final only for them to find themselves with a mountain to climb at half behind 20-nil (IIRC) and going out, much to the joy of the Wolf's supporters.

Re: Former coach Michael Maguire : Tue Apr 27, 2021 6:33 pm  

Noble didn’t take us to any silverware but IMO he certainly built the groundwork to get us there. By 2010 we had a talented squad that was built under him and needed to be taken to the next level. In stepped Maguire and the rest is history. Without Noble coming in I honestly don’t believe we’d have won SL in 2010 or had the success we have since. He played a huge role for us and because he didn’t win us anything or replicate his Bradford days people think he was a poor appointment. You’ve got to remember when he took over we were relegation favourites and he virtually had a full rebuild to do. Under the circumstances I think he did a great job but he just lacked that final push to get us to Wembley or Old Trafford.

Re: Former coach Michael Maguire : Tue Apr 27, 2021 7:25 pm  

Wigg'n wrote:

Pre-season beastings are kind of irrelevant and there's probably just as much evidence the other way.

E.g. didn't we go to Florida for 2013 pre-season and then won the double?

I know for sure that some things go on (or went on at least) that really shouldn't have when other Super League teams have been on warm weather pre-season training. I'm sure you can imagine with 30odd 18-30 year old lads in a tourist destination with sunny weather where no one knows who they we. I don't think a military camp quite lends itself to that kind of thing. They can control it more and there aren't as many distractions. There is little else to do except train and talk to each other.

Re: Former coach Michael Maguire : Tue Apr 27, 2021 8:20 pm  

100% Warrior wrote:

Noble didn’t take us to any silverware but IMO he certainly built the groundwork to get us there. By 2010 we had a talented squad that was built under him and needed to be taken to the next level. In stepped Maguire and the rest is history. Without Noble coming in I honestly don’t believe we’d have won SL in 2010 or had the success we have since. He played a huge role for us and because he didn’t win us anything or replicate his Bradford days people think he was a poor appointment. You’ve got to remember when he took over we were relegation favourites and he virtually had a full rebuild to do. Under the circumstances I think he did a great job but he just lacked that final push to get us to Wembley or Old Trafford.

Don't get me wrong, Noble will no doubt be held in great esteem from most Wigan fans for preventing certain relegation, steadying the ship and then pushing us towards the top five again.

Re: Former coach Michael Maguire : Wed Apr 28, 2021 7:13 am  

I like to think of that period as WW2, Nobby was the British doing all the hard work then in comes Madge taking all the glory ala America and then like America in future conflicts he has come unstuck
(Korea = Bunnies & Vietnam = Tigers)

Re: Former coach Michael Maguire : Wed Apr 28, 2021 7:32 am  

The Whiffy Kipper wrote:

I like to think of that period as WW2, Nobby was the British doing all the hard work then in comes Madge taking all the glory ala America and then like America in future conflicts he has come unstuck
(Korea = Bunnies & Vietnam = Tigers)

I'm not sure that Nobby and 'hard work' go well in the same sentence.

His presence was a revitalising factor. We were totally demoralised when he took over, and that wasn't the case when he left. But it wasn't Nobby's team that won the Grand Final in 2010. It was almost exactly the same players, but a totally different attitude. To not give Madge credit for that is just plain wrong.

Re: Former coach Michael Maguire : Wed Apr 28, 2021 7:53 am  

MattyB wrote:

I think the worst one for me was the cup semi against Catalans at Warrington. Wigan were favourites to progress to the final only for them to find themselves with a mountain to climb at half behind 20-nil (IIRC) and going out, much to the joy of the Wolf's supporters.

no, the worst thing was buying your Wembley ticket having drawn Catalans in the semi, and then having to go and watch Stains lift the cup