‘Gut punch’: Broncos’ coach inflicts ultimate act of betrayal

Michael Maguire has been brutally called out over a “gut punch” inflicted on an entire state as the real losers of his bombshell move emerge.

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Only months after urging the state to get behind the NSW jersey again, Michael Maguire has committed an act of treason so unforgivable he should be placed on the border quarantine list alongside fruit flies and Cameron Smith.

With the Tooheys barely dry on the winners shield after orchestrating a 2-1 series win over rivals Queensland, the Blues coach has callously walked out on New South Wales and defected to the enemy’s proxy.

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Shaking the southern state from a rare cocoon of Origin bliss, Maguire is set to take up the head coaching role at the Brisbane Broncos after being released from the final year of his deal with the NSWRL.

No doubt, this is a gut-punch to the NSW abdomen that has floored our state and left our impending dynasty gasping for air.

Not only does Maguire’s decision leave us coach-less, directionless and facing many gruelling months of pleading with Phil Gould.

Michael Maguire with Broncos CEO Dave Donaghy. Photo Steve Pohlner.

It also sucks because the only listless brand he should be rescuing is ours, not the failing flagship club of our interstate rivals and the home to a bevy of its stars.

But while we’d rather lick a cane toad than get stood-up for Queensland, the chief reason Maguire’s betrayal hurts is because he sold us the dream and we naively gobbled it up.

After rallying the public with steely rhetoric and tormenting Billy Slater about his “glass house”, it felt like we’d never lose another Origin series again.

But what really caused us to fall back in love was Maguire’s promises.

Speaking in the Sydney Morning Herald in May, not only did he sell his players the “true Blue” vision of being “the player you can rely on and trust”, he spoke on NRL360 of a bright future with the team.

“I love this space that I’m in at the moment” Maguire oozed after the series win.

“It’d have to be one hell of a reason to change what I’m doing because of what I was able to feel from the players.”

Ultimately, that “one hell of a reason” was not only committing treason against the state, but also rendering it a stepping stone to a job with a 12th placed also-ran.

Sure, the former Rabbitohs and Tigers coach has made no secret of his desire to return to first grade coaching — but shifting north to share trade secrets is far too soon.

Brisbane Broncos new coach Michael Maguire. Photo Steve Pohlner

Thankfully there is one silver lining for NSW from Maguire’s decision; at least it will annoy Queensland too.

Sure, nobody is shocked the Broncos have pursued Maguire.

After all, apprenticeships don’t get more tailor-made for coaching the Broncos than a year with NSW and its platoon of leaks, instability and grumpy former greats.

But culturally, Broncos’ history indicates hiring the Canberra-born 50 year old is a massive roll of the dice.

Whether Wayne Bennett, Anthony Griffin, Kevin Walters or Anthony Seibold, the Broncos have always preferred a Queenslander to coach their team.

The only exception was Ivan Henjak, although he’d resided within state lines long enough to be considered radicalised.

Whether coaches or daylight savings, Brisbane has historically rejected everything from New South Wales — a notion backed by club legend Shane Webcke.

“Mate, he coaches New South Wales! Spare me that,” Webcke bemoaned on SENQ radio.

“I’ve got nothing against him, but did we get rid of Kevvie Walters for that? I don’t think so.”

But don’t worry about Queensland and the Broncos — spare a thought for the real losers here.

Yes, NSW is no stranger to having its heart trampled upon in Origin, but it’s usually by the Queensland Spirit or our own poor selections or bonding misadventure.

Knowing our new saviour has inflicted the hurt – especially rumours he’s been in talks with Brisbane as early as August - is a soul-torching experience that makes Mark Coyne’s miracle try feel like morphine.

Dane Eldridge is a warped cynic yearning for the glory days of rugby league, a time when the sponges were magic and the Mondays were mad. He’s never strapped on a boot in his life, and as such, should be taken with a grain of salt.

Originally published as ‘Gut punch’: Broncos’ coach inflicts ultimate act of betrayal