Senior Broncos players snap back at critics and defend coach

Senior Brisbane Broncos players have come out swinging as criticism surrounding their coach continues to mount after his signing.

They’ve been bashed from pillar to post in the wake of their humbling loss to the Sea Eagles, but senior Broncos players have hit back at suggestions that Michael Maguire’s coaching methods aren’t working.

The Broncos have lost six of their past seven games to drop out of the top eight ahead of a crucial derby against the Titans on Saturday that will double as Adam Reynolds’ 300th NRL match.

Maguire replaced Kevin Walters this season and brought a hardened edge before a ball was kicked, but that hasn’t delivered the results people were expecting with suggestions the players are already burnt out.

Critics have called out the playing group for not responding to Maguire’s methods, but centre Kotoni Staggs fired back at those claims and urged club bosses to show faith in the experienced coach.

Broncos players have defended coach Michael Maguire after their horror start to the year. Picture: Liam Kidston

“It’s a load of crap,” Staggs said.

“You’ve got to train hard. It’s a very tough sport, and if you don’t train hard, I don’t think you’re going to go far in this competition.

“The training load here is pretty even, and I think any other club is doing the same as what we’re doing.

“It’s just excuses from outside noise that we can’t control, we can just control what’s happening within these walls.

“The training’s good, the boys are sweet, we come here every day to training trying to turn the results around.

“They’re the only people that can get us out of what we what we’re going through right now.

“If we let that take control of us, then I guess we won’t be able to get ourselves out of where we are.”

The off-field drama has provided unwanted headlines ahead of Reynolds’ milestone match, with the veteran halfback fed up with the outside noise.

Adam Reynolds will play NRL game 300 this weekend. Picture: Brett Hemmings/Getty Images

“It’s easy to write headlines when you are not winning games,” he said.

“It’s external and doesn’t mean anything to us.

“The conversations we are having in these four walls are the important ones.

“If you listen to people on the outside, you end up on the outside, so for us we know what we are capable of and what type of football team we have.

“It’s easy to write from the outside. Unless they are in these four walls and know what is going on, it is irrelevant to us.

“People can say and write what they want but as a team and a club we are sticking solid and we will get through it.

“We will get a result and see what you write then.”