Michael Maguire has taken his players to a “mini camp” ahead of a must-win Cowboys clash — but one veteran reporter believes the Broncos should already have all the motivation they need to deliver.

Fresh off an upset win over Penrith, Maguire decided his men would prepare for their do-or-die Queensland derby eight kilometres off the Townsville coast at Magnetic Island.

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Cowboys coach Payten lit the fuse last week in an already heated rivalry when his halfback Tom Dearden was asked about playing against his former club this weekend.

Payten jumped in with: “I will answer that for him…everyone hates the Broncos.”

“Everyone north of Brisbane, north of the city,” Payten said.

Speaking on NRL 360 on Wednesday night, journalist Michael Carayannis said Maguire would no doubt use Payten’s sledge to fire up his men ahead of Saturday night’s clash in North Queensland.

“It just feeds straight into the narrative that Madge loves. Madge loves that siege mentality,” Carayannis said.

“Madge is going to take them into camp and this will be at the forefront of everything they discuss this week.

“Michael Maguire is at his best in this camp environment with his side’s backs against the wall to try and ambush the Cowboys.”

The Broncos were beaten by the Cowboys earlier in the season in a thriller, 35-31, and weeks later the defending premiers went on an eight-game losing streak to see their finals chances go into free fall.

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Despite the long history between the Broncos and Cowboys, fellow journalist Brent Read said Payten’s sledge shouldn’t even need to be brought up by Maguire in the camp.

He argued the fact the Broncos need to win their final seven games was a bigger motivator.

“They shouldn’t need to use this. Their season’s on the line, what more do you need than that. They need to win every game from here on in,” Read said.

“It doesn’t matter what Todd Payten says, who cares. Everyone knows the Broncos are hated.

“That sums up to me everything that’s wrong with the Broncos at the moment.”

Read also wasn’t sold on a tropical island camp as a way to motivate a rugby league team, subtly mocking the move.

“Their season is basically on the line heading into this weekend so if it can galvanise a group, I believe there’s an option of going fishing or playing golf, so a nice, relaxing way of getting ready for the game,” he said.

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Michael Maguire is taken the Broncos on a mini camp ahead of Saturday’s match against the Cowboys (Photo by Bradley Kanaris/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images

However, former Broncos champion Gorden Tallis didn’t have a problem with Brisbane’s pre-game camp.

“They’ve got seven games to go and if you’ve got the coin and the club’s backing you, why wouldn’t you go away and have a bit of fun,” Tallis said.

While a loss for the Broncos means their season is over, there’s still pressure on the eighth-placed Cowboys to win after the Dolphins beat them by 20 last week.

A loss could see the Cowboys drop to as low as 10th and Peyten’s dislike for the Broncos would quickly shift to more worrying matters.