Broncos assistant Ben Te’o has hailed Michael Maguire‘s response to the thumping defeat against Manly in May, and says it was the turning point in their NRL season after Brisbane went on to snap its 19-year premiership drought. Plenty has been made of Maguire’s intense coaching methods that came under fire early in the season, but Te’o has revealed a different side of the veteran mentor, and a change in approach that sparked their stunning resurgence in 2025.
Reports of the Broncos’ playing group taking issue with Maguire’s brutal methods were widespread earlier on in the season. Despite a fast start to their 2025 campaign, Brisbane hit a worrying mid-season form slump that included four-straight losses from rounds nine to 13.
Michael Maguire’s (L) response to Brisbane’s round 13 loss to Manly (R) has been described as the turning point behind their NRL premiership triumph. Pic: Getty
It was that chastening 34-6 defeat to Manly at 4 Pines Park in round 13 that Te’o described as the catalyst behind Brisbane’s extraordinary turnaround. Maguire’s men would only go on to lose three more games across the rest of the season, including a round 23 defeat to Melbourne when Adam Reynolds, Ezra Mam and Selwyn Cobbo all hobbled off with hamstring injuries on a horror night.
But Brisbane assistant Te’o says that heavy loss to the Sea Eagles in May was the massive wake-up call the team needed. Normally it would have prompted an all-time spray for the playing group from the notoriously fiery coach. But Te’o says Maguire’s response was far more relaxed, and ultimately much more effective.
Ben Te’o reveals turning point in Broncos’ season
“We went on the piss, that’s what happened,” the Broncos assistant admitted in a candid interview on the Inside Ball Podcast. “Rugby league’s always going to be the same, it’s always about mateship. And it’s always about pressure and how you deal with it.
“And I think at that stage is was no matter how hard we tried, it got worse. It was a bad loss but we went to (famous Manly hotel) The Steyne and it sort of just took the pressure off, have a bit of a breather, and from then on I think we lost two games.”
Brisbane assistant Ben Te’o (L) says coach Michael Maguire (R) deserves a lot of credit for addressing the concerns around his players and adapting his approach at the Broncos. Pic: AAP
There was a third loss that Te’o obviously forgot about, but he says it proves that Maguire was able to adapt his approach to get the best out of the players. “Having a drink together after a loss, I know a lot of people would say ‘why would you do that’? Te’o added.
“But that’s the best time. Go out, have a drink, get together, forget about footy for six hours and have a beer and enjoy each other’s company. And I think that was a great thing.” Maguire made no apologies for pushing his squad to their limits at times, but it paid off at the back-end of the season as their supreme fitness and resilience came to the fore.
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However, Te’o says the Brisbane coach deserves a lot of credit for listening to the concerns when things weren’t going their way, and instigating a change in approach that sparked their stunning resurgence. “He went hard and he pushed them and drove them and got them in a great place,” Te’o said about Brisbane’s early season form under the head coach.
“Then when there was a bit of push back (from the playing group), he pivoted with them… that Manly game was a big moment in terms of leaving that stadium thinking ‘oh man we’re in trouble’.” Brisbane’s premiership feat continued a stunning couple of years for Maguire, who also led the NSW Blues to a State of Origin series win in 2024, after guiding the Kiwis to Pacific Championships glory in 2023 – when they belted the Kangaroos 30-0 in the final.