The former Port Macquarie Shark will captain-coach the 2018 Hastings League grand finalists when they assemble for pre-season training in early January.

Laurieton were defeated by Long Flat Dragons 18-12 in last season’s Hastings League grand final and Maguire has already set his sights on going one step further next year.

“I’d like to win the comp; I’m there to win it,” he said.

“They lost the grand final by six points and I’ve got pretty much the same side running around again next year with a few other boys.

“I think we’ll be there at the business end of the season.”

Maguire spent the past four seasons playing in Port Macquarie with the current Group 3 premiers before he made the decision to play for a club closer to his home in Lake Cathie.

“I’ve won two first grade grand finals, captained first grade, won a Clayton’s Cup and there’s no rep anymore so there wasn’t much keeping players there especially with the way Group 3 run it,” he said.

“I work down here as well so it was going to be easier for me.”

The second-rower said the Stingrays attempted to sign him last season and then the time was right to accept their offer the second time around.

“I didn’t approach them or anything, they approached me and have for the last two years now so I finally decided to give it a go,” he said.

“It was always a goal of mine to captain-coach a side one day and they offered it to me; they’ve got a good side there already and a good committee so I thought why not.”