Michael Maguire reveals who prepared him for Wigan Warriors job including ex-St Helens player and Bradford Bulls boss

Michael Maguire was a roaring success in Super League.

He arrived at Wigan Warriors in 2010 and instantly ended the duopoly at the Super League summit.

Since 2004 only Leeds Rhinos and St Helens had finished top and in every season from 2004 at least one of them had contested the Grand Final.

In fact, 2005 was the only year both sides failed to win a major final.

They finished first and second in 2005, 2007, 2008 and 2009 and had met in the last three Grand Finals.

Wigan meanwhile hadn’t won the Grand Final since 1998 hasn’t finished inside the top two since 2001 or outright top since 2000.

They had flirted with relegation in 2005 and 2006 and had finished sixth in 2009.

Maguire though delivered Grand Final glory in 2010 in a huge shake up in Super League.

After two years he left having won every domestic trophy within two years. He then left for South Sydney Rabbitohs where he enjoyed success.

Now Maguire, has revealed the coaches who helped develop him ready for the Wigan job including former St Helens player and now Australia coach Mal Meninga and former Super League winning coach with Bradford Bulls Matt Elliott.

“Mal (Meninga, then head coach) got me back in to help out as an assistant coach and then with some strength and conditioning work,” he told the Daily Telegraph.

“I was fortunate to play with Mal. We stayed in touch after I finished and asked that I come back in, help out and stay around the game, which is something that I wanted.

“I learnt my trade and then Matty Elliott came in (as Canberra coach) and asked me to be an assistant coach, full-time. I then landed down in Melbourne and they rolled through to grand finals and I saw that club rise.

“I went overseas and applied what I learned and had some joy over there.

“‘Bellyache’ (Craig Bellamy) got me down to Melbourne for five years and I was then at Wigan for two seasons. Then there was Souths for six years and the last period at Wests Tigers for three years. It’s been a great ride.

“I’m an old bastard now.”