Brisbane Broncos Roundup: Enter the Michael Maguire Era

A new dawn at Red Hill as skipper Adam Reynolds is reunited with former coach, “Madge” Maguire, while young forward Kobe Hetherington earned national recognition with selection in the PM’s XIII squad.


Read: Madge MaGuire Comes To Red Hill


New sheriff heralds culture shift

Broncos captain Adam Reynolds, who won a premiership under Maguire at South Sydney, offered insight into what his teammates can expect. “He comes in, he demands success straight away and he holds everyone accountable to their actions both on the field and off the field and the boys will get a bit of a shock,” Reynolds told Triple M.

The incoming coach showed immediate understanding of the club’s significance, acknowledging the Broncos as “one of rugby league’s great clubs” and emphasising his commitment to the fans.

“We want the members to turn up and be proud of the way we play, proud of their team,” Maguire stated.

Echoes of 2008’s coaching crossroads

As the Broncos embrace their new coaching direction, a fascinating revelation has emerged about a pivotal moment in the club’s history. In 2008, the club was on the verge of securing Craig Bellamy as Wayne Bennett’s successor—a move that could have dramatically altered the course of rugby league history.

Fox Sports’ Matty Johns revealed to the Courier News that Bellamy was ready to accept the role until a single comment about coaching autonomy derailed the entire deal. “The Broncos didn’t want Craig to have the same power over them that Wayne had,” Johns explained, noting that this was the decisive factor in Bellamy’s decision to remain with Melbourne.

The implications of that moment continue to reverberate, with Johns reflecting, “No doubt he would have won premierships with the Broncos… Craig would have been the perfect fit.”

Club legends consider futures

Two-time premiership winner Darius Boyd has already decided to exit his role as mentor to the club’s outside backs. The Courier Mail reports that Boyd, who had been instrumental in developing talents like Reece Walsh and Selwyn Cobbo, notified the club of his departure one week before the coaching change, citing concerns about the direction of the football program.

Meanwhile, uncertainty surrounds the future of club immortal Allan Langer, who is weighing up his position following the departure of his longtime friend Kevin Walters.

According to the Courier Mail, the club is considering offering Langer a transition into a corporate role working with sponsors, with CEO Dave Donaghy emphasising, “We will always value what Alfie has done for the Broncos and we want to keep him here for life.”

Madge has expressed his desire to retain Langer, stating, “I’ve had a fair bit of time with Alf, and I think we all like Alf. So I want to see what he wants to do with himself and work out where he fits in.”

Hetherington earns PM’s XIII honours

While the coaching appointment dominated headlines, the Broncos received additional recognition with Kobe Hetherington earning selection in the Australian Prime Minister’s XIII squad to face Papua New Guinea. The exhibition match, scheduled for 13 October at Santos National Football Stadium in Port Moresby, represents a significant honour for the Broncos forward.

Hetherington joins as the sole Broncos representative alongside an impressive roster of NRL talent, with the team to be captained by departing South Sydney Rabbitohs hooker Damien Cook.


Read: Bridging Brisbane: Cleary’s ‘The Comfort of Figs’ Roots in Red Hill History


All eyes now turn to early November when Maguire will officially begin preseason preparations with the squad.

Published 06-October-2024