NRL concerned over item at Brisbane Broncos training

The Brisbane Broncos say everything is above board after a sight at their first week of pre-season training caught the NRL’s attention.

Michael Maguire has wasted no time putting his stamp on the Brisbane Broncos.

Their disappointing season ended two months ago, and the Broncos are back on the training track under their new coach as they look to bounce back in 2025.

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Maguire was made coach after Kevin Walters was sacked in September and it’s all systems go for the new man in charge at Red Hill.

Many NRL clubs, including the Broncos, began pre-season training in early November, with young players and others on train-and-trial deals hitting the training paddock.

Other senior players including Selwyn Cobbo and Payne Haas were back to get a head start on pre-season training.

A notoriously hard task master, Maguire put the Broncos through their paces in the first week of pre-season training as he looks to put his imprint on the club’s training standards.

Players were seen sweating up a storm and the Courier Mail reports the sight of vomit buckets perched around training, including on exercise bikes, raised eyebrows at the NRL.

Brisbane Broncos first day of training for 2024, complete with vomit bucket. Picture: Nigel Hallett

Player welfare, particularly in the hot summer months, is front of mind for the NRL, which has introduced new heat check measures following the death of Manly youngster Keith Titmuss four years ago.

His passing led to a coronial inquest and recommendations to review pre-season training guidelines.

The sight of Bronco players pushing themselves to the limit has reportedly prompted the NRL to make inquiries after footage of the demanding training sessions emerged.

“All our staff are well aware of the new pre-season guidelines,” Broncos CEO Donaghy said.

”In fact, our staff did extra training beyond the NRL requirements to ensure our players would be looked after in the pre-season given the climate in Brisbane. We’re also fortunate to have (former NRL elite performance manager) Troy Thomson on our staff.

“We test our players in the pre-season, but we also respect the rules and make their safety the utmost priority.”

Broncos players were seen drinking plenty of fluids and draping wet towels on their heads.

Broncos players were working up a sweat. Picture: Nigel Hallett

Coach Michael Maguire casts an eye over Broncos training. Picture: Nigel Hallett

Under the new training rules, heat tests must be conducted before every training session and cooling breaks in shade must be accounted for.

Ice towels, misting fans and extra drinks must be available to the players where possible.

The Courier Mail reports every NRL club is expected to assess players for risk factors to heat using their total body mass.

Clubs have been instructed to immediately move a player into the shade if they look worse for wear, wand have their rectal temperature measured.

Ice baths are the recommended method for cooling, along with a method where a player lies down on a tarp, four teammates hold a corner each and cold water and crushed ice are poured on the player in the tarp sheet.

Maguire is known to be an old school coach and will leave no stone unturned in pre-season as he looks to bring the Broncos back up the ladder after they finished 12th this year.

Players did their best to stay cool. Picture: Nigel Hallett

Payne Haas is back on deck. Picture: Nigel Hallett

All signs are looking positive so far for the Broncos, with Reece Walsh signing a four-year contract extension tying him to the club until 2029.

Maguire has won the 2014 NRL premiership with the Rabbitohs, a Super League title with Wigan, coached New Zealand to a 30-0 thrashing of Australia last year and steered NSW to just the third State of Origin decider win in Queensland.

When he was unveiled at Brisbane’s new coach, Maguire said his one goal was to help Brisbane’s talented roster win a premiership.

“I’m extremely hungry to win another competition. I’m not going to put a timeline on it but I’m in a rush like all of us. We all want to have success.”

More experienced Broncos players will start to return to training on November 11 and Test players including Pat Carrigan and Jordan Riki will aim to get some training in before Christmas.

Originally published as NRL concerned over item at Brisbane Broncos training