Michael Maguire on Brisbane Broncos challenges, culture, and breaking the club’s 19-year premiership drought

It’s already been a tough start, but new Brisbane coach Michael Maguire has outlined plans to create a Penrith-style dynasty and backed players to buy into his vision to make the Broncos an NRL powerhouse again.

New Brisbane coach Michael Maguire has outlined plans to create a Penrith-style dynasty and backed enigmatic fullback superstar Reece Walsh to buy into his vision to make the Broncos an NRL powerhouse.

Maguire begins a new chapter on Wednesday when he leaves Sydney and crosses the Queensland border for a new life in Brisbane taking on one of the toughest jobs in Australian sport – coaching the Broncos.

But Maguire scoffs at suggestions he is inheriting a poisoned chalice, insisting the Broncos have the talent base to build another golden dynasty – if they are prepared to work hard enough in pursuit of excellence.

“You only get success off the back of hard work,” Maguire said. “And I know there are players at the Broncos that want success.”

Michael Maguire moves to Queensland on Wednesday. Picture: Steve Pohlner

THE CHALLENGE

Maguire reports for duty at Red Hill on Wednesday. He faces one of the most pressurised rebuilding tasks in the league.

The Broncos finished 12th last season. It was an appalling collapse from a grand final appearance 12 months ago, a free fall that cost club legend Kevin Walters his job.

Now Maguire must pick up the pieces and get the Broncos firing at a club where four consecutive coaches – Ivan Henjak, Anthony Griffin, Anthony Seibold and Walters – have failed to add to Wayne Bennett’s six premierships.

The Broncos are mired in the worst title drought in their history. It’s been almost two decades since the Broncos hoisted the NRL trophy in 2006. It’s not good enough for an $80 million empire that represents the richest club in the league.

If Maguire is daunted, he isn’t showing it.

“When I first went into the Broncos building a few weeks ago, I’d never seen anything like it,” Maguire said.

“The staff they had all working away, that’s the enormity of the Broncos and why I’ve always been attracted to coaching a club of this size.

“I don’t see pressure at all. I see the opportunity that comes with coaching such a great club.”

Darren Lockyer and Shane Webcke celebrate with the 2006 trophy.

THE DROUGHT-BREAKER

Maguire, who turns 51 in February, made his NRL coaching debut at South Sydney in 2012. At the time, the club was trapped in a premiership drought spanning four decades.

Within two years, Maguire broke through, leading the Rabbitohs to the 2014 premiership and snapping the Pride of the League’s 43-year title drought.

History shows Maguire can get the job done.

He believes the Broncos are in a premiership window right now.

“That’s why I’m here, that’s why you do this,” he said of his desire to bring a title to Brisbane.

“At this level, the whole reason why we’re doing it is to be successful and win premierships.

“At the Broncos, we’re always going to aim high. As a starting point, you look to make the finals and then it’s being in the grand final and winning it.

“The greatest part of being a coach is the effect you can have on people and the lives you can change.

“When you win a premiership, it’s unbelievable how much fun you could have as an organisation and the connection that gets built by players, staff and every employee in the organisation.

“But I can’t do this on my own. I want to build an environment that’s really well connected.”

THE CULTURE

There is a view some players at the Broncos have become “rock stars” and got carried away with their fairytale charge to the 2023 grand final.

Maguire has spent the past three weeks personally calling Broncos players to get their thoughts on the state of the club and their personal beliefs on the sacrifices required to be successful in the NRL.

Renowned as a disciplinarian who won’t tolerate slackers, Maguire says it’s not about cracking the whip at the Broncos, but getting Brisbane’s stars to have cultural buy-in and drive their own standards within his framework.

Maguire expects the Broncos players to buy-in. Picture: Matt Roberts/Getty Images

“I’ve spent a fair bit of time on the phone over the last week-and-a-half,” Maguire said.

“I’ve been getting to know the players and the staff, which has been really enjoyable.

“We’ll be starting our pre-season on November 1 and I want to build a culture that everyone in the club talks about.

“I’ll be asking the group … how do we do this? What do we stand for at the Broncos?

“It’s going to be our style.

“The guys have had the journey of last year, but that’s put behind us, and I’m about moving forward and setting expectations of being ready for the pre-season.

“Part of being a professional rugby league player at this level is how you turn up for pre-season. We’ll be creating high standards.”

Asked whether Broncos players are rock stars, Maguire said: “I’m not going to judge anyone. “Perceptions are built. All I can say is I’ve had conversations with the players and they all care very deeply for the club.

“I know there are certain players within the squad that, like Payne Haas for example, who want it (success). They’re very hungry.

“If they are prepared to do the work, the opportunities will be right in front of them.”

REECE WALSH

With his raw talent, attacking style and good looks, Walsh is Brisbane’s and the NRL’s golden boy and one of the most marketable players in rugby league history.

But with the hype and attention comes searing expectations and the wheels fell off for Walsh this season after his electrifying 2023 campaign.

The 22-year-old wasn’t helped by two major injuries and a sickening concussion in Origin I – ironically against Maguire’s former NSW team – but one chat with Walsh convinced Maguire ‘Reece Lightning’ is primed to strike again.

“I have no concerns with Reece,” he said.

“We had a great chat and I don’t want to make this all about him, because this (Broncos rebuild) will require a team effort.

“But I know he has the work ethic to live up to his potential.”

Maguire revealed how he attempted to lure him into the Kiwis set up a few years ago, when he had taken over as New Zealand coach.

“I knew he had New Zealand heritage, so I reached out, but Reece has a big love for Queensland and no doubt he will want to play for Australia one day,” he said.

“So he stuck with the Origin pathway. I love that Reece is in the Origin system because the best players learn even more at that level.

“There’s no doubt Reece is very talented and wants to be one of the greats of the game.

“To do that, you have to turn up consistently over periods of time, year after year, whether it’s Reece or whoever.

“What I like about Reece is that he loves the game. He could talk football all day and he wants to get better. I’m really looking forward to working with him.”

SIR ALEX

Maguire’s first senior appointment was coaching Wigan in the English Super League in 2010. During his two-year stint at the club before his return to Australia to coach Souths, Maguire was fortunate enough to connect with Manchester United icon Sir Alex Ferguson.

The legendary manager won a staggering 38 trophies, including 13 Premier League titles, during his 26-year reign at the Red Devils.

So when he agreed to address Wigan players, Maguire bottled his wise words.

“I was fortunate to walk into Manchester United to meet Sir Alex and you could feel it straight away … that air of expectation,” Maguire recalls.

Was he daunted meeting Sir Alex?

Former Manchester United manager Alex Ferguson. Picture: AFP

“Funny, I actually wasn’t,” said Maguire, who was 36 at the time.

“He was just one of us.

“He was an inspirational individual and a manager who just wanted to win.

“But what I learnt was he enjoyed bringing groups of men together and he had high expectations of them.

“When he started at Manchester United, he was in a tough position, but he persisted, and then he found the right group of players that took that organisation to all their highs.

“That’s what I’m looking forward to at the Broncos. Learning about the players, the fabric of what the Broncos are about and getting the best out of the organisation.”

THE PANTHERS

Over the past two seasons at the Kiwis and NSW, Maguire has mentored a posse of Panthers superstars that have underpinned Penrith’s remarkable four-title dynasty.

Maguire has rubbed shoulders with Dylan Edwards, Brian To’o, Stephen Crichton, Jarome Luai, Liam Martin, Isaah Yeo, James Fisher-Harris and Moses Leota.

They have opened his eyes as to why Penrith are so successful.

Standards. Discipline. Consistency. Professionalism.

All the hallmarks of success Maguire wants to drive at Brisbane to extract the best of Broncos stars such as Walsh, Haas, Pat Carrigan, Kotoni Staggs, Selwyn Cobbo and Ezra Mam.

Maguire has no doubt the Broncos have the youth and talent to build Brisbane’s most successful era since the club’s golden days of the 1990s.

Maguire’s NSW success

“When you look at Penrith right now, they have that connection and I’ve seen it across all the successful teams,” Maguire said.

“I’ve worked with a number of those Penrith guys and seeing it close up, there’s a reason why the Panthers have had such remarkable success.

“I see the work they do. I see how they have each other’s backs out on the field. The will of the player is always of their choosing.

“I’ve been lucky enough to work with Payne Haas in the NSW team and I can tell you now – Payne has got the makings of a number of those great Broncos players from the 1990s.

“There’s going to be many more of those within this Broncos squad I will have right now.

“Ultimately, it’s about what they are prepared to do together … I want us building something special to be there playing in October.”

Originally published as Michael Maguire on Brisbane Broncos challenges, culture, and breaking the club’s 19-year premiership drought