As he is watching the probables and possibles put their best feet forward,ringing in his ears are the countless chats he’s conducted with the great Blues players of the past. Each has their own story.
Luke Keary spoke of his appreciation for friends and family after making a major decision earlier in the week.
Royce Simmons spoke about the tight bonds that were formed and endure to this day. For Laurie Daley,it was the chance to define yourself,to find out whether you run towards,or away from,the flame. Peter Wynn reflected on what he described as some of the greatest moments of his career,which is significant given the premierships he won at Parramatta.
For Peter Sterling,it was the company it allowed him to keep,rubbing shoulders with the likes of great mate and rival Steve Mortimer. Paul Gallen,meanwhile,never dreamed of pulling on club colours when he was young;the ambition was always to wear the sky blue. The theme with Balmain greats Steve Roach and Ben Elias was their passion for their state.
Ricky Stuart. Andrew Johns. Greg Brentnall. The Morris twins,Josh and Brett. Nathan Cleary. The list goes on and on. Maguire took time to sit down with them,and just about everyone else who has been associated with the sky blue jersey,to hear their stories. About what it means to be “true Blue”.
“I want our current players to hear that,” Maguire says. “The past players have all had that same experience in that blue jersey. Every single one of them had a great message about what it has meant to them.
NSW Blues coach Michael Maguire.Wolter Peeters
“Every single one of them said,‘It tested me as a person’. It’s been really beneficial to hear what the jersey really means.
“They will be things I remind myself when we’re in camp and around the players,about what we can and can’t do.
“The[current] guys have an opportunity in the Origin arena to become iconic figures with what they do in the game.”
Maguire’s predecessor,Brad Fittler,also caught up for a chat last week. Even if he is still sore from the manner of his departure,the previous Blues coach was only too happy to help the current one.
“Freddy was terrific,” Maguire says. “He just wants the state to win. I know that. And we’re all having a crack to try to do it.”
In the past,whenever a difficult selection situation has arisen,the Blues have opted for the rock star;the man capable of pulling off a flashy play has been preferred over the toiler capable of snuffing one out.
When Maguire is sitting in the stands,deciding whether a candidate is right for him,it all boils down to one word:effort.
“Someone who is willing to work for an 80-minute period,” Maguire explains. “It doesn’t matter how you feel at the time,you’re willing to do what is needed in the moments of a game.
“That’s the biggest thing,and I’m looking for that more than ever over the next four games – those players who are willing to work really hard for their teammates. Being the player you can rely on and trust.
Maroons coach Billy Slater and Blues counterpart Michael Maguire.Getty
“I’m looking for character. A lot of the players I’m looking at are pretty close in talent,but their character is the part that I’m looking at every single time they play.
“That’s the effort stuff I’m talking about,the bloke who wants to do something when he’s called upon to do something.
“I can see their character in what they do on the football field. It might be when they are stuck on their defensive line for five or six sets. What’s their character then?
“That’s the part I enjoy watching at the moment,when you can just sit in the stands and see how everyone is working hard for their teammates.
“I’m going to pick that player,the one who can get through those moments.”
It’s too early for Maguire to be making bold calls about who is in and out of his team. Injury,suspension and form – the former premiership-winning South Sydney coach values the latter over incumbency or reputation – will determine who runs onto Accor Stadium for State of Origin I on June 5.
While no one is assured a jersey,no one is excluded either. Latrell Mitchell is yet to decide whether to make himself available,Jack Wighton is likely to backflip on his representative retirement and Joseph Suaalii remains in contention for a debut despite his defection to rugby union at the end of the season.
“I’m picking players to win. What happens in their future is their future,” Maguire says. “We want to make the state proud and make sure the best players are playing in the positions.
“[Suaalii] is a rugby league player at the moment,who knows what could happen in another six months’ time?
“He’s put a lot into rugby league. I was fortunate to meet Joey as a 16-year-old;I’ve got a good connection with him. I know his passion is around playing and that is huge.”
‘A lot of the players I’m looking at are pretty close in talent. But their character is the part that I’m looking at.’
Michael Maguire on his selection philosophy
As for Mitchell,Maguire said:“I’ll touch base with Latrell over the next little period and find out where his headspace is at. It’s all about being in the right headspace to play at this level.”
Few of the selections are straightforward. There are spots up for grabs just about everywhere,including at five-eighth,wing,prop and centre. However,most of the focus will be on whether incumbent NSW captain James Tedesco can ward off challenges from Tom Trbojevic and Dylan Edwards for his fullback spot.
“I’m very spoilt for choice at fullback,” Maguire says. “Teddy is a fantastic player. The next month is important for me to see how I bring everything together. Between Teddy,Dylan and Tommy,there are some pretty exciting players that are playing some of their best footy.
“That’s going to be a good position down the track.”
The cornerstone to the side,should he overcome his hamstring issues,will be Nathan Cleary. The Penrith halfback has won seven of the 14 Origin games he has contested,but he is yet to consistently impose himself on the interstate arena the way he has at club level.
“I’m sure he is very aware of where he is at in the Origin arena,” Maguire says.
“You improve through your experiences. That’s something where Nath is really hungry.
“When you talk about the experiences that he’s had,like the grand final,that’s an experience he can now take forward into what’s required at Origin level.
“Being able to have Nath with all of those experiences,he’s very passionate about the Origin space. From what I’ve seen,he is all-in with Origin. The more times you get the opportunity to be at that level,and we get the right people around him,there’s no reason why that chatter[about owning the Origin arena] in years to come can’t be Nathan.”
Maguire is leaving nothing to chance in a bid to prevent the Maroons from winning three successive series. His remit is to unite past players and current players with long-suffering NSW supporters.
“State of Origin is the one sport that unites people from all over the place,” he said. “I want to give the state a team they can be proud of.”
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