By Adrian Proszenko and Michael Chammas
NSW Origin coach Michael Maguire has been identified as Brisbane’s preferred successor for Kevin Walters, with the Broncos set to try and secure him as coach within the next few days.
Sources with knowledge of the situation speaking on the condition of anonymity due to the confidential nature of discussions told the Herald that Broncos powerbrokers had already held discussions with Maguire to gauge his interest in the job.
NSW Blues coach Michael Maguire.Credit: Kate Geraghty
Maguire has indicated his willingness to continue those discussions pending a conversation with the NSWRL, to whom he is still contracted for next year’s State of Origin series.
The former South Sydney premiership-winning coach is believed to have the experience and toughness to bring a winning culture to Red Hill and to get the best out of a talented but sometimes underperforming roster.
Maguire’s stocks have risen since he was last considered for the job to replace Wayne Bennett at the end of 2018 season, a position that was ultimately given to Anthony Seibold. He led the Kiwis to the top of the summit with a 30-0 rout of Australia in last year’s Pacific Cup finale, before orchestrating an epic, comeback NSW series victory.
If the Broncos do secure his signature, it may ruffle a few feathers north of the border going by what club legend Shane Webcke said on Friday.
“Completely and utterly befuddled by it … give Kevvie a chance,” Webcke told SENQ’s Pat and Heals on Friday morning.
And then this from the former Queensland Origin prop at suggestions that Maguire could replace his former teammate.
“Mate, he coaches New South Wales! Spare me that. I’ve got nothing against him, but did we get rid of Kevvie Walters for that? I don’t think so.”
However, given that it has been almost two decades since Brisbane last won a premiership, the Broncos arguably have more to worry about than what state their coach calls home.
Kevin Walters talks about parting with his beloved Broncos.Credit: Getty Images
Nevertheless, club powerbrokers will want to convince a core group of senior former players who still to accept Maguire. Those players still hold enormous sway at the club. They were part of a concerted campaign to install Walters into the job four years ago, even though it meant getting their hands bloody in toppling his predecessor, Seibold, to ensure it happened.
On Friday, Walters broke down in tears while facing the media at Red Hill alongside Broncos chief executive David Donaghy.
“My time here as the head coach of the Broncos has finished,” said Walters, who will remain a Broncos ambassador.
“I was fortunate enough to play here as a player and then in the last four years as the head coach, I’ve been an assistant coach here as well, so my time here has been very joyful.
“I’ve got to say a lot of my time here has been good times. Like everyone, you have your dry moments and there are moments where you learn and you get better. That’s certainly been the case for me the last four years.
“I am really proud of the fact that when I arrived here, as Dave said, the club wasn’t in great shape. I feel that myself along with a lot of other good staff and people here have shaped the club into [a better place]. The proudest moment was last year’s grand final.
“My son and all my family in attendance is really nice. This year, obviously, a tough year for everyone, including fans and, and sponsors and members.
“Stick with the club. It’s a great club. And I’m sure that they’ll be back challenging again before too long.“
Four-time premiership winning prop Shane Webcke.Credit: Colin Whelan © Action Photographics
Walters thanked his family and the club’s original owners in a speech that lasted less than two minutes.
Donaghy refuted suggestions Walters had lost the dressing room or that the players weren’t taking their share of responsibility for making only one finals series during his tenure. However, he provided few details about the review or what he was looking for in a replacement coach.
“I think the reality is for us that we acknowledge that, as an organisation and as a club, we can be better, we can do better,” Donaghy said.
“We’ll have those discussions first internally and then put the pieces in place to ensure that we continue to spring off the pieces that Kev’s put in place here over the past four years into next year.”
Donaghy paid tribute to Walters’ contribution over a long period and said both parties agreed it was time for a change.
“In a football club, you try to create that environment where there’s some real raw honesty and we’ve been able to have that,” Donaghy said.
“Everyone at the organisation loves Kev, they love what he stands for, they love the respect and the passion that he’s got for the club.
“We understand that we acknowledge that. We want to, and we strive to treat that accordingly. Sometimes you don’t always get it right. But through those discussions, we’ve both reached that point where there’s just acceptance that now’s the right time for change.”
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