Rugby league legend Gorden Tallis and Michael Maguire are locked in a war of words, with the former Broncos back rower returning serve with a sobering reality.
On NRL360 on Tuesday night, Tallis claimed there was “absolutely” drama bubbling behind the scenes at Red Hill, after continuous pre-season criticism of Maguire’s coaching.
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Payne Haas’ decision to join the Rabbitohs stunned many and two losses to Hull KR and the Panthers have any poured fuel on the fire, fuelling the rumours of unrest.
When asked if there was any drama going on at the Broncos, Tallis said: “Yeah, absolutely… because of the way they’re trying to smother it.”
Maguire was pressed on the comments and criticism by reporters on Wednesday, saying: “I don’t pay too much attention, as coaches everyone wears that at some stage.
“My role is to look after my players, my staff and the organisation. If we do that well, look at the outcomes.”
Maguire was also asked if the criticism was “over the top” and was asked directly about Tallis’ claims.
“I don’t know, because I don’t pay too much attention to it, you can probably tell me more about that… they should come to training and have a look, simple as that,” he said.
In responding on Wednesday’s edition of NRL360, Tallis delivered a hilarious jibe — before revealing a telling act from the premiership-winning coach.
“I’ll stay away from Madge’s team, if he stays away from mine,” Tallis said, to which The Daily Telegraph’s Michael Carayannis asked: “The Titans?”.
“No, the Wests Panthers under 7s, mate it’s the happiest little squad I have seen. They got to training and have a good time,” he said.
“But I will tell you what Madge, you do hear it because you ring everybody and get up them. He rings everybody that says (things).”
The Australian’s Brent Read echoed Tallis’ sentiment, explaining the Broncos and Maguire are fully aware of the criticism being levelled against their coach.
“That’s the bit I found interesting, he said ‘I don’t hear it’. If it’s not him, it’s his manager ringing people up have an argument about what’s been said,” Read said.
“They are fully aware up there what is being said by the media and behind the scenes, there is no doubt about that.”
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However, NRL360 host Braith Anasta had a different take, revealing he feels “sorry” for the embattled coach — who only months ago lifted a premiership trophy.
He was of the belief their singular loss wasn’t enough to justify the noise surrounding Maguire’s position, but again Read wasn’t having a bar of it.
“But Braith, it’s not one game, it is everything else that has gone with it,” Read said.
“It’s Payne going, the whispers, the rumours, the rumblings by the team. The one game is the culmination of everything leading up to it.”
However, Read did reflect on the Broncos’ 2025 campaign.
Brisbane got off to a rocky start, and Maguire was copping it from all corners after rumours of his brutal pre-season training regime left players unsettled.
But, the Broncos were ultimately succesful and secured a premiership with a win over the Storm, beating the Panthers in a comeback victory in the preliminary final.
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“I have got to say, Madge was under a lot of pressure last year. I thought he handled it really well the way he came out of it,” Read said.
“I think after last year I wouldn’t have thought it is affecting him too much at the moment.
“You’d say by that press conference he is probably not overly happy about it, as you wouldn’t be. But I don’t think at the moment it is impacting him too much.”
Tallis was also of the belief one big factor has created the “noise” — Payne Haas.
“If Haas didn’t leave, there’d be no noise,” he said, but Anasta wasn’t so certain that the Queensland media wouldn’t deliver the same criticism.
“It comes with the territory. The Queensland media are asking questions from our show, but they are the ones that fire the bullets,” Anasta said.
“They eat their own up there and that unfortunately for Madge is something he would have known stepping into the gig.”
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