THE BOSS Maguire Stomped The Naysayers! But...8 Months Later, Here We Are.

[broncos4life]

Here's the thing, I am NOT bagging out Maguire. I'm simply responding to the same rubbish criticism that gets bought up about Kevvie. I'm just trying to give Kevvie the credit he is due.

I don't think the logic is that hard to follow if you take away the lens of me having a go at Maguire, because I'm not. I've defended him in this very thread, in the last couple of pages even.

Who do you feel was a Maguire inspiration outside of Shibasaki last year?

I can help get you started - you could definitely argue Karapani (but was already here under Kevvie). You could definitely argue Smoothy and I would for sure be ok with that. Bunt?

So let's have a look at it:
1. Walsh (Kevvie)
2. Karapani (Kevvie but I'll give you Maguire)
3. Staggs (Kevvie)
4. Shibasaki (Maguire - MASSIVE tick)
5. Mariner (Kevvie)
6. Bunt (Maguire)
7. Reynolds (Kevvie)
8. Jensen (Kevvie)
9. Paix (Kevvie - you could argue Maguire but not sure that's a win)
10. Haas (Kevvie)
11. Piakura (Kevvie)
12. Jiki (Kevvie)
13. Carrigan (Kevvie)

14. Mam (Kevvie)
15. Hetherington (Kevvie)
16. Willison (Kevvie)
17. Smoothy (Kevvie but with Maguire - I'll definitely allow this one)

18. Difference (Kevvie)
19. Arthars (Kevvie)
20. Baker (Kevvie - oof)
21. Black (Kevvie)
22. Cobbo (Kevvie)
23. Gosiewski (Kevvie - oof)
24. Hoeter (Kevvie)
25. Junt (Kevvie)
26. Leota (Kevvie)
27. Te Kura (Kevvie)
28. Mozer (Kevvie)
29. Madden (Kevvie)
30. Rogers (Kevvie)

31. Semu (Kevvie)
32. Bukowski (Kevvie)
33. Perham (Maguire)
34. Talty (Maguire)
35. Bryce (Kevvie)

So 31 out of 35 players at WORST were inherited by Maguire.

Sorry I am still missing your point.

Firstly, I nor anyone else that I am aware of have criticised Kevvie, the only thing that comes close is me saying that outside of pride in the jersey I am not sure what he brings as coach and I am not sure that is hard to argue. Kevvie was the perfect coach for where we were because there was no pride in the jersey but in terms of bringing him back I am not sure what that would achieve. Once again, I nor anyone else has criticised Kevvie.

Apart from that what are you trying to point out by listing the squad assembled by Kevin? If that is all there is to coaching then make someone like Peter O'Sullivan Head Coach of a team and be done with it.

 

[Sproj]

Sorry I am still missing your point.

Firstly, I nor anyone else that I am aware of have criticised Kevvie, the only thing that comes close is me saying that outside of pride in the jersey I am not sure what he brings as coach and I am not sure that is hard to argue. Kevvie was the perfect coach for where we were because there was no pride in the jersey but in terms of bringing him back I am not sure what that would achieve. Once again, I nor anyone else has criticised Kevvie.

Apart from that what are you trying to point out by listing the squad assembled by Kevin? If that is all there is to coaching then make someone like Peter O'Sullivan Head Coach of a team and be done with it.

But my entire point was that it is very hard to argue that Maguire didn't win it with Kevvie's squad - hence supplying the info I did. That's all.

And sure, it isn't just the players in the squad that make a coach, only an idiot would suggest that but its like 2023 never happened to some people.

And if we take the argument of Walsh going next level last year - was that because of Maguire or was that because of Walsh or a mixture of both. If that version of Walsh was in the 2023 team, we probably win. So if that is due to Maguire - absolute credit to him but if it is due to Walsh - where does that leave Maguire? 2023 Walsh was also pretty darn good.

But, that 2023 side was fit and it took a Cleary master class and a stray pass to prevent us from winning that whole thing against a way better Penrith side than the one we beat in the prelim last year.

Was the 2025 side better than the 2023 side? I'm not so sure about that but what I am sure about is that Kevvie built that 2023 side. Maguire as highlighted in my previous post, mostly inherited the side Kevvie built and took them all the way and yes, on the back of one of the amazing finals runs ever and absolute credit to him for that.

Even so, it is still the side, for the very much most part, that Kevvie built.

 

[broncos4life]

But my entire point was that it is very hard to argue that Maguire didn't win it with Kevvie's squad - hence supplying the info I did. That's all.

And sure, it isn't just the players in the squad that make a coach, only an idiot would suggest that but its like 2023 never happened to some people.

And if we take the argument of Walsh going next level last year - was that because of Maguire or was that because of Walsh or a mixture of both. If that version of Walsh was in the 2023 team, we probably win. So if that is due to Maguire - absolute credit to him but if it is due to Walsh - where does that leave Maguire? 2023 Walsh was also pretty darn good.

But, that 2023 side was fit and it took a Cleary master class and a stray pass to prevent us from winning that whole thing against a way better Penrith side than the one we beat in the prelim last year.

Was the 2025 side better than the 2023 side? I'm not so sure about that but what I am sure about is that Kevvie built that 2023 side. Maguire as highlighted in my previous post, mostly inherited the side Kevvie built and took them all the way and yes, on the back of one of the amazing finals runs ever and absolute credit to him for that.

Even so, it is still the side, for the very much most part, that Kevvie built.

Name one person that has acted like 2023 never happened? One. Who or what exactly are you arguing against here?

 

[Battler]

It's long been said our club has a major attitude problem.

One of the reasons why some other clubs absolutely hate us and there's definitely an element of truth to it.

Club's players lived on past glories for a good almost couple of decades.

We finally get some steel put into our players, giving them a taste of what's required to win the comp and immediately after winning, we're back at "our shit doesn't stink".

The club also lacks the ruthless intent needed to really shape what we want to be as a club. I can't see Melbourne or Panthers letting these grandad's army players keep rolling on past their used by dates. Heck, just look at who the Panthers have let go of and are telling to go to market this year (Leota for e.g.)

The real shame is this year was the year to really cement the club as being "back". Draw players to the club, getting paid maybe slight unders to join a successful club. But now - premiership window looks dead and buried - we've lost any chance of that.

The dooming on the back of an injury riddled season is unreal lmao. We have Walsh, Mam, and Pezet (who, despite looking average playing 6 next to the egomaniac Moses, was being chased by several clubs and is one of the highest rated young 7s coming through) who will all be 24 next year. Our starting middle has 3 blokes who would all start at any other club in the comp. We have great outside backs. We have one of the most accomplished coaches in the history of the game.

You could easily argue that the storm are letting Munster and Hughes play on past their used by dates btw, both are in a bit of a decline (munny more so).

 

[Sproj]

Name one person that has acted like 2023 never happened? One. Who or what exactly are you arguing against here?

What are you asking? I'm honestly not really sure how I can make my point any clearer to be honest. If you don't get it, maybe don't keep replying?

 

[BroncsFan]

What are you asking? I'm honestly not really sure how I can make my point any clearer to be honest. If you don't get it, maybe don't keep replying?

I think you two are arguing different things.

B4L is arguing that if it's all about just building a squad then you could put anyone as the head coach (ie Simon Scanlon).

I dont think there's any argument that Madge inherited Kevvie's squad I think it's more the media putting forward that Kevvie would've won if he was given 2025, because the broncos ended up winning it all... so basically that it was inevitable that we win 2025.

The argument of several on BHQ is that Madge had the team playing on a completely different level that Kevvie would not have been able to replicate... the standards in fitness being one of the core reasons we won... I dont think youre arguing anything different to that.

That side of 2025 doesnt get analysed by the media, because it doesnt suit agendas.

Could Kevvie have won with the same cattle but a different style... maybe, but I dont necessarily think the team was tracking for a premiership off of how they finished in 2024... that doesnt really get talked about by the media either, it's all just assumed that Kevvie wouldve magically turned them all around

 

[Skathen]

The dooming on the back of an injury riddled season is unreal lmao.

Off the back of one season? A little bit careless to forget about the downfall we've seen since 2016 onward. Excusing some outliers in 2023/2025. What we're seeing now, is far more "normal" than two break out seasons in that bunch.

We have great outside backs.

Outside of Walsh, Mariner, Karapani (if he's even a Bronco next year) and Staggs (half of the time). Our outside backs are actually pretty shot to pieces right now. Grant Anderson is going. Shiba's fallen off a cliff. Arthars gone (thankfully). The rest wouldn't get a gig in the NRL regularly anywhere yet.

You could easily argue that the storm are letting Munster and Hughes play on past their used by dates btw, both are in a bit of a decline (munny more so).

Both are 31. Struggling this year? absolutely. Past it? Hardly.

 

[tommy]

Jeez look at that list of candidates... how has Madge still got a job with the list of names there.

Who would want a multi-premiership winning coach when you could bring in someone prestigious like Darius Boyd and his 3 weeks experience coaching the Qld U19's

I wonder if he looks players in the eye and asks them to put in 100% for the team…..

I thought the same thing about Karmichael hunt when I heard he was coaching. Who the **** would wanna play for some dog that not only abandoned the sport, but dobbed all his mates into the coppers for the same thing he was doing. I’d rather kick him in the guts than do anything he told me to.

 

[6moresongs]

I think you two are arguing different things.

B4L is arguing that if it's all about just building a squad then you could put anyone as the head coach (ie Simon Scanlon).

I dont think there's any argument that Madge inherited Kevvie's squad I think it's more the media putting forward that Kevvie would've won if he was given 2025, because the broncos ended up winning it all... so basically that it was inevitable that we win 2025.

The argument of several on BHQ is that Madge had the team playing on a completely different level that Kevvie would not have been able to replicate... the standards in fitness being one of the core reasons we won... I dont think youre arguing anything different to that.

That side of 2025 doesnt get analysed by the media, because it doesnt suit agendas.

Could Kevvie have won with the same cattle but a different style... maybe, but I dont necessarily think the team was tracking for a premiership off of how they finished in 2024... that doesnt really get talked about by the media either, it's all just assumed that Kevvie wouldve magically turned them all around

I think we had similar injuries im 2024 with a similar pre season. With mostly the same cattle, full preseason (like 2023) and injury luck, its pretty hard to say Kevy doesnt achieve the same. He did it last time and ultimately fell short by a few minutes.

I dont look back on kevs time as a failure at all. People who use the argument of 1 finals appearance in 4 years forget we got the wooden spoon. We were coming from the bottom.

2026 we are back at the bottom again. Literally lost to the worst team in the comp with a decent squad. Something is wrong and ive yet to see madge pull a team out of a hole.

If we need a blueprint for how to turn a team around in a short period of time, perhaps he should pick up the phone and ask Kevin walters. A bit of pride in the jersey is probably what we are lacking at the moment.

 

[broncos4life]

What are you asking? I'm honestly not really sure how I can make my point any clearer to be honest. If you don't get it, maybe don't keep replying?

No, don’t do that shit. You made a comment that people are acting like 2023 didn’t happen and are not giving Kevin credit, back it up and give an example of that say you were mistaken.

 

[Hoshsie]

No

when I was last sorta heavily paying attention to the nrl, Slater was viewed as a coaching projidy, why the stern no?

 

[Wolfie]

I dont get why on earth Kevvie would even be in the conversation for our next coach. He's not good enough. He was great at bringing back pride in the shirt, but we shouldnt be considering him when we terminate this blue grub we have now. Just like Under Kevvie, we have regressed after a good year.

 

[Wolfie]

when I was last sorta heavily paying attention to the nrl, Slater was viewed as a coaching projidy, why the stern no?

I've put this on here before, but speaking to somebody who played with him at Origin level, he always used to say Billy was on another level to everyone else going around at that time in terms of what he could see happening in games tactically. I always thought he would be an excellent coach.

 

[broncos4life]

I think we had similar injuries im 2024 with a similar pre season. With mostly the same cattle, full preseason (like 2023) and injury luck, its pretty hard to say Kevy doesnt achieve the same. He did it last time and ultimately fell short by a few minutes.

I dont look back on kevs time as a failure at all. People who use the argument of 1 finals appearance in 4 years forget we got the wooden spoon. We were coming from the bottom.

2026 we are back at the bottom again. Literally lost to the worst team in the comp with a decent squad. Something is wrong and ive yet to see madge pull a team out of a hole.

If we need a blueprint for how to turn a team around in a short period of time, perhaps he should pick up the phone and ask Kevin walters. A bit of pride in the jersey is probably what we are lacking at the moment.

FFS no-one has said Kevin’s time was a failure.

 

[tommy]

I've put this on here before, but speaking to somebody who played with him at Origin level, he always used to say Billy was on another level to everyone else going around at that time in terms of what he could see happening in games tactically. I always thought he would be an excellent coach.

Love him or hate him, Andrew Johns would make an excellent coach. Tactical genius who sees things other analysts don’t.

 

[Skathen]

I've put this on here before, but speaking to somebody who played with him at Origin level, he always used to say Billy was on another level to everyone else going around at that time in terms of what he could see happening in games tactically. I always thought he would be an excellent coach.

He's going to be a great coach (frankly, he already is as far as coaching at Origin level - if we win on Wednesday he stands at 4 from 5 series which is top shelf).

The issue is, his property in victoria and his desire to take over from bellyache - with bellyache having a medical issue and necessitating the change.

Would Billy be great for us, yes. Are we a snowballs chance? No.

 

[Big Pete]

The issue with Walters is that he'd run out of solutions. Going into 2025 the Broncos success hinged on three people Ben Hunt, Trent Barrett and Ben Te'o. It was a tough call, but time was running out on this squad and Brisbane had to make hay while the sun was shining.

Madge was coming off success with New Zealand and New South Wales. He was easily the best candidate and the Broncos made a ballsy decision. By rights, Kev deserved 2025 but he just didn't have the faith to get the job done.

Now Madge finds himself in a similar situation and while he's earned a reprieve after delivering a premiership he needs to build a stronger case for 2026. Losing Haas was a massive body blow and this deal with Pezet has not aged well at all.

The decision to sign Preston Riki and extend Cory Paix and Ben Hunt are extremely questionable. The way he's managed his roster begs a lot of questions and while he's been dealt some tough hands he has not made life easy for himself either.

I think he's been complacent when it comes to the roster. I think a few of his selections have been short sighted and now he's locked himself in a position where he has to pick undeserving players.

Let me provide an example.

The situation with Ben Te Kura should have been handled so much better. Why would you release him in April just weeks ahead of the Origin season? Why would you not secure a replacement in the mean time?

Sometimes teams just go through rough patches. Penrith had theirs in 2025, Melbourne are having theirs right now but I can see the light at the end of the tunnel. I need to see a response from Brisbane.