Broncos coach Michael Maguire labels effort as ‘not good enough’ after loss to South Sydney
Brisbane Broncos coach Michael Maguire has called for his players to ‘have a look in the mirror’ after they imploded against the Rabbitohs slumping to their fourth loss from the past five games.
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A fuming Broncos coach Michael Maguire has lashed his “bumbling” players, slamming Brisbane’s shock 22-14 collapse against Souths on Friday night as “not good enough”.
Maguire was left to rue another inconsistent display from a star-studded Broncos side that goes into Sunday week’s clash against the Dragons with a shaky 5-5 record after their Bunnies implosion.
The Broncos led 14-0 halftime at Sydney’s Accor Stadium, only to blow a handy advantage in driving rain with a woeful second stanza bereft of energy and intent.
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Maguire has staunchly defended his side over the first nine weeks, but after watching Brisbane slump to their fourth loss in five weeks, the Broncos coach has had enough.
Asked if Brisbane’s players have an attitude problem, Maguire said: “I will find out this week.
“We have to look in the mirror and say what do you need to do to get it done.
“As a group we have to learn how to do that or we will keep bumbling along the same way we have been.
“It’s not good enough - simple as that.”
Adding salt to Brisbane’s wounds, marquee recruit Ben Hunt hobbled off in the 67th minute with a hamstring injury, opening the door for Ezra Mam to return against the Dragons.
Maguire was tight-lipped about the prospect of Mam answering an SOS, but if scans rule Hunt out of action, the controversial pivot appears certain to earn a recall.
His nine-game suspension over for a drug-driving ordeal, Mam will return to action for feeder club Souths Logan on Sunday.
“I will go through the game first before I decide which way we go,” Maguire said of Mam’s selection prospects.
The injury-ravaged Rabbitohs were the latest team to stick it to Brisbane in midfield, leaving Maguire searching for answers.
“As a group, we have to make sure they take ownership,” he said.
“It was there for us, it was disappointing. It wasn’t good enough, simple as that.
“It’s irrelevant if you can’t do it for 80 minutes.”
Broncos skipper Adam Reynolds wouldn’t speculate on reuniting with his 2023 grand-final halves partner Mam.
“Like ‘Madge’ (Maguire) said, we’ll review this game,” he said.
“Ezra has been training well, but he has a game to get through.”
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