Michael Maguire has arrived at the Broncos at the “perfect” time, with his Red Hill takeover likened to his stint at the Rabbitohs which proved fruitful.
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Maguire signed with South Sydney ahead of the 2012 season, reaching grand finals in 2012 and 2013 before lifting the premiership trophy with a 30-6 win over the Bulldogs in 2014.
That squad was littered with big-name stars, and NRL360 co-host Gorden Tallis was of the belief former coach John Lang had them primed for a title tilt.
Much like Kevin Walters did during his tenure, reaching the 2023 grand final before ultimately being sacked following a turbulent 2024 season.
“Some teams need a certain style of coach at a certain time in their history, and right now, the Broncos need Michae Maguire,” The Daily Telegraph’s Dean Ritchie said on NRL360 on Tuesday night.
NRL360 host Braith Anasta added: “It’s the perfect timing for a hard-edged, hard-nosed coach that is renowned for hard work and renowned for putting his players putting his players through a bit of torture.”
However, it was Tallis who claimed Maguire “walked into Souths at the right time”.
“Sam (Burgess) was there, Greg Inglis got his body right, (Michael) Crocker and (David) Kidwell. (Roy) Asitasi had got the young kids to a certain level,” Tallis said.
He was also of the belief that the Broncos’ current squad is capable of winning a premiership.
“They are a premiership-winning side, they were three minutes off beating Penrith. You look at the Craig Bellamy coached side, the Wayne Bennett coached side,” he explained.
“That was the closest a team has got to them, they weren’t far off. They just have to keep everyone fit… what Madge will do is give them steelier edge.
“Maguire sides tend to wrestle more, they are normally more defence-orientated. Where Kevvie was more about the style of play.”
The Broncos slumped to 12th in 2024 after being within touching distance of the 2023 title, going down to the Panthers after a Nathan Cleary masterclass.
However, injuries to key players Adam Reynolds and Reece Walsh curtailed what was shaping as a huge season in Red Hill.
“The big advantage that Madge has, is that these players embarrassed themselves last season,” Fox League’s Paul Crawley said.
“Some of their efforts were pitiful for the talent of this squad… in that trial game they looked fit, aggressive, they were up against the Bulldogs who set the benchmark when it came to aggression.
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“They made them look like boys in some respects in that trial match, that’s what Madge has in his favour that Kevvie didn’t have, some of these boys had their heads in the clouds.”
And while the Broncos are hopeful of taking silverware home, Crawley also issued a big warning to the players and powerbrokers.
“Everywhere Madge has gone he works them so hard, he’s so intense that there is a shelf life,” he said.
“He was at Souths, he won the competition in his first season and I remember (Shane Richardson) saying ‘he has got a job for life’.
“He was gone within three years, he burnt himself through the players. It was the same at the Tigers. He is purpose built for coaching the Kiwis and NSW.
“I don’t think it’s going to be a 21-year stay at the Broncos for Madge, but he could find success.”
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