Former Wests Tigers star Josh Reynolds says under-fire coach Michael Maguire is struggling to form a game plan that suits his side’s strengths.
The pressure on Maguire has reached fever pitch, and the odds of the former Rabbitohs premiership coach getting sacked are shortening by the day after the Tigers finished this season 13th on the ladder with just eight wins.
Since joining the Tigers in 2019, Maguire has notched 26 wins and 41 losses, making for a 39 per cent win percentage. To make the situation more desperate, the Tigers haven’t played finals football since 2011
Reynolds, who now features for Hull FC in the Super League after departing the Tigers last year after three seasons, believes Maguire is struggling to find a system that suits his squad.
The 32-year-old veteran claims Maguire has struggled to move on from the coaching tactics he once deployed in the Super League with Wigan when the side won the competition in 2010, where he also coached English superstar Sam Tomkins.
“They’re (Tigers) at a bit off a crossroads,” Reynolds told Sky Sports Radio’s The Big Sports Breakfast.
“They either stick with Madge, but then they haven’t really bought too many different players… they brought Jackson Hastings in and I think he will add a bit to the squad, but not sure where he’s going to play.
“Me and Madge had a very honest relationship. He was honest with me… but I don’t think sometimes the way he wants to play suits the Tigers team.
“I had this conversation with one of the boys over here today about Madge when he was with the Wigan side.
“He said, when you had (Sam) Tomkins out the back of the play, that the Tigers are playing – he was unstoppable when they won the competition [in 2010]. It obviously suited that Wigan side, but I don’t think it suits the Tigers.”
Reynolds also defended the Tigers’ playing group, namely halfback Luke Brooks who often this season was the man targeted for the club’s lack of spark and struggles in attack.
“It’s a confidence thing, all they (Tigers) hear about is not making the semis,” he added.
“I think personally they still have got a fairly good squad. Whether Madge is the man there or if they go in another direction.
“Even the players, the players probably want some to change. You’ve got guys like (Luke) Brooks there – he gets the blame a lot of the time for a lot of their woes, but I watch him play and he puts his body on the line body puts his heart on the line. He cops a lot of the brunt.
“You’ve got to put players around him, I think his best footy is ahead of him.”
For a daily dose of the best of the breaking news and exclusive content from Wide World of Sports, subscribe to our newsletter by clicking here
The richest athletes in sports in 2021
For all the latest Sports News Click Here
For the latest news and updates, follow us on Google News.