Martin Taupau to front Broncos leadership group over Madge critique endorsement, likely played last game for club

Adam Reynolds has weighed in on Broncos teammate Martin Taupau’s future at the club, after he endorsed a social media post that slammed coach Michael Maguire’s training methods.

Brisbane skipper Adam Reynolds has lashed Martin Taupau over the Michael Maguire social-media storm that could see the Broncos prop sanctioned by the club.

This masthead can reveal Taupau’s Broncos career is all-but over after the former Kiwi Test prop endorsed a social-media post that slammed coach Maguire’s training methods at Brisbane.

Former Kiwi Test forward Elijah Taylor took to Instagram to deliver a critique of Maguire’s coaching style after being asked by fans for his thoughts on Brisbane’s patchy 5-5 form.

The post was liked by Taupau, a move that has gone down like a lead balloon with Broncos players.

Taupau will face Brisbane’s senior leaders — Reynolds, Pat Carrigan, Payne Haas, Ben Hunt and Kotoni Staggs — for a please explain ahead of Sunday’s clash against the Dragons.

Martin Taupau will front the leadership group.

Reynolds and Carrigan are powerful figures at Brisbane and the pair have warned Taupau they want Broncos players totally committed to the Maguire regime.

“It’s not a good look,” Reynolds told Triple M’s Rush Hour show on Friday.

“It is disappointing.

“Whether he really meant it or not I’m not too sure but that’s a conversation Marty will have with the club and they’ll handle that internally.

“But we are united as a group. We are moving in a good direction.

“I’ve had experiences with him (Michael Maguire) in the past and he is a carer, he cares about his players, he’s passionate, he wants to win and we are all on the same page and we’re all moving forward together as a club.”

Carrigan said while he supports Taupau as a teammate, it is crucial the Broncos have total cultural buy-in as they chase their first title since 2006.

“Internally we are dealing with that at the moment,” said of the Taupau-Maguire saga.

“Marty released a statement, he has made a mistake around those sorts of things.

“We know where we are going as a club, we are all buying in _ everyone.

“We know we have to train hard and we know we have to do the things to get where we want to be and that’s to be a premiership team.

“Marty has addressed it. As a teammate I will support him, but also where we want to go as a club, we know what we are in for and we are well and truly signed up for it.”

Taupau's Instagram post from Thursday night.

Asked if he has spoken to Taupau, Carrigan said: “I spoke to him last night. We are dealing with him internally. He released a statement saying he is apologetic and the club is dealing with it.”

Taupau took to social media himself on Thursday night to express his remorse, saying he had no personal problem with Maguire.

“Today I liked a video by Elijah Taylor talking about Michael Maguire’s coaching methods,” he wrote.

“I regret this as it was not my intention to endsore the video. I removed the like immediately after.

“I want to make it clear, I am thoroughly enjoying being coached by Michael Maguire and will continue to do whatever I can to help the Broncos win a premiership in 2025.”

The Broncos have privately canvassed the prospect of sacking Taupau but that appears an unlikely outcome.

Taupau likes Taylor’s video

However, the 35-year-old is off-contract at season’s end and won’t be offered a new deal by a Broncos club that is seeking total cultural buy-in as Brisbane chase their first title since 2006.

There is a possibility Taupau may be sanctioned pending the outcome of his meeting with Brisbane’s leadership group.

The former Samoa and New Zealand international has been a handy servant for the Broncos since joining the club from Manly in 2023, playing 33 games in his first two seasons at Red Hill under Kevin Walters.

Martin Taupau has almost certainly played his final game for the Broncos. Picture: Hannah Peters/Getty Images

But Taupau has endured a turbulent start to Maguire’s regime.

Maguire put the Broncos through a punishing pre-season and Taupau felt the full force of it, almost collapsing at training running in 30 degree heat on day one in November.

The 256-game veteran has played just one game off the bench so far this season against the Roosters in round 6.

Barring a major injury crisis in the coming weeks, Taupau has almost certainly played his final game for the Broncos in the wake of the Maguire social-media attack.

Maguire is adamant Brisbane need to work harder to snap their 19-year title drought and wants Broncos players to back the blueprint that saw him win a premiership at Souths in 2014.

Taylor played under Maguire at the Tigers.

Haas had success with Maguire at NSW Origin level last season and says the Broncos coach has his full support, rubbishing suggestions of a dressing-room revolt.

“I think it’s bollocks,” Haas fired when asked if Maguire has lost the group.

“We have got his back.

“Everyone has got belief in this group and what he does with us.

“We support him 100 per cent.

“He is confident in our group and he has high belief in our group, so he has been good.

“We enjoy being here and enjoy training hard, we just haven’t got the results.

“If we win it (speculation over Maguire) all goes away.”

Originally published as Martin Taupau to front Broncos leadership group over Madge critique endorsement, likely played last game for club