NRL 2024: Michael Maguire’s pre-season act signals start of Brisbane Broncos rebuild ahead of 2025

Brisbane are set for their first training session of the 2025 pre-season, with new coach Michael Maguire sending a firm message about the new standards at the club without even opening his mouth, writes Robert Craddock.

New Brisbane Broncos coach Michael Maguire. Photo - Zak Simmonds

This much is certain for any Broncos player sweating bullets over the arrival of new coach Michael Maguire. They will be sweating even more today.

Sometimes the best messages are delivered by actions rather than words and Maguire has chosen the novel timeslot of 1.30pm for the Broncos’ first training session of the season on Monday.

The temperature is expected to be just under 30C and there will be buckets of sweat shed before stumps are called around 3pm.

Maguire’s mandate from the Broncos is simple – rebuild the club.

Set high standards. Be strong. Make the club great again.

Some players will be made. Others will buckle and may break. But the club won’t die wondering.

Michael Maguire is ready to physically test his players during pre-season. Picture: Zak Simmonds

The last two coaches – Anthony Seibold and Kevin Walters – fell victim to player power, but the board is bracing itself to be less sympathetic to player gripes under Maguire who has been hired as a no-nonsense agent of change.

The Broncos have not won a premiership since 2006. Since that time seven different clubs have won titles. The fans are impatient.

Significantly, the Broncos’ first training will not be at the palatial main training ground but the less glamorous venue across the road in front of the unpretentious old gym where the likes of Gene Miles and Greg Dowling and Allan Langer used to call home.

The Broncos won all of their six premierships out of that gym. There is a theory the earthiness of it actually helped their stars stay grounded. Opulence has bred entitlement.

Michael Maguire has a number of big calls to make ahead of 2025. Picture: Richard Walker

For all of the sweat and toil which will be on show on Monday, Maguire’s most significant moves over the next few weeks will come off the field.

He must decide how aggressively the club pursues former star Ben Hunt who has split with the Dragons.

If Ezra Mam is sidelined for an extended period following the fallout from a car crash in which he was allegedly driving unlicensed and with drugs in his system then Hunt’s signing would be a gift from the heavens.

The Dolphins will be tough opponents for Hunt’s signature given they have more salary cap space.

If signed by the Broncos, there is also a chance Hunt could stay an extra season to help the club negotiate the huge void that will be left by Adam Reynolds’ retirement at the end of the 2025 season.

Replacing Reynolds is a major issue. Winning an NRL premiership without a gifted halfback is like trying to climb Mt Everest in slaps which is why a move for Hunt must be given serious consideration.

Originally published as NRL 2024: Michael Maguire’s pre-season act signals start of Brisbane Broncos rebuild ahead of 2025