Michael Maguire has reportedly sat down with Broncos powerbrokers, emerging as the frontrunner to take over Kevin Walters’ head coaching role.
That is according to The Daily Telegraph, who are reporting Brisbane bosses have begun negotiations to secure Maguire’s services, with a potential deal finalised within the week.
Maguire is reportedly willing to resign as the NSW Blues coach to take over the Broncos, having won an Origin series earlier this year.
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The 50-year-old is reportedly at the top of the list of Broncos coaching candidates, with Brad Arthur, Jason Demetriou, Josh Hannay and Trent Barrett also being considered.
However, Maguire has now rocketed to the top of that short list, having previously applied for the Red Hill job in 2018 which eventually was handed to Anthony Seibold.
Maguire remains contracted to the NSWRL for the 2025 season, however they reportedly won’t stand in his way should he secure an NRL job.
The former Tigers coach has won premierships both in the NRL and in the Super League, winning a title with South Sydney in 2014.
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In 2023, he also masterminded a Pacific Championships victory for New Zealand, flogging the Kangaroos 30-0 in the final to hand Australia their biggest ever loss.
Broncos chief executive Dave Donaghy refused to be drawn on whether Maguire was the club’s leading contender when speaking to News Corp.
“Firstly we need a coach and we appreciate that pre-season starts in a matter of five or six weeks,” he said.
“So there’s an onus on me and others in the organisation to really get the whip out and move quickly.
“We understand pre-season is a big, important part of the program and we won’t take too long to move on that.
“We do appreciate there’s a period of time and a finite amount of time where we’ve got to get ready. Now that it’s happened, people inside and outside will process it.
“We’ll go to work now to ensure that we identify the best person to come in to take us in the future.”
Maguire’s last stint as an NRL coach was rocky, having battled during his four seasons at the Tigers before he eventually walked away from the role.
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Walters, meanwhile, fronted the media on Friday in an emotional press conference following a brutal review into the club’s disappointing 2024 season.
“I’d like to thank the original owners of the club, Barry, Paul, Steve and Gary for initially starting the club,” Walters said.
“I think we’re all indebted for those that started this great club and I was fortunate enough to play here as a player and in the last four years as the head coach, I’ve been an assistant coach here as well.
“So my time here has been very joyful I’ve got to say. A lot of my time here has been good times. Also, like everyone has their dry moments and their moments where you learn and you get better.
“That’s certainly been the case for me in the last four years. I am really proud of the fact that when I arrived here, as Dave said, the club wasn’t in great shape. I feel that myself along with a lot of other good staff and people here have shaped the club into (what it is) today.”
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