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WIGAN coach Michael Maguire is set to take over the reins of South Sydney as the club reverts to a plan that was put on hold late last week when Wayne Bennett suddenly revived his interest in taking charge of the Rabbitohs from next season.
Souths are believed to have been close to finalising a deal with Maguire after turning to the highly-rated former Melbourne assistant when months of encouraging negotiations with Bennett over the summer stalled abruptly.
However, talks resumed after Bennett announced he was quitting St George Illawarra at the end of the season, and the Rabbitohs were forced to delay signing Maguire - who last year steered Wigan to the Super League premiership in his first season as head coach.
The delay is believed to have caused some frustration at Souths as the club had moved on from Bennett after initially being firm favourites to sign him during the off-season. But when he again expressed interest, they were obligated to reopen talks with the game's most successful coach.
As a result, it is understood Maguire had not told Wigan officials of his intention to return home and coach the Rabbitohs next season. He was expected to do so overnight. An announcement on his appointment, which is believed to be for three years, may happen as soon as today.
The 37-year-old, who played 18 first-grade games as an outside back for Canberra and Adelaide Rams, is held in high regard by those who have worked with him at the Raiders and Storm, including Melbourne coach Craig Bellamy and Parramatta's Stephen Kearney.
Maguire was assistant to Bellamy, along with Kearney, at the Storm between 2004 and 2009 before leaving last year to steer Wigan to their first premiership in 10 years.
He has worked closely with star Rabbitohs centre Greg Inglis and English second-rower Sam Burgess said yesterday that Wigan players in last year's Four Nations squad had spoken highly of him.
''From the recent England camp, and before this whole Wayne Bennett-Michael Maguire saga happened, the Wigan guys were very positive about him and said he brought in high standards and had some good theories,'' said Burgess.
''You don't need the world's best coach to win the premiership … you just need to have the best set of players and team.''
Rabbitohs assistant coach Gorden Tallis, who played under Bennett at the Broncos, said missing out on his services was not a big deal for Souths.
''This is a club that I think had other coaches in the pipeline so the players … I don't think they were too worried at all,'' Tallis told Fox Sports. ''Some of them didn't want him to come, some of them would have wanted him to come - blokes that had been coached by him before. But this is a club who wants somebody to come here for the right reasons.''
Souths are believed to have been close to finalising a deal with Maguire after turning to the highly-rated former Melbourne assistant when months of encouraging negotiations with Bennett over the summer stalled abruptly.
However, talks resumed after Bennett announced he was quitting St George Illawarra at the end of the season, and the Rabbitohs were forced to delay signing Maguire - who last year steered Wigan to the Super League premiership in his first season as head coach.
The delay is believed to have caused some frustration at Souths as the club had moved on from Bennett after initially being firm favourites to sign him during the off-season. But when he again expressed interest, they were obligated to reopen talks with the game's most successful coach.
As a result, it is understood Maguire had not told Wigan officials of his intention to return home and coach the Rabbitohs next season. He was expected to do so overnight. An announcement on his appointment, which is believed to be for three years, may happen as soon as today.
The 37-year-old, who played 18 first-grade games as an outside back for Canberra and Adelaide Rams, is held in high regard by those who have worked with him at the Raiders and Storm, including Melbourne coach Craig Bellamy and Parramatta's Stephen Kearney.
Maguire was assistant to Bellamy, along with Kearney, at the Storm between 2004 and 2009 before leaving last year to steer Wigan to their first premiership in 10 years.
He has worked closely with star Rabbitohs centre Greg Inglis and English second-rower Sam Burgess said yesterday that Wigan players in last year's Four Nations squad had spoken highly of him.
''From the recent England camp, and before this whole Wayne Bennett-Michael Maguire saga happened, the Wigan guys were very positive about him and said he brought in high standards and had some good theories,'' said Burgess.
''You don't need the world's best coach to win the premiership … you just need to have the best set of players and team.''
Rabbitohs assistant coach Gorden Tallis, who played under Bennett at the Broncos, said missing out on his services was not a big deal for Souths.
''This is a club that I think had other coaches in the pipeline so the players … I don't think they were too worried at all,'' Tallis told Fox Sports. ''Some of them didn't want him to come, some of them would have wanted him to come - blokes that had been coached by him before. But this is a club who wants somebody to come here for the right reasons.''
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