Ben Hunt fears his Origin career is over, Michael Maguire denies claims of a Broncos fan lockout
Maroons legend Ben Hunt has conceded his decorated State of Origin career is all-but over, admitting he may have played his last game for Queensland, after injury saw him miss the 2025 series.
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Broncos veteran Ben Hunt concedes his decorated Queensland Origin career is all-but over.
As he prepares for Friday night’s clash against the Eels at Suncorp Stadium, Hunt believes he may have played his last game for the Maroons after missing the entire 2025 Origin series.
Hunt played eight consecutive series for the Maroons between 2017-24, earning the Dick ‘Tosser’ Turner Medal after chalking up his 20th appearance in Game Three last year.
The 35-year-old was in contention for the 2025 series, only to suffer a hamstring injury in the lead up to Game One which ultimately saw him scratched for the entire campaign.
In his absence, Harry Grant stepped up brilliantly at hooker, with Tom Dearden and Kurt Mann playing key roles in the No.14 supersub role as Queensland defied the odds to win the series 2-1.
Hunt loves playing for Queensland and would never willingly turn his back on a Maroon jumper but says the Origin door may have closed on him for good.
“You’re always hopeful mate but I’m a bit of a realist,” he said.
“I watched the series and how they won it and I guess the ship might have sailed.
“I love that arena and just watching the decider, I felt so disappointed that I couldn’t be a part of it.
“You never know what can happen … I’ll always be hopeful and keen.”
Hunt has been one of Queensland’s most popular servants. He is a two-time winner of the Ron McAuliffe Medal as Queensland’s player of the series in 2019 and 2021 and famously scored the runaway try that sealed victory in the 2022 decider at Suncorp Stadium.
The 2026 season could represent Hunt’s final year in the NRL and the 345-game stalwart is happy to finish his career in the Broncos ‘ No.9 jumper if required.
“If this is the spine we’re going to have for the next two years, with Ezra Mam, Adam Reynolds and Reece Walsh, I’m more than happy at nine,” he said.
“You can’t be complaining about that.
“I’m always happy to fill-in at the scrumbase but it’s a pretty handy spot to be in.”
MADGE DENIES FAN LOCKOUT AFTER BRONCOS MEET-AND-GREET
Broncos coach Michael Maguire has hit back at claims he has locked fans out of the club in his quest to snap Brisbane’s 19-year premiership drought.
The Broncos hosted a rare open training session at Suncorp Stadium on Tuesday, but fans were warned not to expect interaction with the players.
In a post on the club’s website, the Broncos wrote:
“The training session is strictly viewing-only and no autographs or meet-and-greets will be possible during this time. After training is completed, the squad will leave the field to attend a recovery session.”
Despite the warning, the team posed for photos with the 300 fans in attendance and signed autographs for the many youngsters in the stands ahead of Friday night’s clash against Parramatta at Suncorp, where Brisbane is chasing a sixth straight win.
Maguire has made some changes to the way the Broncos operate since his arrival at Red Hill but insists Brisbane’s fans remain incredibly important to the club.
He is the first coach in the club’s 37-year history to ban media entirely from captain’s run sessions on match eve, allowing television cameras only 15 minutes per week to film the Broncos.
A few Broncos diehards still attend training sessions regularly and if Brisbane go on a finals run there will be thousands turning up to watch.
Maguire insisted fans were welcome at training, but the team had to focus on footy.
“They’re always welcome,” he said after Thursday’s captain’s run.
“I heard when the place gets going, the fans come from everywhere, so they’re always welcome.
“As you can see out there, there’s plenty of people getting signatures. They’re very open to it.
“We’ve got to understand that the players have got to get themselves ready for a game of footy. That’s part of it.
“They want to give themselves as much as they can to their fans, but also they’ve got to turn up (for a game).
“We’ve got a big game tomorrow. They’ve got to have their heads ready to go. There’s that balancing act.
“If the boys can play the way they know they can and perform for their people, there’s no reason why they can’t sit there.”
The Broncos have been enjoying record average crowds of 40,000-plus this season and that is set to continue as they charge towards the finals.
Maguire said the Broncos would never neglect their fans, which includes the NRL’s biggest membership base of more than 60,000.
“It might be perceived that way (closed off), but one thing I do know about this club is it’s about the people,” he said.
“We talk about it internally all the time. The fans and the fact that we have 40,000-plus and we’re all chasing sellout crowds, the players talk about it.
“We want to bring the people on the run. That’s part of it. The boys have found the style of footy we want to play, and we want to get the people behind it.
“I think as much as that might be the look, if you walk the streets, it’s definitely all about the people.”
JOCK’S EYE OF THE TIGER
Jock Madden is on the verge of quitting the Broncos with three clubs, including Wests Tigers, eyeing off the Brisbane playmaker.
Sport Confidential can reveal Madden is considering a return to the Tigers club with whom he made his NRL debut in 2021 before his move to the Broncos two years ago.
Madden is contracted to the Broncos until the end of 2026 but is resigned to leaving Brisbane after the club recently extended skipper Adam Reynolds for a further 12 months.
The 25-year-old was being groomed to succeed Reynolds and had played 15 games for the club over the past two years when the Broncos skipper was unavailable through injury.
But under new coach Michael Maguire, Madden has yet to play NRL this season and appears to have fallen well down the pecking order behind Reynolds, Ezra Mam, Ben Hunt, Billy Walters and teenager Coby Black.
Hull FC coach John Cartwright is keen on Madden given his ties to the playmaker as a former assistant coach at the Broncos to Kevin Walters.
But Hull FC face competition from Australia with the Tigers and a second NRL club having contacted his management to inquire about the possibility of Madden leaving the Broncos at season’s end.
The Broncos are battling a salary-cap crunch and would save around $350,000 by releasing Madden, who played 17 games for the Tigers, from the final season of his deal.
KEVVIE’S ROO FIGHT
Kevin Walters has three games to prove he should coach the Kangaroos in next year’s World Cup after Storm great Craig Bellamy emerged as a potential contender for Australia’s top job.
After being punted by the Broncos last year, Walters will make his coaching comeback in England when he leads the Kangaroos into the season-ending Ashes Tour.
The ARL Commission has handed Walters a short-term contract to replace Perth Bears coach Mal Meninga.
Walters stressed it was a 12-month deal, but with no Tests next year until the season-ending World Cup he essentially has three games in England to prove he is the right man for the job.
Walters is on probation and needs to impress in the UK to secure his long-term future at the helm of Australia’s Test team.
The ARLC was reluctant to hand Walters a longer-term deal given that would lock him into the 2026 World Cup – to be hosted in Australia and PNG.
They are keeping their options open.
Maroons and Kangaroos legend Cameron Smith was touted as a potential coach, but another Melbourne figure is looming as an option.
Bellamy is expected to finish his two-decade head coaching career with the Storm at the end of next season and will be a gun for hire.
While he didn’t play Test footy for Australia, Bellamy is regarded as one of the greatest coaches of all-time and would have the respect of the game’s top players.
Walters did a fine job replacing Meninga as coach of the Queensland Origin team in 2016, winning his first two series in charge.
He is now backing himself to do the same and lock up the Kangaroos job before a World Cup year.
SLAMMIN’ SAM EYES KERR
Warrington are continuing their recruitment drive with Sam Burgess’ Wolves circling Dolphins prop Josh Kerr.
Burgess secured former Broncos and Dolphins forward Tevita Pangai Jr on a one-year deal last week and now the Warrington coach is eyeing off TPJ’s ex-Redcliffe teammate Kerr.
Kerr remains off-contract at season’s end _ despite the 29-year-old being added to Queensland’s extended squad for the Origin decider a fortnight ago.
The rangy bookend has produced some barnstorming displays for the Dolphins over the past two seasons but could be squeezed out due to salary-cap pressures.
Warrington were first linked with Kerr two years ago and have made fresh moves to lure the Indigenous All Stars prop to the UK.
It’s understood the Dolphins want to keep Kerr but the veteran of 110 NRL games recently said he won’t take a major pay cut to remain at Redcliffe.
PVL SLAMS DOOR ON FUNDING
ARL Commission boss Peter V’landys has shot down suggestions the battling Titans should be given an NRL handout to help rebuild the club and fight the AFL’s threat on the Gold Coast.
New Titans owners Rebecca and Brett Frizelle are considering putting the broom through the Titans following four straight bottom four seasons and potentially this year’s wooden spoon.
They have launched a full-scale review of the club and a number of long-serving Titans staffers are looking over their shoulders.
The Titans have long been considered the NRL’s paupers, operating a shoestring budget compared to some of their bigger rivals like the $80 million Broncos.
But they aren’t going to receive any extra monetary help from the NRL in their quest to ward off the AFL’s rising Suns on the Gold Coast.
“We give every club enough money,” V’landys said of the NRL’s annual $17 million club grant.
“We pay for the players’ salaries, accommodation, travel and another $5 million on top of that so they can operate the commercial aspects of the club.
“The clubs have got no excuse not to be successful commercially.
“Our policy will remain that every club gets the same. If you start subsidising those sort of costs then the clubs become inefficient and they don’t try.
“You’ve got to give them some incentive and motivation otherwise they become bureaucratic and basically achieve nothing.
“A pillar of our competition is that everyone gets the same.
“We’re not giving the WA Bears any extra. We haven’t given the Dolphins any extra and we’re not going to give the PNG team any extra.”
EX-TITAN OPENS UP ON $40,000 DUDDING
Former Gold Coast rookie sensation Josiah Pahulu has spoken publicly for the first time since his move to Melbourne following a “messy” $40,000 contract spat with the Titans.
Pahulu was released immediately by the Titans in May after signing a two-year contract with Craig Bellamy’s Storm.
The ex-Queensland under-19s prop was courted by Melbourne and toured the Storm after becoming disillusioned with the Titans.
Pahulu, 21, was crowned the Titans’ rookie of the year in 2024 after playing 19 NRL games in his debut season.
But the club’s decision to drop him for their final round clash that year resulted in him missing out on a $40,000 contract bonus for playing 20 games.
Pahulu and his family reportedly felt dudded by the Titans and the bad blood proved too much to overcome despite Gold Coast’s attempts to offer him the bonus in a new contract.
“It was a bit of a messy one,” Pahulu said.
“As a young one, I just wanted to go out there and train and play.
“It is what it is and I wish them (Titans) well.
“I’m an Ipswich boy and (Queensland) will always be home.
“When I made the choice to go down to Melbourne I was thinking that I’ve got to do what’s best for myself and my family.”
Pahulu is yet to play for the Storm and has been biding his time in the Hostplus Cup with feeder club Brisbane Tigers.
He flew to Melbourne to meet Bellamy and Storm football boss Frank Ponissi and left convinced a move to Victoria was best for his NRL career.
“It’s been going well. It’s a bit different and the weather is cold but the environment is good,” Pahulu said.
“Nelson (Asofa-Solomona) has taken me under his wing. I’ve always tried to surround myself with good leaders and Nelson is one for me.
“As a young one, development (is more important) than anything. They’ve got a good reputation as hard workers and that’s the type of person I want to be.
“Surprisingly, (Bellamy) is a happy chap. The media makes him look a bit intimidating but he is a good person and bloke.”
BRISBANE’S UK MISSION
The Broncos are ramping up their raid on the UK with Brisbane’s recruitment boss Simon Scanlan making his second trip the Old Dart.
Scanlan first travelled to England in April and the Broncos recruitment chief is currently back in the northern hemisphere as Brisbane look to build contacts with Super League clubs.
The Broncos are mindful of the impending talent drain as two new franchises, Perth and Papua New Guinea, prepare to raid the NRL player market in the march towards a 20-team competition.
Scanlan came home empty-handed from his last trip but is gradually laying a foundation for the Broncos to mine the English market.
TRANS-TASMAN WAR OF WORDS
Broncos coach Michael Maguire has hit back at fears the Warriors could steal Brisbane’s brightest stars as a development turf war breaks out between the two NRL rivals.
As revealed by this masthead, the Warriors have set up a development academy in Logan _ the region that has produced a host of NRL stars, including former Broncos skipper Corey Parker.
The Warriors famously poached superstar fullback Reece Walsh from the Broncos, but Maguire is backing Brisbane’s Logan-based Academy to stave off the New Zealand threat.
Asked if he is worried about the Warriors’ incursion into Logan, Maguire said: “No, not at all.
“I think most teams have put something into New Zealand at some stage.
“It’s happening all over the place.
“The Broncos have got a huge Academy system. We’ve got some great players coming through.
“What I see now with our Academy, it’s a beauty here.
“The opportunities that kids have in and around what the club delivers for them is pretty special.
“You can see that with the number of the players that we’ve got.
“All the young boys that have come into the squad are basically from our Broncos Academy.”
The Warriors have for years had to battle Australian clubs mining the best talent in New Zealand, with the Broncos having signed Kiwi young guns such as Jordan Riki and Xavier Willison.
“Most teams have (signed New Zealand kids),” said Maguire, the former Kiwi Test coach.
“Everyone’s had a battle over there at some stage.
“I’ve got a couple of contacts over there.”
TAUMALOLO’S TRIBUTE
Work is set to begin on a television documentary to chronicle the remarkable career of Cowboys champion Jason Taumalolo.
Sport Confidential can reveal filming will take place to pay tribute to Taumaolo’s remarkable journey from unknown Kiwi kid to one of the greatest forwards in NRL history.
Taumalolo made his NRL debut for the Cowboys as a 17-year-old in 2010 and 15 years later, the 115kg wrecking ball is still soldiering on in Townsville.
It’s an inspirational show of longevity from the 32-year-old, who helped deliver the Cowboys’ maiden premiership in 2015 before winning the Dally M Medal with Cooper Cronk in 2016.
Taumalolo has played 281 first-grade games for the Cowboys and should crack the 300 mark before his 10-year contract expires at the end of 2027.
NO EXPANSION STORM CLOUDS
ARL Commission boss Peter V’landys is keen for more expansion but insists a 20th NRL team won’t come from Melbourne.
There has been a push for a second Melbourne team given the mighty success of the Storm, who have been the most consistent club of the past two decades under Craig Bellamy.
There is no guarantee a 20th team will come from Christchurch in New Zealand and there is a view a second Melbourne side would build on the fine work of the Storm, rather than cannibalise the Craig Bellamy-coached franchise.
Asked if Melbourne will see a second NRL team, V’landys said: “No, probably not.
“In saying that though you should never say never because our participation rates in Victoria are the highest of any state at the moment.
“But the Melbourne Storm are doing a great job in promoting rugby league.”
COBBO’S COUNTRY CRUISE
Broncos flyer Selwyn Cobbo is set to make a 1500km trek to outback Queensland to play in a town with a population of 300 people.
Cobbo will be the headline attraction in this weekend’s Hostplus Cup Country Week clashes.
While the Broncos tackle Parramatta before 40,000 at Suncorp Stadium on Friday night, Cobbo will be making his way to Augathella, 750km west of Brisbane.
Cobbo has been named on the wing for Wynnum-Manly in their top three clash with Norths Devils at Brassington Park.
It’s a far cry from the bright lights of Lang Park.
Augathella recorded a population of 328 people in the 2021 census.
The closest ‘big’ town is Charleville – population 3000 – which is 85km south.
Still, there could be thousands at the game as footy-starved fans travel long and far to get a glimpse of a Queensland Origin star.
Cobbo was dumped to reserve grade a month ago by Brisbane coach Michael Maguire and faces an uphill battle to make his way back into the NRL with the Broncos on a five-game winning streak.
The Queensland Government and Ford have helped fund Country Week which will see seven Hostplus Cup matches head bush.
Popular QRL CEO Ben Ikin will be a crowd favourite in Charters Towers where the Townsville Blackhawks play Souths Logan.
Matches will also be played in Emerald, Gayndah, Yarrabah, Moranbah and Goondiwindi – dangerously close to the NSW border.
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