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Matthew Johns: Michael Maguire and Trent Robinson are class acts cut from the same cloth
by: Matthew Johns From: The Daily Telegraph March 01, 2013 12:00AM
Young gun coaches Trent Robinson (L) and Michael Maguire. Source: The Daily Telegraph
NEXT Thursday night at Allianz Stadium, don't be surprised if the Roosters' new young coach Trent Robinson seeks out the Rabbitohs' Michael Maguire, shakes his hand, and says: "Thank you."
It was Maguire's outstanding 2012, in which he transformed the culture at Souths, which convinced Roosters godfather Nic Politis to take a punt on a rookie coach whose only first grade coaching experience is in the English Super League.
That's a competition that is super in name - but in terms of the quality of the week-to-week football and pressure on its coaches, the divide between it and the NRL has never been wider.
But Robinson will turn out to be one of Politis' greatest signings.
The similarities between Robinson and Maguire are many.
They share the same obsessive attitudes to their jobs. Souths players remark that they have never seen Maguire arrive at training. When they arrive, Maguire is either training on his own physical fitness or going through game tapes.
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He is a living, breathing example of the discipline required.
Robinson videotapes every Roosters training session and then locks himself away to watch the session over and over again.
He analyses the movements of his players, ironing out bad habits and developing good ones.
When Maguire took over at Souths, he learnt the history of the club, acknowledging its great past so he and his players knew the importance of the team to its community.
When Robinson was appointed coach of French-based Super League club Les Catalan a few seasons back, he impressed all - from the chairman to the supporters of the Perpignan club.
He didn't achieve that just with his ability to speak fluent French. He also took the time to learn the nuances of the Catalan language, which is unique to the area.
Maguire and Robinson are the new breed of coach.
They don't rely on Churchillian speeches or clever turns of phrase to try to inspire their players.
They inspire through tactics and structures which their players can not only understand, but can see are making them better footballers.
The great Real Madrid manager Jose Mourinho was once asked what advice he would give to aspiring coaches.
"Never take a job until you are perfectly certain of all things you are going to put in place," he said.
Watching the Roosters' trial matches you can really see Robinson has arrived at the club with a clear vision of what he wants from his team and where he wants to take them.
He has placed the Roosters back on the rails. In their previous two seasons, the attack resembled a car with no brakes.
The players lacked structure, patience and confidence.
In their Foundation Cup match against the Tigers, the Roosters built their game beautifully, never looked rushed and always looked in control.
Trial or no trial, it was a very confident football team.
The Roosters have obviously bought incredibly well, not just compulsive buys for a change.
Whether by design or by chance, the three big signings serve a distinct purpose and will balance the side beautifully.
Michael Jennings will sit on the left edge and, judging by his touches last Saturday night, return to peak form.
On the right edge will sit Sonny Bill Williams.
And yes, believe the hype, this guy may take a month or so to really get going but his influence on the sport will be huge.
And joining Mitchell Pearce in the halves is the third new signing, and a man who will prove just as valuable as the other two, James Maloney.
Maloney is one of the most naturally confident players I have ever seen, and he will have as much to do with Pearce having his greatest season as Robinson.
The Pearce-Maloney partnership is a winner, I guarantee it.
Meanwhile, this year is a whole new territory for their opposition.
The Rabbitohs head into the season as serious premiership contenders, not just living the fairytale they have engaged in for too many Februarys over the past 20 years.
In the Charity Shield they toyed with the Dragons.
They dominated through their big pack, while John Sutton showed great decisiveness and skill in everything he did.
He looks to be headed for another great year.
And what can I say about Greg Inglis - have we seen a better athlete play the game? Probably not.
I can't wait for he and Sonny to get reacquainted on Thursday night.
This season opener is going to be played right through the middle of the park, with both sets of forwards playing chicken on the advantage line all night.And like most of these games are, it will be decided by a moment of magic or madness.
Regardless of the result, both sides are headed for a place in the top four.
http://m.dailytelegraph.com.au/sport...-1226587940646
by: Matthew Johns From: The Daily Telegraph March 01, 2013 12:00AM
Young gun coaches Trent Robinson (L) and Michael Maguire. Source: The Daily Telegraph
NEXT Thursday night at Allianz Stadium, don't be surprised if the Roosters' new young coach Trent Robinson seeks out the Rabbitohs' Michael Maguire, shakes his hand, and says: "Thank you."
It was Maguire's outstanding 2012, in which he transformed the culture at Souths, which convinced Roosters godfather Nic Politis to take a punt on a rookie coach whose only first grade coaching experience is in the English Super League.
That's a competition that is super in name - but in terms of the quality of the week-to-week football and pressure on its coaches, the divide between it and the NRL has never been wider.
But Robinson will turn out to be one of Politis' greatest signings.
The similarities between Robinson and Maguire are many.
They share the same obsessive attitudes to their jobs. Souths players remark that they have never seen Maguire arrive at training. When they arrive, Maguire is either training on his own physical fitness or going through game tapes.
Advertisement
He is a living, breathing example of the discipline required.
Robinson videotapes every Roosters training session and then locks himself away to watch the session over and over again.
He analyses the movements of his players, ironing out bad habits and developing good ones.
When Maguire took over at Souths, he learnt the history of the club, acknowledging its great past so he and his players knew the importance of the team to its community.
When Robinson was appointed coach of French-based Super League club Les Catalan a few seasons back, he impressed all - from the chairman to the supporters of the Perpignan club.
He didn't achieve that just with his ability to speak fluent French. He also took the time to learn the nuances of the Catalan language, which is unique to the area.
Maguire and Robinson are the new breed of coach.
They don't rely on Churchillian speeches or clever turns of phrase to try to inspire their players.
They inspire through tactics and structures which their players can not only understand, but can see are making them better footballers.
The great Real Madrid manager Jose Mourinho was once asked what advice he would give to aspiring coaches.
"Never take a job until you are perfectly certain of all things you are going to put in place," he said.
Watching the Roosters' trial matches you can really see Robinson has arrived at the club with a clear vision of what he wants from his team and where he wants to take them.
He has placed the Roosters back on the rails. In their previous two seasons, the attack resembled a car with no brakes.
The players lacked structure, patience and confidence.
In their Foundation Cup match against the Tigers, the Roosters built their game beautifully, never looked rushed and always looked in control.
Trial or no trial, it was a very confident football team.
The Roosters have obviously bought incredibly well, not just compulsive buys for a change.
Whether by design or by chance, the three big signings serve a distinct purpose and will balance the side beautifully.
Michael Jennings will sit on the left edge and, judging by his touches last Saturday night, return to peak form.
On the right edge will sit Sonny Bill Williams.
And yes, believe the hype, this guy may take a month or so to really get going but his influence on the sport will be huge.
And joining Mitchell Pearce in the halves is the third new signing, and a man who will prove just as valuable as the other two, James Maloney.
Maloney is one of the most naturally confident players I have ever seen, and he will have as much to do with Pearce having his greatest season as Robinson.
The Pearce-Maloney partnership is a winner, I guarantee it.
Meanwhile, this year is a whole new territory for their opposition.
The Rabbitohs head into the season as serious premiership contenders, not just living the fairytale they have engaged in for too many Februarys over the past 20 years.
In the Charity Shield they toyed with the Dragons.
They dominated through their big pack, while John Sutton showed great decisiveness and skill in everything he did.
He looks to be headed for another great year.
And what can I say about Greg Inglis - have we seen a better athlete play the game? Probably not.
I can't wait for he and Sonny to get reacquainted on Thursday night.
This season opener is going to be played right through the middle of the park, with both sets of forwards playing chicken on the advantage line all night.And like most of these games are, it will be decided by a moment of magic or madness.
Regardless of the result, both sides are headed for a place in the top four.
http://m.dailytelegraph.com.au/sport...-1226587940646
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