‘Harden up’: Broncos cop truth bomb over Michael Maguire theory after latest loss

The Broncos have been told to “harden up” after their latest loss as a theory about their coach Michael Maguire just won’t go away.

The Brisbane Broncos’ playing group have been told to “harden” up after slumping to another loss as their season teeters on the brink of disaster.

Manly defeated Brisbane 34-6 at Brookvale on Saturday, scoring six tries to one in a demolition job.

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Ezra Mam scored Brisbane’s only try but it was all Manly, with Haumole Olakau’atu and Clayton Faulalo scoring doubles as the Sea Eagles bounced back from last week’s loss to Parramatta to move inside the top eight.

But it was a disaster for Brisbane, who are still without Ben Hunt and Reece Walsh due to injuries, with coach Michael Maguire opting to move tryscoring winger Jesse Arthars to fullback.

The loss was compounded by the news superstar prop Payne Haas’ management is shopping the superstar prop around to all NRL clubs, with the possibility the 25-year-old could leave when his contract runs out at the end of 2026.

With six losses from their last seven games, the Broncos sit 11th on the ladder and risk letting the season get away from them if they don’t get wins on the board soon.

Melbourne Storm premiership winner Ryan Hoffman, who played under Maguire at Wigan, said Brisbane’s players had to take responsibility for their poor run of results.

“The Broncos weren’t too much of an opposition, to be quite honest,” Hoffman said on ABC’s Offsiders.

“They’ve been extremely disappointing. They showed a lot of promise at the start of the year with their new coach in Michael Maguire taking a harder-nosed stance than his predecessor Kevin Walters.

The Broncos have lost six of their last seven games. Picture: NRL Images

“He was criticised a bit for not being tough enough to the players. Now Michael Maguire’s been accused of being too tough.

“I don’t think it’s a coaching issue at Brisbane, to be quite honest. I think play to understand that it’s a hard game and they need to harden themselves up because that was a really lacklustre performance from the Broncos last night.

“The rest of the NRL expects the Broncos to be up the top.

“I’ve been coached by Michael Maguire before. I know that he is a successful coach. But you need to buy into what he’s about.

“He’s going to breed a tough football team, but you’ve got to train tough to be tough.

“Look, I’m going to back Michael Maguire in. I think he’s a very good coach. I think he’s what Brisbane Broncos need.

“I think the players themselves need to understand that ‘this is what we need right now, we need to buy into what he’s about’.”

Payne Haas could reportedly leave the Broncos at the end of his contract. (Photo by Brett Hemmings/Getty Images)

Maguire’s coaching style has come into question this season and after Saturday’s loss, he was prickly when asked about Brisbane’s struggles in attack.

“Do you feel like the spark has gone out of the Broncos attack a bit in recent months?” a journalist asked in the post-game press conference.

“What do you mean by that?” Maguire shot back, before adding his side needs to be “smarter” with the ball.

“There are probably times where we’re pushing a pass here and there and that’s what creates pressure back on ourselves,” Maguire said.

“So that’s something that we’re talking about and just need to be better at it.

“The boys are putting in plenty of effort, we just need to focus on the areas of our game that builds pressure on teams. That’s the game.

“I’ve got to grow the team to be able to build pressure. We showed signs but we just have to do it longer, that’s what the teams further up the ladder are doing. When the opportunities come you’ve got to make sure you’re in position to take them. We need to be a bit smarter in that area and it’s something we need to improve on.

“We need to execute plays in pressure situations … the ball was in play for long periods of time tonight and unfortunately we faulted.”

Brendan Piakura of the Broncos looks dejected after the loss to Manly. (Photo by Brett Hemmings/Getty Images)

DCE tipped to keep Origin spot

Hoffman also said he doesn’t expect Queensland coach Billy Slater to drop Daly Cherry-Evans for Game 2 of State of Origin following a lacklustre display in the series opener.

Game 2 in Perth is a must-win clash for the Maroons, with Cherry-Evans and Cameron Munster coming under fire for their performance in the 18-6 loss to NSW at Suncorp Stadium.

“To drop a captain midway through a series would be the biggest selection call in the history of State of Origin,” former NSW rep Hoffman said.

“That would be a huge call and could be very destabilising for the team that Bill (Slater) trying to bring together after such a bad loss at home.

“I don’t think Bill will drop Daly Cherry-Evans. I think there will be some other slight sort of tweaks, but I don’t think we’re going to see wholesale changes.”

Originally published as ‘Harden up’: Broncos cop truth bomb over Michael Maguire theory after latest loss