New Kiwis coach Michael Maguire has reassured New Zealand rugby league supporters he will stay in the job even if he does return to the NRL.
Kiwis head coach Michael Maguire Photo: © Copyright Andrew Cornaga / www.photosport.nz Photosport Ltd 2018
Former South Sydney Rabbitohs coach Maguire was on Thursday confirmed as the successor to David Kidwell, signing a four-year contract until the end of the 2021 World Cup.
Maguire parted ways with the Rabbitohs after last season on the back of successive sub-par seasons and this year has taken up the role of referee high performance coach with the NRL.
But as the coach of a South Sydney side which won the 2014 title and the Wigan team which won the 2010 English Super League crown, Maguire is considered one of the leading contenders should an NRL job become available.
Addressing any potential clash with another role, the Australian said any new position he considers must fit in with his job with the Kiwis.
"Those sorts of things, as they come along I'm assesing those.
"[But] it's about New Zealand first and if another opportunity does arise I'll have a look at that but it's got to sit with the ability for me to take this job where I want to take it."
Maguire comes into the Kiwis role after New Zealand Rugby League dropped a rule which stipulated the team's coach had to be a New Zealander.
The move was one of the many recommendations of the damning review into last year's World Cup campaign, where the team performed poorly and were dumped out at the quarterfinal stage by Fiji.
Selection panel member Dean Bell confirmed no New Zealand coaches were considered for the role
Asked if he wanted to help develop New Zealand coaches during his time with the Kiwis, Maguire said he was "definitely" keen to assist.
"I'd like to think I'm across the organisation.
"Obviously my first goal is the representative team at the top but to be able to impart a lot of knowledge around the coaching, that's something I'd like to do as well.
"One day you'd like to like to think there's going to be plenty of New Zealand coaches."
During his time as a coach, Maguire has developed a reputation as a tough taskmaster.
While he admitted that was true and would not change with the Kiwis, the 44-year-old said he also views himself as a personable coach.
Maguire evidenced that by confirming he will consider both former captain Jesse Bromwich and Kevin Proctor for selection for the team's trip to the US next month.
Forward pairing Bromwich and Proctor were not selected for last year's World Cup after they were caught doing cocaine outside a Canberra nightclub, just hours after the team had lost the Anzac Day test against Australia.
Jesse Bromwich (L) and Kevin Proctor Photo: www.photosport.nz
Maguire worked closely with both players when he was an assistant with the Melbourne Storm and said, if they make the cut, he will pick them for the clash against England in Denver.
"As much as they obviously made a mistake, they've done so many great things for the game itself.
"Look, as young men and young girls, we learn by our mistakes and it's about taking that forward now.
"I know they've done a lot of work since that time in and around the community to better themselves and better the community as well."
Maguire also confirmed he was open to welcoming back Cowboys superstar Jason Taumalolo, who made a controversial late defections from the New Zealand side to Tonga ahead of last year's World Cup.
Taumalolo was one of several key players made last minute decisions to play for other nations before the tournament.
Maguire said he would love to have a player of Taumalolo's calibre return to the side.
- RNZ
