After South Sydney’s exploits this season, Rabbitohs coach, Michael Maguire, looks set to become the most wanted man in the NRL at the end of the current NRL campaign.
With South Sydney charging towards their first minor premiership since 1989, there is a growing concern among the Rabbitohs fans that they may lose their head coach to a rival NRL side.
Maguire is contracted until the end of next season and has been in negotiations with Souths boss Shane Richardson for some months over a long-term extension, believed to be for another five years.
But as of yet, no deal has been agreed and there has been reports that other clubs have begun making enquires, with some betting odds linking him with the likes of St George Illawarra, Brisbane and North Queensland, who could all be looking for a new coach come the end of the season.
It’s no real wonder given how quickly Maguire has transformed the Rabbitohs, who are five points clear in the race for the minor premiership and heavy favourites in the rugby league betting odds.
When Maguire arrived at Redfern last year he was untested at NRL level and would have signed a modest contract worth about $350,000 per season, boosted because of his success in England with Wigan.
But his unprecedented success at Souths has him being hailed the next big thing in coaching, and when he does finally sign his new deal, Maguire will be expecting a bumper new contract to keep him at the club.
If Maguire does indeed lead the Rabbitohs to their first premiership since 1971, the coach will be rightly expecting to be made one of the league’s best-paid coaches.
