NRL 2024: Michael Maguire opens up on Brisbane’s Old Boys embracing him, addressing the ‘rockstar’ mentality at Broncos

Michael Maguire has opened up on being embraced by Brisbane’s Old Boys, while also making clear his intentions to address the polarising ‘rock star’ mentalities that contributed to the club’s dramatic crash this year.

Incoming Broncos coach Michael Maguire says Brisbane’s Old Boys have embraced him and ensuring the club’s polarising “rock stars” are humble will be one of his chief priorities.

Maguire will return to Brisbane next week to begin plotting a Red Hill resurgence after replacing Kevin Walters as head coach of the Broncos.

Walters departed the Broncos a fortnight ago following the club’s crash from beaten grand finalists last year to 12th, missing the finals for the third time in four seasons at the helm.

The appointment of Maguire, this year’s NSW Origin coach, was met with stinging criticism from Broncos legends Gorden Tallis and Shane Webcke, long-time teammates and friends of Walters.

Tallis reportedly declined an invite from Maguire to catch-up, but the new coach said he had been warmly welcomed, particularly by ex-Broncos players.

“I’ve been a coach for a while and I’ve been through circumstances (Walters’ departure) that the club’s gone through,” Maguire told SEN on Wednesday.

Michael Maguire says he’s been embraced by Brisbane’s Old Boys. Picture: Steve Pohlner

“There’s only a few opportunities in your life where you get to work at such a big club. (To get) the opportunity to be able to do that now … I’m very grateful.

“The way people have accepted me, and the amount of people that have rung me from up there, old players, ex-players … it’s actually made me feel very welcome in that sense.

“I just can’t wait to get up there. I’m up there next week and we will get stuck in.”

Maguire, 50, made a fleeting visit to Brisbane for the announcement of his three-year appointment before returning to Sydney to prepare for his permanent move.

Given they missed the finals, the Broncos will begin pre-season training in early November and one of Maguire’s first tasks will be getting to know Brisbane’s star-studded playing group.

With a host of big personalities like Reece Walsh, Ezra Mam and Pat Carrigan, the Broncos have been accused of having “rock star” mentalities that contributed to this year’s dramatic crash.

Addressing the ‘rock star’ mentalities of Brisbane’s big personalities is a priority for Maguire. Picture: NRL Photos

Maguire said he wanted to meet the group before making any assumptions, but instilling humility would be a major part of his Red Hill revolution.

“You hear all the noise (about the rock stars). At the end of the day until I meet someone, that’s when I’ll judge them,” he said.

“There’s certain things that I know that we need to do as a group to see success and be successful.

“I’ve been very fortunate to be around a lot of great players and they’ve all got a pretty similar personality and trait, and that’s wanting to be the best.

“Keeping your feet on the ground is one of them. You need to be humble. You need to be respectful and grateful with all the things that you have.

“They can be taken away from you very quickly. They’re things that I’ll be talking about as I progress with the players.”

Maguire is renowned for being a hard taskmaster and Broncos players are bracing for a brutal pre-season following this year’s failure.

The 2014 South Sydney premiership coach said he would challenge Brisbane’s group to do what it takes to experience NRL title success.

“I’ve only ever seen success come from players that want to work hard and be the best they can be,” he said.

“That’s what I’ll be asking from the players. It’s a big commitment to be a professional rugby league player.

“It’s a big commitment to be the best, if you want to be the best. It comes with sacrifice and a team coming together and spending time and working out what we want to be seen and how we want to be seen as a group, but also too for the people of Brisbane.

“That’s a big part of the character space that I’m going to take the players to in the early days.

“I’ve always said that the harder you work, the more things come into your life. If you can do that, then you’re going to get an opportunity.”

Originally published as NRL 2024: Michael Maguire opens up on Brisbane’s Old Boys embracing him, addressing the ‘rockstar’ mentality at Broncos