For two long months, before Brisbane’s crucial win over Penrith on Thursday night, Michael Maguire oversaw a side that hadn’t sung the team song.
This was a departure from the norm for the coach known universally as “Madge”. After overseeing South Sydney’s premiership glory in 2014, a Pacific Championship title for New Zealand over Australia in 2023, NSW State of Origin success in 2024 and last year’s drought-ending NRL crown with the Broncos, a charmed run had hit a major roadblock this season.
Yet despite the winless winter – one cruelled by an injury toll that resulted in up to half his salary cap watching from the sidelines – Maguire hasn’t wavered, ignoring the outside noise and never doubting himself or his team.
“My time in the game has shown me all the ups and downs, all it brings,” Maguire, 52, said.
“We knew what we needed to do as a group. I’ve been able to lean back on the experiences I’ve had and that’s definitely helped through a period like this.”
Everything went Brisbane’s way in their premiership pursuit last season, but their title defence has been littered with hurdles. Whether it be Payne Haas’ impending move to South Sydney, assistant coach Ben Te’o’s pre-season departure, a wretched run of injuries to senior players or the seemingly endless stream of unfounded rumours about discontent at Red Hill, Maguire’s second year in charge of the glamour club has been more challenging than the first.
“We only had one debutant last year in Ben Talty, this year we’ve had upwards of 10,” Maguire said.
“We’ve used upwards of 34 players [this year].”
Even as the losses were piling up, Maguire was stoic. Once all his troops were on deck – as the likes of Haas, Reece Walsh, Ezra Mam, Adam Reynolds, and Pat Carrigan were in the stunning 14-12 win against Penrith – he declared the team could again produce something special. It’s a line and belief he has held, even now that it needs to win all remaining games to qualify for the finals.
“I’d like to think I’m pretty close to the players,” Maguire said of where he gets his belief from. “It’s about the feeling the players give you as a coach, of where you think they are at.
“I love talking footy with my players, I love talking life with my players ... It’s not about the technical part of coaching.
“It’s hard when people question you about your hunger when you see hunger coming from your players and staff all the time.
“I can’t describe that. I’m not smart enough to describe that, but that’s why I talk the way I do.”
Maguire doesn’t offer injuries as an excuse. By his own admission, his team has missed the mark at times and the eight-game losing streak has emboldened his detractors.
“I understand that it starts and stops with myself,” he said. “With all the things that I’ve been through in the game, I know where we are at.
“I’m leading the players, the staff, everyone involved through the period we’ve had. The opportunity that this group has now, I’ll lead through the next period.”
If they can’t squeak into the finals, Maguire’s time with Haas could be over in a few weeks. The departure of the NSW prop has led to rumours about their relationship, but both men insist it remains strong.
“Payne is a special man and I’ve had a special time with him,” Maguire said.
“Everyone at some stage has a change in what they do. One thing I’ve seen around Payne is his focus and desire. The club has given him a great opportunity in every part of his life and he’s very grateful for that.
“I’m the fortunate one that knows all the truth around what goes on and what happens in the background of your players. Whilst you’ve got them – especially those special players like Payne Haas – you really enjoy those times.”
For the Broncos to qualify for the post-season, they will likely need to win all their remaining seven games in a run consisting of the Cowboys, Knights, Dolphins, Warriors, Raiders, Storm and Bulldogs. Can they do it?
“I really believe in this group, that when they set out to go after things, that they can achieve. I’ve experienced that with them, that’s why I say what I say,” Maguire said.
“It’s game by game and there’s no reason why you can’t do things that you discussed there. Because this group has experienced that.”
Like last year, much will depend on the form of Walsh. The enigmatic fullback was back to his best against the Panthers, producing three try assists and a clutch sideline conversion in a man-of-the-match performance.
Walsh hasn’t been able to consistently reproduce his 2025 heroics, but Maguire believes the return of key personnel will lift his game.
“He’s a competitor, he’s everything I thought he would be when I first came,” Maguire said.
“He loves his footy. The one thing he does is work really hard at his game. There’s a reason why he can do the things he does, he puts that out on the park and practises it. People just see the moments, but we get to see all the hard work that goes in to create them.”
When the Broncos ended a 19-year premiership drought, many felt they had reached their destination under Maguire. But the coach believes it’s just the start of the club’s journey.
“I will keep putting in more than I ever have,” he said. “Because of the players, the staff. That’s how I do it.
“The special times outweigh any of what you go through right now. That was quite a unique place to be at a club like this, that hadn’t had success for such a long time. The town was amazing and everyone wants more of that. If you’re chasing that, there’s no reason you can’t get to that. But it takes a lot of work. That’s the truth.”
Sydney Morning Herald
