Broncos captain Adam Reynolds and prop Pat Carrigan have responded after veteran Martin Taupau liked a social media post criticising Michael Maguire’s style of coaching.
Taupau is reportedly set to front the club’s leadership group to address the fallout from the saga.
According to Code Sports, Taupau’s time in Red Hill is all but over and he will sit down with Reynolds, Carrigan, Payne Haas, Ben Hunt and Kotoni Staggs to explain his actions.
Former Tigers forward Elijah Taylor was asked by fans why Brisbane could be struggling for form, delivering a criticism of Maguire’s coaching on Instagram.
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The post included three reasons why the Broncos weren’t delivering despite having a host of multimillion dollar stars, whilst also touching on Maguire’s “intensity”.
Taupau liked Taylor’s post, which reportedly led the Broncos to internally discuss sacking the prop with immediate effect.
There is also reportedly the possibility Taupau will be sanctioned by the leadership group, and he’s unlikely to be offered a contract beyond the 2025 season, meaning he could have played his last game for the club if he is not picked again.
Reynolds admitted the situation is far from ideal.
“It’s not a good look, but we are united as a group. We are moving in a good direction,” Reynolds said on Triple M’s Rush Hour.
“I’ve had experiences with him (Michael Maguire) in the past and he is a carer, he cares about his players, he’s passionate, he wants to win and we are all on the same page and we’re all moving forward together as a club.
“It is disappointing…whether he really meant it or not I’m not too sure but that’s a conversation Marty will have with the club and they’ll handle that internally.”
Carrigan, who is part of the Broncos’ five-man leadership group, made it clear the players were united behind Maguire.
“Internally we are dealing with that at the moment,” Carrigan told The Courier-Mail, in reference to the Taupau-Maguire situation.
“Marty released a statement, he has made a mistake around those sorts of things.
“We know where we are going as a club, we are all buying in – everyone.
“We know we have to train hard and we know we have to do the things to get where we want to be and that’s to be a premiership team.
“Marty has addressed it. As a teammate I will support him, but also where we want to go as a club, we know what we are in for and we are well and truly signed up for it.”
Carrigan confirmed he had been in contact with Taupau.
“I spoke to him last night. We are dealing with him internally. He released a statement saying he is apologetic and the club is dealing with it,” Carrigan added.
The drama all started when Taylor didn’t hold back in an Instagram appraisal of Maguire’s coaching.
“A lot of people are asking me what’s wrong with ‘Madge’ (Maguire), what’s wrong with the Broncos,” Taylor said on the Footy Hacks Instagram account.
“One, his intensity. I’ve never seen a coach ride the game so hard.
“After a win, the world is a better place. After a loss, you’re off to a funeral and someone will be getting cooked at the video session.
“Two, training methods. Ninety-five per cent of the time on the field it’s full contact. The hardest pre-season I have ever done is with Michael Maguire.
“You haven’t done an NRL pre-season until you have done a Michael Maguire pre-season.
“Three, time efficiency. Let’s have a meeting for a meeting for a meeting. I’d get home from training and the kids don’t know who I am anymore. Hardly home.”
According to Code Sports, Taupau felt the full effects of Maguire’s brutal pre-season, collapsing during running on the first day in November.
Taylor also highlighted that he often felt “sore” while running out to play an 80 minute game, saying: “If Madge can clean that up, I’m sure he can turn the Broncos season around.”
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However, according to rugby league reporter Ben Dobbin, the damage has already been done by Taupau, with the club “absolutely filthy” and going into “meltdown”.
“They are extremely disappointed, they hate to be put into this situation and they’re trying to change the culture,” Dobbin said on Triple M’s Thursday Scrum.
“They will be meeting with the player in the coming days and there will be ramifications. They are absolutely furious about the fact he’s liked this. The senior playing group are unhappy.”
Brisbane superstar Payne Haas, meanwhile, put to bed suggestions Maguire had lost the playing group when fronting media on Thursday.
“That’s a bit of bollocks,” Haas said.
“We’ve got his back. Everyone’s got high belief in this group and what he does. We support him 100 per cent.”
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