Reece Walsh ‘bad blood’ question hangs over Michael Maguire’s head
Michael Maguire’s Broncos tenure will kick off with one huge question overshadowing his first day on the job.
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Michael Maguire has laughed off suggestions that there’s any “bad blood” between himself and Broncos superstar Reece Walsh after masterminding his Origin torment.
The 2024 NSW Origin mentor has been parachuted straight into the Broncos’ hot seat less than a week after the club sensationally sacked former coach Kevin Walters.
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After a horror season that saw the side finish 12th on the NRL ladder after winning just three of its final 13 matches, the axe came down on Walters, despite having taken the side to its first grand final since 2015 in 2023 — the club’s only one not coached by Wayne Bennett.
It’s a sign that the being good is not good enough at the Broncos, who are looking to return to their previous success.
Between joining the competition in 1988 and 2019, the Broncos missed the finals just four times, winning six premierships during that time.
However, the club has made the finals just once in the past five seasons — far from where the NRL’s biggest club would want to be.
It’s something Maguire wants to be part of fixing — and having the club’s biggest stars onside will be important.
And they come no bigger than Walsh.
While the 22-year-old fullback can be divisive, he’s undoubtedly a fan favourite, with young supporters flocking to training to get a glimpse.
It is an interesting prospect for Maguire, whose tactics for NSW had Walsh in the crosshairs during the 2024 State of Origin series.
Asked about how he was going to get the best out of Walsh, Maguire said: “Well I want to get to know Reece. That’s the first thing I want to do is get to know him as a person.
“Like all the players across the competition, they’re all talented, but again, getting to understand him and how he reads the game, educating him to the way I’d like him to play, like all of them.
“It’s not just around one player, we’re a team and you know there’s going to be certain expectations and standards we all live to and we’ll all be a part of creating it.”
Asked if there would be any “bad blood” after the Origin drama, Maguire said: “Nah. I’m sure we’ll have a laugh about that one.”
In Game 1, Walsh was wiped out in a sickening hit from Joseph Sua’ali’i that saw the Blues centre sent off.
It sparked a war of words between the states as Queensland coach Billy Slater appeared to imply Walsh was illegally targeted, with Maguire hitting back saying: “You have got to make sure you don’t live in glass houses.”
Maguire revealed later he was referring to Slater’s lengthy judiciary rap sheet during the course of his playing career.
While Walsh played in all three Origin matches this season, between round 12 and round 20, the star fullback played in just one club match after facing plenty of attention from the Blues stars.
After Game 3, Slater called for officials to review how Walsh was treated, fuming he was “certainly getting hit a fair bit without the footy”.
Maroons skipper Daly Cherry-Evans echoed his coach’s sentiments after the game and knew exactly what it felt like to be roughed up by the Blues.
“Billy can speak from experience. He has got a good view of what is going on at Origin level, so if he is saying something is going on, it is probably worth having a look at it,” he said.
“I have been through exactly what Reece has been through. You go through these periods where the opposition will try and come up with ways to stop you.
“Knowing the person he is, he has got the work ethic and the ability to overcome it. I have got so much belief in Reece Walsh.”
It’ll be interesting to see how Maguire’s relationship with Walsh is now they’re on the same team.
Maguire’s certainly also got the resume to turn the Broncos around, having coached Wigan to drought-breaking Super League and Challenge Cup titles, leading South Sydney to the club’s first premiership in 43 years in 2014.
He also coached the Wests Tigers in an ill-fated tenure which finished with the club’s 2002 wooden spoon season.
However, since then he masterminded New Zealand’s 2022 World Cup campaign — the only loss was a 16-14 loss to Australia in the semi-final — as well as a 30-0 drubbing of Australia in last seasons’ Pacific Championships final, and NSW’s State of Origin triumph in his first campaign at the helm.
Having long coveted another NRL job, Maguire said he had a “hunger” to win another NRL premiership.
“I’m not going to put a timeline (on a premiership) but I’m in a rush,” Maguire said.
“I’ll work every single day to make sure we improve.
“Winning a grand final would be extremely special but I know there’s a lot of work to be done starting today.”
Originally published as Reece Walsh ‘bad blood’ question hangs over Michael Maguire’s head
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