Phil Gould has backed Michael Maguire’s stance as head coach of the Brisbane Broncos following assistant coach Ben Te’o resigning from his role. The Broncos found themselves embroiled in another saga on Tuesday when it was reported head coach Maguire and assistant Te’o had been involved in a verbal disagreement.
After a mediation meeting, the Broncos confirmed Te’o has resigned from his position in a shock to fans and players. Brisbane Broncos great Corey Parker questioned why the club sent Ben Talty to the press conference on the same day there was an internal issue with Ben Te’o resigning from his role as assistant coach.
Phil Gould (pictured left) has backed Michael Maguire’s (pictured middle) hard stance at the Brisbane Broncos after the Ben Te’o drama this week. (Images: Getty Images)
Plenty of speculation is swirling around the reasons to why Te’o has left after three rounds. One report claimed a factor was Te’o had been denied an opportunity to be a part of Billy Slater’s Queensland camp for State of Origin this year.
Despite the drama, Bulldogs supremo Gould feels a stance needed to be taken from the head coach. Gould claimed Maguire needed to stick to his guns even if he was at odds with his assistant coach over an issue.
While it might have resulted in Te’o leaving, it was important the premiership-winning coach backed his philosophy. “I don’t know what the difference of opinion here was. If it was just as simple as ‘no, we don’t want you to do the Origin’, I can’t believe that would lead to the coach leaving,” Gould said on Channel Nine’s Six Tackles with Gus podcast after Te’o resignation.
“You’d really have to sit down and talk to Michael Maguire … at the end of the day, it’s one little ship and one little captain and he’s the boss and he’s got to make calls. He’s the head coach and he’s got to make decisions. If you’re gonna be in a position of leadership and think everyone’s gonna like you, you’re kidding – it doesn’t work like that…Whatever has happened here, at some stage the head coach has had to make a call and it hasn’t suited Ben, so he has made the decision to quit and he’s gone.”
Phil Gould said it was important for Michael Maguire (pictured) to back himself at the Broncos.
(Bradley Kanaris via Getty Images)Broncos CEO admits ‘mystery’ around Ben Te’o info
Speaking on Wednesday morning, Broncos CEO Donaghy said it was a ‘mystery’ to how the information travelled so quickly from the club to the media on Tuesday as the story developed. “From some of the conversations I have had, things moved quite quickly,” he told Parker on SEN Radio. “We like to deal with these matters internally, but these things get out.
“It’s one of those mysteries. The full team was briefed yesterday, the timing of it I am not sure as to when. Certainly the whole team was briefed and was clear and what had taken place and how the rest of the week would look. Without getting specific, the first conversation I had around this was on Monday. I had heard there were challenges and that was from Ben. That conversation will stay private.
“It was certainly a surprise and then he tendered his resignation. Ben is an adult, he is a very good coach, he is clear on his decision and we respect that and we move on. We have a game to prep for on Friday night and we focus on that. Madge s supported by the other coaches. In due course, we will move quickly to fill that void.”
Michael Maguire (pictured right) is in the headlines again at the Broncos.
(AAPIMAGE)