Ex-Wigan Warriors boss Michael Maguire linked with shock coaching role

It was dubbed ‘Turbulent Tuesday’ in the NRL following the sacking of two coaches in the same day.

Michael Maguire was given his marching orders out of Wests Tigers whilst Nathan Brown’s contract was terminated at the New Zealand Warriors.

Maguire barely had time to exit Concord before his name was being linked with a move to the Warriors – a link that is both a shock and understandable.

Whilst hiring a coach that has been far from successful at Wests, Maguire has strong links with New Zealand considering he coaches the national side and knows how the likes of Tohu Harris and Shaun Johnson tick.

Also being linked with the vacant Warriors post is St Helens head coach Kristian Woolf, who has become one of the leading coaches of his generation.

After making the move to Super League ahead of the 2020 season, the Tonga national boss has more than put his stamp on the UK competition, winning two Grand Finals and a Challenge Cup in his two-and-a-half years at the club so far.

With Saints playing a superb brand of rugby, coupled with incredible defence, there is little to suggest that the Merseyside club will not win a fourth Grand Final in a row – and a third for Woolf – in 2022.

However, with Woolf yet to commit to any future contract, the 46-year-old has been linked with a move back to the NRL.

The Daily Telegraph is reporting that Woolf is the number one target for the Warriors after the pain of the past few seasons under Brown, though bosses at the Warriors revealed that they haven’t made any contact with the Saints boss.