2025 Pre-season discussion. Training the house down.

[theshed]

I get it but telling your players where they have to live is stupid. I'm fine with not cutting things short so they can skip the traffic, that's common sense but to tell them you have to live within X kilometre radius is just old man thinking.

And let's be honest, Brisbane is honestly not that big a city, traffic isn't really that big of an issue compared to so many other cities around the world.

I live a similar distance for work and it 100% impacts my performance.

 

[Sproj]

I live a similar distance for work and it 100% impacts my performance.

I live a similar distance from work too but it isn't the reason my performance is impacted. Hehe

 

[Mustafur]

I get it but telling your players where they have to live is stupid. I'm fine with not cutting things short so they can skip the traffic, that's common sense but to tell them you have to live within X kilometre radius is just old man thinking.

And let's be honest, Brisbane is honestly not that big a city, traffic isn't really that big of an issue compared to so many other cities around the world.

I personally don't agree with it because I know when it comes to clubs in Sydney a big chunk of players live just as far away if not more when you include traffic, but at the same time you could argue having to travel an hour back home each day can wear on you over the course of a year, kinda like the constant flights etc.

I think I would be fine if the club just recommended it rather than anything else, I think the highly professional players would be able to work it out themselves on what route they should take on it, there is also the impacts of where their social lives lie as if they base themselves in Brisbane but everything else for them is in GC they are doing the drive regardless and I don't think isolating players from their social lives is healthy.

 

[YeahNahMate]

Show me a bloke at 24 with all the fame and money one could hope for at that age, with his upbringing, with what has happened to his parents, with his ability to find his way towards on the nose actions (despite being pretty mild for footy players) and yet at the age of 24 your going home to your partner with a young child of your own and looking after your 2 younger brothers like they are your own whilst expecting another. I have a million times more respect for that man than anybody else in our squad. He is beyond impressive. The load he has taken on at such a young age and yet still performs week in week out. Genuinely so impressed with that man, if he were my son I would be immensely proud.

Pats impressive as well but he doesn’t compare to Payne. I think we would be in a really good place if Payne ended up captain. I genuinely mean that. So impressive that he can be the rock to so many people when everyone in his life has created an environment where it would be very reasonable to expect significantly less than what he has done. Incredible young man.

As much as I love Pat......the troops have not responded to his captaincy.

I wouldn’t be opposed to them being co-captains, they both offer something different

 

[Mustafur]

I wouldn’t be opposed to them being co-captains, they both offer something different

I'm a firm believer that the best player plus experience should be the captain(it's critical that the captain is one of the best players so that players will listen to them without thinking they are just some plodder), IMO Walsh is the best player but when you put experience into the equation it does tilt towards Reyno still, post Reyno it probably leans towards Patty or Haas for now atleast until Walsh matures but I think Long term if he can mature Walsh should be Captain, that for me wouldn't happen till he gets closer to his mid 20s though.

There was some games this year that showed Walsh has good leadership though.

It is important that the player being captain is a good talker but, and for me Haas kinda lacks that, Carrigan does have it and so does Walsh but he is still a bit too young for now.

 

[Johnny92]

I wouldn’t be opposed to them being co-captains, they both offer something different

Madge has done the 5 captains at both Rabbitohs and Tigers

 

[Redfern_1980]

News out of Sydney this morning that Big Mal has just annoited Madge as the Broncos 'new Bellamy'. A few thoughts from the big man himself (Mal, not Jesus Christ):

- gave Madge his first job as a strength-and-conditioning coach at the Raiders 25 years ago.
- is very much like Craig Bellamy with his work ethic.
- has worked in the best systems around the world.
- Madge is the right man to get the best out of people at the Broncos.
- he's a very decent human being, understands people really well and communicates extremely well.
- Over time, he’s developed the way he coaches as well.
- Madge bases much of his training methods on the champion Canberra teams of the 90's.
- "Their training was top shelf and that’s the sort of expectation level I want to bring to the Broncos. Even with the best players at Canberra, guys like Mal, Ricky and Laurie, they only got success off the back of hard work.”

Source: https://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/s...ous&mode=premium&v21=ULTRALOW-Segment-2-SCORE

 

[Johnny92]

News out of Sydney this morning that Big Mal has just annoited Madge as the Broncos 'new Bellamy'. A few thoughts from the big man himself (Mal, not Jesus Christ):

- gave Madge his first job as a strength-and-conditioning coach at the Raiders 25 years ago.
- is very much like Craig Bellamy with his work ethic.
- has worked in the best systems around the world.
- Madge is the right man to get the best out of people at the Broncos.
- he's a very decent human being, understands people really well and communicates extremely well.
- Over time, he’s developed the way he coaches as well.
- Madge bases much of his training methods on the champion Canberra teams of the 90's.
- "Their training was top shelf and that’s the sort of expectation level I want to bring to the Broncos. Even with the best players at Canberra, guys like Mal, Ricky and Laurie, they only got success off the back of hard work.”

Source: https://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/subscribe/news/1/?sourceCode=DTWEB_WRE170_a&dest=https://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/sport/nrl/nrl-2025-kangaroos-coach-mal-meninga-backs-michael-maguire-to-succeed-at-the-brisbane-broncos/news-story/e28dc697dc3f34170bd7d9931a4e9a83&memtype=anonymous&mode=premium&v21=ULTRALOW-Segment-2-SCORE

Been watching the first 2 parts of that bunnies doco and shows what a good coach Madge could become here and what he could achieve here
Would of only improved since then too

 

[YeahNahMate]

I'm a firm believer that the best player plus experience should be the captain(it's critical that the captain is one of the best players so that players will listen to them without thinking they are just some plodder), IMO Walsh is the best player but when you put experience into the equation it does tilt towards Reyno still, post Reyno it probably leans towards Patty or Haas for now atleast until Walsh matures but I think Long term if he can mature Walsh should be Captain, that for me wouldn't happen till he gets closer to his mid 20s though.

There was some games this year that showed Walsh has good leadership though.

It is important that the player being captain is a good talker but, and for me Haas kinda lacks that, Carrigan does have it and so does Walsh but he is still a bit too young for now.

Great call, yeah I agree could see Walsh as a captain but not right now.

Haas & Carrigan could be considered the best players at our club but just play a different role to Walsh. I think Haas would be a captain that leads more by his actions but also even if he doesn’t speak that much, when he does say something it carry's weight. Could maybe bring out a different side in Haas too, the captaincy tends to make players take a bit more of a responsibility for team morale and so on.

Patty as the other captain would be able to do most of the talking, post-match press conferences and all that. Obviously Patty is a standout option but I feel he doesn’t have that same presence as Haas in the dressing sheds.

Which is why I think they could complement each other well.

News out of Sydney this morning that Big Mal has just annoited Madge as the Broncos 'new Bellamy'. A few thoughts from the big man himself (Mal, not Jesus Christ):

- gave Madge his first job as a strength-and-conditioning coach at the Raiders 25 years ago.
- is very much like Craig Bellamy with his work ethic.
- has worked in the best systems around the world.
- Madge is the right man to get the best out of people at the Broncos.
- he's a very decent human being, understands people really well and communicates extremely well.
- Over time, he’s developed the way he coaches as well.
- Madge bases much of his training methods on the champion Canberra teams of the 90's.
- "Their training was top shelf and that’s the sort of expectation level I want to bring to the Broncos. Even with the best players at Canberra, guys like Mal, Ricky and Laurie, they only got success off the back of hard work.”

Source: https://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/subscribe/news/1/?sourceCode=DTWEB_WRE170_a&dest=https://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/sport/nrl/nrl-2025-kangaroos-coach-mal-meninga-backs-michael-maguire-to-succeed-at-the-brisbane-broncos/news-story/e28dc697dc3f34170bd7d9931a4e9a83&memtype=anonymous&mode=premium&v21=ULTRALOW-Segment-2-SCORE

One thing about Madge that gets me excited and sets him apart from other coaches we’ve had is his experience. He’s literally the first coach we’ve employed that’s not a rookie since Wayne Bennett.

 

[Big Del]

I'm a firm believer that the best player plus experience should be the captain(it's critical that the captain is one of the best players so that players will listen to them without thinking they are just some plodder), IMO Walsh is the best player but when you put experience into the equation it does tilt towards Reyno still, post Reyno it probably leans towards Patty or Haas for now atleast until Walsh matures but I think Long term if he can mature Walsh should be Captain, that for me wouldn't happen till he gets closer to his mid 20s though.

There was some games this year that showed Walsh has good leadership though.

It is important that the player being captain is a good talker but, and for me Haas kinda lacks that, Carrigan does have it and so does Walsh but he is still a bit too young for now.

If I was playing with Patty I would be driven mad by his constant commentating .
That mic`d up video was fun to watch . Would I enjoy some one telling me what to do every moment NO !
The best leaders don`t need to be constantly telling other team mates how to do their job .
Payne is and has been a leader of the training group for years . I see him as a lead by example guy .

 

[Big Del]

Great call, yeah I agree could see Walsh as a captain but not right now.

He did get suspended for abusing a ref remember ?

 

[YeahNahMate]

He did get suspended for abusing a ref remember ?

Of course I remember.

Payne is and has been a leader of the training group for years . I see him as a lead by example guy .

But you seem to support Haas as captain, need I remind you of his past? (Not saying Haas shouldn’t be considered just pointing out the inconsistency)

Walsh is still 22 and pretty much the main character of the team. With a bit of experience & maturity I could definitely see him as a future captain. Probably in his late 20s though, not while Haas & Carrigan are still at the club.

 

[Big Del]

Of course I remember.

But you seem to support Haas as captain, need I remind you of his past? (Not saying Haas shouldn’t be considered just pointing out the inconsistency)

Walsh is still 22 and pretty much the main character of the team. With a bit of experience & maturity I could definitely see him as a future captain. Probably in his late 20s though, not while Haas & Carrigan are still at the club.

On field vs off field .
Big difference IMO .

Disrepecting a Cop on the street when you have had a few drinks , is different to calling a Ref a c*nt on the field . In my mind .

 

[YeahNahMate]

On field vs off field .
Big difference IMO .

Disrepecting a Cop on the street when you have had a few drinks , is different to calling a Ref a c*nt on the field . In my mind .

It’s not out of the question to suggest that sort of shit will be reined in by his late 20s.

The bigger point being that people change with time, regardless of whether it’s on-field or off-field

 

[Marty Deutschmann]

Very interesting article in this morning's Tele with Broncos hierarchy raising major concerns with the fact a number of Brisbane's biggest stars are living on the Gold Coast. Current players include Reece Walsh, Pat Carrigan and Jesse Arthurs. Paraphrased below:

- internal concerns over some players living on the Gold Coast and all the travelling (160km) back and forth to training is having a negative impact on Brisbane’s performances.
- Brisbane bosses believe the full-time squad should be based exclusively in Brisbane to have "greater connectivity”.
- high performance staff have "flagged the geographic fragmentation of the Broncos and having to adjust training schedules to suit players’ travel demands" from the coast.
- a former staffer has revealed players often want to finish training sessions early to beat the peak-hour traffic.
- from now on, adjusted training schedules to suit the travel demands of Gold Coast based players will stop under Madge.
- Madge's preference is for players to live in Brisbane, if they choose not to, they will not receive preferential treatment regarding training times.
- Madge wants to build team unity and believes spending more time together is crucial, such as how Penrith do.
- 'rent a quote' extraordinare Corey Parker believes it makes no difference where a player lives and it is up to them.

Source: https://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/subscribe/news/1/?sourceCode=DTWEB_WRE170_a&dest=https://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/sport/nrl/it-was-a-nightmare-fears-raised-over-the-broncos-biggest-stars-residing-on-the-gold-coast/news-story/fbea1540ffc1cbb61858fba14b10b532&memtype=anonymous&mode=premium&v21=ULTRALOW-Segment-2-SCORE

Really good point! This could be an underlying sleeping issue.. never considered that before and tbh I'm glad someone is FINALLY calling out things like this. Ridiculous that training times were adjusted for individuals !? Getting paid this much fucking money they should be doing every little 1%er to improve.

More time together means more opportunities for Carrigan and Reynolds style drunk arguments. Be careful what you wish for.

If I were a Bronco, I’d live on the Coast too.

Yeah... Great idea! Let's just keep them away from each other and just ignore the issue - sure that'll work and we'll win a premiership!

Wasnt Mozer living with Palasia on the coast as well??

I'm sure there are heaps more.

It's been happening for ages though Alex Glenn lived on the coast.

Alex Glenn? Our greatest ever captain?? Starting to really think there's a lot more in this Gold Coast, "want life to be cruisy" issue than we all think.

Instagram reels aren't GF feels or 3rd party deals fellas - do the hard work and earn the respect ! Don't run and hide in Surfers Paradise to avoid attention and criticism. Walk tall and come together as a group.

Way too fractured of a playing group at the moment.

 

[Cult]

If I was playing with Patty I would be driven mad by his constant commentating .
That mic`d up video was fun to watch . Would I enjoy some one telling me what to do every moment NO !
The best leaders don`t need to be constantly telling other team mates how to do their job .
Payne is and has been a leader of the training group for years . I see him as a lead by example guy .

Have you seen our team play over the last few years? Without someone telling them what to do, they have no idea what they’re doing and it’s messy.

 

[Cult]

On field vs off field .
Big difference IMO .

Disrepecting a Cop on the street when you have had a few drinks , is different to calling a Ref a c*nt on the field . In my mind .

“Disrespecting a cop on the street” is different to threatening to bash a female cop though.

 

[Mr Fourex]

I get it but telling your players where they have to live is stupid. I'm fine with not cutting things short so they can skip the traffic, that's common sense but to tell them you have to live within X kilometre radius is just old man thinking.

And let's be honest, Brisbane is honestly not that big a city, traffic isn't really that big of an issue compared to so many other cities around the world.

You've got this really wrong...... The M1 between Brisbane and the GC is a fucken car park at any given time. 7 days a week.

I strongly advise new employees if they're moving from interstate or overseas to try and move somewhere relative to the proximity of our base. You'll thank me for it later. I've lost workers purely based on "the drive is a ****....and I can't do it anymore"......

Wayne style suburban barracks is a tad too far but......boys, we pay you very good money to play for the Brisbane Broncos. I want you to live in Brisbane.