Why Broncos coach Michael Maguire dropped Jesse Arthars, Josiah Karapani for NRL Round 22 clash
Michael Maguire has revealed why he axed Broncos wingers Jesse Arthars and Josiah Karapani, and handed a recall to Selwyn Cobbo, after their shock loss to the Eels.
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Brisbane coach Michael Maguire has warned Broncos stars no-one can be complacent at the “business end” of the season after his shock recall of Selwyn Cobbo for Friday night’s clash against South Sydney.
Maguire wielded the selection axe by dumping his starting wingers Jesse Arthars and Josiah Karapani in the wake of last week’s 22-20 loss to the lowly Eels which left Brisbane’s top-four hopes on life support.
The relegation of Arthars and Karapani has opened the door for Deine Mariner and Cobbo, who has a golden chance to atone after being dropped himself to the Queensland Cup last month.
There is a view Maguire has taken a ruthless approach by axing his wingers given that Arthars has been one of Brisbane’s best this season and Karapani has scored six tries in six games since replacing Cobbo.
But Maguire has drawn a line in the sand at Red Hill, saying mediocrity won’t be tolerated five weeks out from the finals at a time when the title contenders are ramping-up their premiership assault.
Explaining his decision to relegate Arthars and Karapani, Maguire said no Bronco can take their jumper for granted as sixth-placed Brisbane face a scrap to remain in the top eight.
“We have a competitive squad and we didn’t hit the mark last week so I’m giving ‘Sel’ and ‘Deano’ the opportunity,” Maguire said ahead of the showdown with Souths at Suncorp Stadium.
“We didn’t nail the things we were after so we have to make sure we do it this week.
“Every game is important.
“We’re in the business end now and we have to show the way that we want to be as a team.
“When you have a competitive squad, I’m going to give guys an opportunity to play if they perform.
“With Karapani and Jess … there is an expectation of what we have spoken about as a back-field, but it’s up to them (Cobbo and Mariner) to take the opportunity now.”
Cobbo’s career at the Broncos appeared to be over last month when he signed a one-year deal with the Dolphins for 2026 and was dropped after Brisbane’s win over Canterbury in round 18.
But the former Queensland Origin star is back in the frame after posting a try, two line breaks, a try assist and 195 metres from 19 runs for Wynnum Manly against the Devils last Saturday.
Cobbo is determined to leave Red Hill with a maiden premiership ring and Maguire is backing the Cherbourg matchwinner to capitalise against the Rabbitohs.
“The door was always open for him, it was just a matter of performance,” he said.
“To play the long game, we have to get the back field working harder, too.
“Selly has been showing that, he has been excellent in the last few weeks (in the Queensland Cup) and his game on the weekend definitely showed that.
“Deano showed that the week before when he played first grade.
“The boys have set the expectations of what they are after in their games and when you don’t meet it, you have an opportunity to put those other boys in.
“This is another circumstance where (Cobbo and Mariner) can take their opportunity.”
Maguire makes no apologies for his perform-or-perish selection mentality, saying he wants the Broncos’ class of 2025 to develop the title-winning edge of Brisbane’s golden years which netted six premierships.
“I have been really pleased how the players have grabbed a hold of what we want to be at the Broncos and how we want to work,” he said.
“I have been fortunate to talk to quite a few of the Old Boys, you go back to the 1988 days and they talk about the hard work that was done to instil what the Broncos culture was about.
“That’s something there that you can look back on and it can be alive again here.
“That’s what we are chasing.”
MADGE ISSUES CHALLENGE TO HUNT
Broncos hooker Ben Hunt has vowed to lift his game after being challenged by coach Michael Maguire to provide more spark around the rucks in Friday night’s clash against South Sydney.
Hunt will celebrate his 200th game for Brisbane at Suncorp Stadium and the veteran utility wants to use the milestone match to make a statement in the fiercely-contested Broncos No.9 jumper.
Coach Maguire’s Dream Team combination involved deploying Hunt at hooker, but since his move from the scrumbase to the ruck a fortnight ago, the 35-year-old has struggled for impact.
Hunt has made just two runs for 13 metres with no try assists and no line breaks, plus eight missed tackles from 109 minutes of action in his two games at hooker since returning from a hamstring injury.
Some of Hunt’s greatest moments as a player have come from his cameos in the Queensland hooking role at Origin level and Brisbane’s man-of-the-moment is ready to terrorise Souths around the rucks.
Asked if he needs to spark his running game this week, Hunt said: “That’s definitely something I’ve got to bring into my game the next few weeks.
“Now I am back and have got a bit of match fitness and into the swing of things I have got to contribute a lot more with the ball.
“That definitely involves me running out of dummy half.
“When you get your opportunities you take off. The good ones are doing that. They get half a sniff, guys like Blayke Brailey (Sharks hooker) at the moment, and they are off and running.
“I’ve got to start doing that.”
In his return at hooker in round 19 against the Titans, Hunt failed to run once in 54 minutes but was honest in defence, contributing 25 tackles in Brisbane’s 26-14 victory.
Last week, Hunt struggled for penetration in Brisbane’s shock 22-20 loss to the Eels, running just twice and kicking once out of dummy half for 34 metres as he chalked up 34 tackles.
Maguire believes a dynamic Hunt at dummy half can turn the Broncos in a title-winning juggernaut and he has spoken to the Test utility about going for the jugular against Wayne Bennett’s Bunnies.
“We want to see a bit more,” Maguire said.
“I know there is a lot more in him, too.
“He’s had two games now and is probably trying to build the combination with the middles.
“’Hunty’ and I have had a really good chat this week and I’m sure he will put a big performance on.”
Hunt is mindful of the pressure being applied by super-sub Billy Walters, Brisbane’s 2023 grand-final hooker who has been in sizzling form over the past six weeks.
“Billy has come on and is doing a great job for us,” Maguire said.
“He is coming on and putting a lot of energy in and picking the right time.
“I’ll adjust that (game time for Hunt and Walters) according to the game, but he has come on and done a great job.”
Hunt has spent his 16-year NRL career almost exclusively in the halves, but says he has no issues finishing his Broncos career at hooker.
“I’m feeling comfortable now,” he said.
“It took a couple of games. I was out for nearly eight weeks so it is just about getting match fitness back.
“I have known the whole time that at some stage I was going to end up there. I was hoping it was going to be a bit sooner, but I was prepared for it and I’m looking forward to building combinations with the rest of the spine members.”
Hunt is off-contract next year but hasn’t ruled out extending his career and playing at the age of 37 in 2027.
“Some weeks I think it is (time to retire) and some weeks I don’t,” he said.
“There are too many parts of the game that I love and enjoy. You never really want to step away from it.
“Now I am getting older, you talk to a lot of guys that have retired and most of them say that they wished they could have stayed another year and kept going.
“We will get to the end of next year and see where we are at.
“It’s very special (to reach 200 Broncos games). I left the club all those years ago and didn’t think it was going to happen but I’ve been lucky enough to come back and it is something I’m pretty proud of.”
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