Maguire reflects on Parramatta defeat, Maumalo arrival

Wests Tigers Coach Michael Maguire has shared his frustrations over inconsistencies surrounding the NRL’s foul-play crackdown after his side’s loss to Parramatta at Bankwest Stadium.

Maguire was left confused after his forward Shawn Blore was marched for 10 minutes for placing a hand on an Eels player, while Parramatta winger Maika Sivo received the same punishment for collecting Adam Doueihi in the head.

Although Maguire was frustrated, he admitted his side didn’t perform well enough on Sunday afternoon and will need to improve ahead of Round 15’s clash against Melbourne.

“Blore put his hand on [Joey] Lussick and I don’t think it had any impact on the situation,” Maguire said after the game.

“I’m probably better biting my tongue, yeah, I think it explains itself if you look at it.

“To have a bloke sent off because of that — there was no foul play — it was a bloke touching a shoulder. It didn’t impact that play as such.

“To lose a player for 10 minutes hurts and then we had three tries scored against us. It had an impact on the game.

“But we didn’t start well enough. They came out faster and we had to work our way back into the game.”

Maguire has called on the NRL for more consistency surround the latest crackdown.  

“It’s up to the game to sort out the consistency of what’s happening at the moment — it’s a tricky one at the moment,” the coach said.

“It’s affecting games, it’s playing a big part.

“They’re going to have to work it out fast because it’s costing games.”

Wests Tigers have been boosted by the signing of New Zealand international Ken Maumalo.

The winger scored three tries in his final game for the Warriors on Sunday afternoon, but will immediately join Wests Tigers and be eligible for next week’s clash against the Melbourne Storm — ironically the team he faced in Round 14.

“I’ve spent a bit of time with Kenny — I’ve toured with him,” Maguire said.

“He’s a real pro about how he goes about things — he’s a very good club man.

“You can see the quality he brings to a team — size wise and being able to score tries. He does what a winger is meant to do — he can come up with some big plays.

“We’re in a position as a club that we’re able to be patient with our recruiting. Kenny is the style of player we want at this club.

‘We want Test match players and we want Origin players at Wests Tigers. We want players who go up and play at the rep level because that means you have some of the best players in the comp.”