The NSW Blues have finally found a successor to Brad Fittler in current New Zealand Kiwis coach Michael Maguire.
Maguire takes up the job on the back of a four-year stint with the Kiwis and a 12-month tenure as an assistant coach to Ricky Stuart in Canberra.
The timing of the news came as a surprise, as Maguire’s Kiwis squad prepare for the upcoming Pacific Championships, a tournament that very well could be won by New Zealand.
As the fallout from the reports continues, former Kiwi Tony Kemp blasted the move and called for the country’s rugby league organisers to only consider New Zealanders for the top job.
“It did get my blood boiling this morning and don’t get me wrong this is nothing to do with ‘Madge’ Maguire,” Kemp told SEN 1170 The Run Home.
“For years of being an advocate, I’ve seen this brewing, this type of battle brewing, this losing battle, in and around the Pacific players that predominantly come out of New Zealand and filter through to Australian player pathways, now it’s happened to our coaching ranks.
“If we don’t arrest this with our next appointment, which should be Stacey Jones, then I think if we go for another Australian coach we might as well just become another part of the Australian Rugby League.
“You’ve got Queensland, New South and the Australian New Zealand Rugby League.”
Kemp emphasised his concern that the New Zealand Rugby League’s structure could continue to grow the Australian game and have detrimental effects on the future of the national team.
“What’s happened is that we have become a breeding ground for Australian NRL clubs and what it looks like for the NZRL to promote Australians into jobs within Australian structures,” Kemp added.
“For me being an ex-Kiwi, I’m actually hurting… for me what it looks like, when Madge goes back to coach the Blues, it’s another win for the Australians.
“The NZRL need to grow some kahunas here and say, ‘We’ll promote our own’, Stacey Jones could coach the Kiwis team, he could surround it with players with ex-players and coaches.”
Maguire and the NSW Blues are yet to confirm the deal but it has been heavily reported that he will sign a 12-month contract in the coming days.