Brisbane Broncos leadership group seething over Michael Maguire reports

Brisbane’s form crisis has triggered speculation players aren’t responding to Michael Maguire’s hard-edged methods. But senior club leaders have launched a counterattack to the claims.

Senior Broncos players have slammed claims they are burnt out as a “load of crap” and have urged club bosses not to sack coach Michael Maguire as besieged Brisbane fight to save their season.

Centre Kotoni Staggs and skipper Adam Reynolds, key members of Brisbane’s leadership group, have addressed reports of a dressing-room revolt against Maguire ahead of Saturday night’s derby against the Titans.

A defiant Reynolds is seething at a perception Brisbane players aren’t putting in, saying: “We will get a result and see what you write then.”

Broncos stars and Maguire are under siege in the wake of Brisbane’s 34-6 collapse against Manly last Saturday night which consigned the club to 11th spot and six losses from their past seven games.

The form crisis has triggered speculation Brisbane players aren’t responding to Maguire’s hard-edged methods, with NRL legend Greg Alexander scathing in his assessment of Broncos stars.

“Cry me a river, you little wusses,” Alexander said on SEN Radio in relation to reports Brisbane players are complaining about Maguire’s training style.

“If that is true, none of them deserve to be playing NRL.”

But Staggs hit back at suggestions Brisbane players aren’t embracing Maguire’s desire for cultural change in a bid to deliver the Broncos’ first premiership since 2006.

“It’s a load of crap I’d say,” Staggs said.

“You’ve got to train hard.

“It’s a very tough sport, and if you don’t train hard I don’t think you’re going to go far in this competition.

“The training load here is pretty even, and I think any other club is doing the same as what we’re doing.

“It’s just excuses from outside noise that we can’t control, we can just control what’s happening within these walls.

“The training’s good, the boys are sweet, we come here every day to training trying to turn the results around.

“They’re the only people that can get us out of what we what we’re going through right now.

“If we let that take control of us, then I guess we won’t be able to get ourselves out of where we are.”

The Titans clash shapes a seminal moment in Brisbane’s season. The Broncos have the bye the following week, meaning victory represents a four-point win, a scenario that would catapult Brisbane (5-7) firmly back into top-eight contention.

Maguire is contracted to the Broncos until the end of 2027 and Staggs said it would be foolish to terminate the premiership coach just one season into a three-year deal.

Reece Walsh and Adam Reynolds train at Red Hill. Picture: Liam Kidston

Asked if Broncos powerbrokers should stick with Maguire, he said: “100 per cent. I don’t see why they shouldn’t. Obviously, we’re at where we are now at the game, I think it’s just for us players.

“He (Maguire) doesn’t go on the paddock at the end of the day, we are and we got to turn around and it’s up to us boys to do that.

“We (as a senior group) let him know how everyone else is going below.

“At the end of the day, we’re a part of him and we’re like the coaches with him as well, so we’ve got five of us (in the leadership group) and we’re here to help him out and to be successful here.

“We love Madge here, he’s done a great job, he’s come into this team and changed the club and changed the way we want to be on and off the field.

“But at the end of the day, it’s us players - we’ve got to stick together.”

Reynolds, who celebrates his 300th NRL game against the Titans at Suncorp Stadium, blasted suggestions of player unrest and that Brisbane players aren’t having a crack.

“It’s easy to write headlines when you are not winning games,” he said.

“It’s external and doesn’t mean anything to us.

“The conversations we are having in these four walls are the important ones.

“If you listen to people on the outside you end up on the outside, so for us we know what we are capable of and what type of football team we have.

“It’s easy to write from the outside. Unless they are in these four walls and know what is going on it is irrelevant to us.

“People can say and write what they want but as a team and a club we are sticking solid and we will get through it.

Coach Michael Maguire, Brisbane Broncos training, Red Hill. Picture: Liam Kidston

“We will get a result and see what you write then.”

A loss to the Titans would put enormous pressure on the NRL’s richest club, but Staggs said Brisbane players are determined to ensure Reynolds has a 300th game to celebrate.

“We didn’t give up (against Manly),” he said.

“I don’t know what you guys see differently.

“I don’t think we give up, there were times in the game we could have been much better, yes, but there’s no giving up.

“The coaches give us a game plan, we’ve just got to stick to it.

“If you see the ladder at the moment, I think it’s even across the park. We only have to win a couple more games and we’re still up there, so we’re still in the chance to be in the grand final and be in the top eight or top four.

“My belief hasn’t gone ... I believe we can do it.”