Michael Maguire clear favourite to be appointed next coach of Brisbane Broncos

The Brisbane Broncos called an emergency meeting with players and staff on Saturday morning to discuss the replacement options for former head coach Kevin Walters.

Michael Maguire coaching the NSW Origin team in 2024.

Michael Maguire is days away from being unveiled as Brisbane’s new coach after Broncos players were called to an emergency meeting to be informed that the NSW Origin mentor is the No.1 target to replace Kevin Walters.

This masthead can reveal Brisbane’s full-time squad were summoned on Saturday to an online meeting at which Broncos bosses advised players that Maguire is on their hit list to lead a Red Hill revival in 2025.

Skipper Adam Reynolds, deputy Pat Carrigan and other Broncos stars were updated on the Walters sacking and one of the most dramatic 48 hours in Broncos history.

The high-powered meeting comes just 24 hours after this masthead revealed Maguire has kicked off preliminary talks with the Broncos and is the preferred candidate to replace Walters.

Michael Maguire coaching the NSW Origin team in 2024.

Several players are overseas on holiday, such as Reece Walsh and Ezra Mam, and had to log in via Zoom to be updated on the Maguire development by Brisbane chiefs.

On Saturday, Maguire advised the NSW Rugby League he is in talks with Brisbane hierarchy in the strongest sign yet a deal with the Broncos is imminent.

The Broncos hope to finalise a deal in the coming days in a move that would see Maguire resign as NSW Origin coach for 2025.

The Broncos have been urged to sign Maguire immediately with NRL legend Matty Johns declaring the 50-year-old will deliver a Brisbane premiership within two years.

Johns’ stunning assessment of Maguire came as former Broncos skipper Corey Parker scoffed at suggestions Brisbane needed a Queenslander to rescue the club.

The strife-torn Broncos are on the hunt for a new coach after club legend Walters parted ways with Brisbane on Thursday night following their slide to 12th place this season.

Walters made the finals just once during his four-season tenure - a fairytale grand-final appearance in 2023 - and the pressure is on the Broncos to find the coach that can break their 19-year premiership drought.

Johns is adamant Maguire is the man.

Now one of the code’s sharpest analysts, former NSW and Test playmaker Johns says Maguire’s disciplinary style will get the best out of young guns Reece Walsh and Ezra Mam and deliver Brisbane’s first title since 2006.

“The next coach is staring the Broncos in the face, it has to be Michael Maguire,” Johns said.

“Forget about the fact he is coaching New South Wales ... if the Broncos get success with ‘Madge’, people up there (in Queensland) will fall in love with him.

“He has tough leadership, he is a disciplinarian, the players will train hard and he will pull everyone into line.

“His last two achievements have been at the pinnacle of the game.

“In the past year, he has won an Origin series (for the Blues) and won a Test trophy with New Zealand.

“His Kiwi team flogged Australia 30-0 in the final last year.

“If the Broncos sign Madge, they will win a comp within two years.”

As the Broncos begin their search for Walters’ successor, club great Parker turned up the heat on Brisbane’s playing group, saying there’s nowhere to hide after an internal review led to the demise of their coach.

Corey Parker says Brisbane players need to take responsibility for the departure of former coach Kevin Walters (C). Picture: Liam Kidston

Parker, Brisbane’s most-capped forward with 347 games, is adamant player feedback played a role in Walters’ sacking and now challenged the likes of Walsh, Mam, skipper Adam Reynolds, Payne Haas and Pat Carrigan to deliver.

“Well, they’ve played a big role in Kevvie’s departure,” Parker said.

“The coach is not there anymore - it’s on them now.

“The players have obviously played their part in the coach departing.

“There’s obviously been a disconnect because of what’s unfolded over the last four years.

“Yes, the buck stops with the head coach and Kevvie had a massive role to play in Brisbane’s performances.

“But when you do an internal review and the coach suddenly goes, the players’ feedback obviously played a part in it and clearly there’s been a majority (of negative feedback) that came back strongly enough to sack Kevvie.

“There’s no sugarcoating that. You would suggest the review has been scathing and now it’s up to the playing group to get results.”

Broncos CEO Dave Donaghy says the club is determined to move quickly to lock in a new coach ahead of Brisbane’s pre-season, which starts in early November.

Up to seven names have been linked with the Brisbane job and Parker is adamant state ties should be irrelevant, with history showing being a Queensland-born coach doesn’t guarantee success for the Broncos.

Maguire was born in the ACT and has coached in Canberra, England, Melbourne and Sydney, winning titles at every level, including an NRL premiership at Souths in 2014.

“Whoever the coach is, if it’s made for the best decision of the club, it doesn’t matter where they come from,” Parker said.

“I’ve heard ex-players say the Broncos coach needs to be a Queenslander.

“I disagree. If the best coach is the best coach, well that’s how you move forward.

“Some of the ex-players have said you can’t have a New South Wales guy coaching Brisbane.

“A lot of the ex-players were rallying for Craig Bellamy a number of years ago ... Craig Bellamy was a former New South Wales coach and he was born in NSW.

“Personally, I think they need somebody that’s experienced.

“They need somebody that’s stern in their approach to drive standards at the Broncos, that’s all that matters.”

Originally published as Michael Maguire clear favourite to be appointed next coach of Brisbane Broncos