Brisbane Broncos legend Gorden Tallis questions incoming coach Michael Maguire’s credentials

Brisbane legend Gorden Tallis has continued his running stoush with Michael Maguire, questioning whether the incoming Broncos coach is a better option than Kevin Walters. WATCH THE VIDEO

Gorden Tallis. Picture: Tara Croser.

Brisbane legend Gorden Tallis doesn’t believe incoming Broncos coach Michael Maguire is a better option than Kevin Walters, who was sensationally axed by the club last Thursday.

Tallis also declared he would refuse an olive branch from the Broncos and Michael Maguire telling the newly appointed coach to ‘lose my number’.

Tallis has had a frosty relationship with Broncos for almost two decades after falling out with then coach Wayne Bennett during his final year at Red Hill in 2004.

Tallis, a long-time confidant of Walters, who was unceremoniously axed as Broncos coach last Thursday, said he would not return to Red Hill even if Maguire asked him to be a part of his rebuild of the club.

Maguire worked tirelessly during his short tenure as NSW coach to ensure former Blues players and ‘old boys’ were a crucial part of his campaign in 2024.

It’s expected Maguire will take a similar approach at the Broncos but Tallis, speaking on NRL 360, flatly refused to have any official dealings with the club.

“Lose my number brother,” Tallis said in jest when it was suggested that Maguire reach out to him.

“I’m a Titan.

Gorden Tallis has questioned whether Michael Maguire can win a premiership at Brisbane. Picture: Tara Croser.

“That’s not actually against Madge because Kevvie has asked me on about five occasions but I have knocked him back and he’s one of my good mates. So I’m never going back to the Broncos, I’m a Titan. That’s full stop.”

When pressed on the issue, Tallis insisted his stance was nothing personal against Maguire and would meet the new Broncos coach “for a beer.”

But Tallis’ comments are sure to add another chapter in the ongoing feud with Maguire, who led the NSW Blues to a series win in July.

Tallis and Maguire found themselves in a verbal stoush during this year’s State of Origin after the Blues coach accused the Maroons of ‘living in glass houses’ after Tallis questioned NSW’s tactics in game two of the series.

Maguire, who finalised a deal to join the Broncos on Monday night, helped guide South Sydney to a title in 2014, breaking a 43-year drought, but was ultimately sacked in 2017.

But Tallis questioned Maguire’s NRL coaching credentials after he was sacked as Wests Tigers midway through season 2022 after three and a half years at the Concord club.

Tallis was adamant that Maguire was not the best option to take over from Walters in 2025.

“So, did they move onto a better coach?,” Tallis asked.

“2014, that’s a long time ago. It’s a hell of a long time ago.

“The last time he coached a club, did you watch (Tales from) Tiger Town? How did he end at Souths by the way too?

“I don’t think he’s better than Kevvie... if it was Trent Robinson, if it was Ivan Henjak, if it was Craig Bellamy...”

Tallis insisted the Broncos should have cast a wider net before appointing Maguire as the new head coach.

“It’s one of the biggest brands in sport,” Tallis said.

Michael Maguire won a premiership with South Sydney in 2014. Picture: Bradley Kanaris/Getty Images

“Did they throw it out to many applicants?

“Who did they interview for the job? What if Trent Robinson goes ‘I don’t really want to be at the Roosters anymore’, what if Cameron Ciraldo goes ‘I might want a sea change’.

Tallis doubled down when pushed by the NRL 360 panel, who believed Maguire’s hard nosed approach built on work ethic and attitude, would be a good fit for the Broncos.

“So why didn’t Parramatta take him?,” Tallis said.

“So why didn’t he go to the Dragons if he was the best coach? Why didn’t he go to Manly? Why didn’t the Bulldogs pick him up if he’s the best coach?

The Broncos terminated Walters last Thursday night following a wide-ranging internal review in the wake of Brisbane’s disappointing season after finishing in 12th spot on the NRL.

Walters’ axing came just less than 12 months after he guided the club to last year’s grand final, which they lost to Penrith.

But Tallis believes Brisbane club bosses should have given Walters at least the first eight weeks of the 2025 season to prove he could turn the club’s fortunes around.

“I think if you got to Magic Round and said he wasn’t good enough anymore, you just move on,” Tallis said.

“(Assistant coaches) Ben Te'o and Trent Barrett, I’ve spoken to one of those, I’m not going to name who but he said it’s a really easy fix. It’s not much and we’ll turn it around easy.”

Tallis also slammed Brisbane’s ‘front office’, after Walters became the fifth coach sacked at the club in 15 years.

“If you’re going for premierships, you go for Wayne Bennett,” Tallis said.

“I don’t care (who coaches) but to people running the club, Wayne Bennett wasn’t good enough, but good enough for Souths and Peter V’landys wanted him to build a club.

“Anthony Seibold, who has done a great job at Manly, he wasn’t good enough.

“Kevvie wasn’t good enough. If they keep moving on coaches the club’s not going to move forward.”