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All it took was Payne Haas announcing his departure from the Brisbane Broncos for the claws to come out, and critics to condemn Michael Maguire as a man fighting for his coaching future.<\/p>\n
Four months earlier, he had broken a 19-year premiership drought. A ball had not yet been kicked in 2026.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe bigger the club the more scrutiny. You can either use it as a motivator or let it get to you,\u201d Broncos legend Darren Lockyer told this masthead.<\/p>\n
\u201cI choose the former. I think Madge would\u2019ve channelled that criticism … and used it as motivation to the playing group to prove a point.\u201d<\/p>\n
![\"Michael](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/2b12caa74686060a18afad3490579e003366eaa0.jpeg\")
Michael Maguire was under pressure from the start of his tenure at the Broncos.Zak Simmonds<\/p>\n
Poor defeats to Hull KR, Penrith and Parramatta were followed by Ben Te\u2019o\u2019s exit as assistant coach,<\/a> the eruption of a war of words with Gordon Tallis, and an injury toll reaching 13 squad members.<\/p>\n Haas\u2019 defection to South Sydney<\/a> sparked speculation Maguire had lost his locker room, and his hard-line methods were wearing thin.<\/p>\n Yet the past two weeks \u2013 two triumphs, with more than $5 million worth of talent sidelined<\/a> \u2013 have silenced the doubters.<\/p>\n \u201cI put him right up there as one of the best signings we\u2019ve ever made,\u201d Broncos chief executive Dave Donaghy said.<\/p>\n \u201cHe\u2019s got a way about him I have deep admiration and respect for. The way he moves in an organisation and connects his group, they\u2019re really special attributes he has.\u201d<\/p>\n Pressure and expectation were always going to follow Maguire. He succeeded a club great in Kevin Walters, and had developed a reputation as a hard taskmaster at South Sydney and Wests Tigers.<\/p>\n Brisbane\u2019s six titles had all been led by Wayne Bennett, with Ivan Henjak, Anthony Griffin, Anthony Seibold, Walters and even Bennett shown the door from 2010.<\/p>\n It speaks to the demands of leading a club boasting close to 70,000 members.<\/p>\n \u201cI think everyone understands when they come into the organisation there\u2019s a real responsibility to add to the legacy. We understand the interest around our club, and I\u2019d much rather be relevant than not,\u201d Donaghy said.<\/p>\n Related Article \u201cThe club\u2019s based in the heart of Brisbane, we play at Suncorp Stadium and there\u2019s a 45,000 average crowd \u2013 effectively akin to having a State of Origin every second week.<\/p>\n \u201cThere\u2019s always expectation. I\u2019m sure this has been a different experience for him, but he\u2019s been outstanding for our club.\u201d<\/p>\n A long tenure could beckon, once the time comes to assess a contract extension beyond the end of Maguire\u2019s 2027 deal.<\/p>\n \u201cMadge and I have known each other long enough to have that discussion when the time is right, and we\u2019ll know when the time is right,\u201d Donaghy said.<\/p>\n \u201cHe\u2019s really clear around where he wants to take the group, he\u2019s really clear around where he sees the group\u2019s potential. We\u2019ll make sure myself and others play that role to help him achieve sustainable success.\u201d<\/p>\n While Lockyer is \u201cwary\u201d about giving too many \u201cpats on the back\u201d, several Broncos have become bona fide stars under Maguire\u2019s tutelage. <\/p>\n Xavier Willison has announced himself as the Broncos\u2019 long-term forward pack leader, producing the sort of statistics often reserved for the injured Haas.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n This was the same enforcer who could be seen throwing up in back field throughout the preseason.<\/p>\n Now, he has shown a path beyond Haas, with Lockyer confident he could \u201ctake on Payne\u2019s influence over the team when he leaves\u201d.<\/p>\n Gehamat Shibasaki, Ben Talty and Josiah Karapani are others who have become mainstays after receiving lifelines by Maguire.<\/p>\n \u201cThat doesn\u2019t happen by accident,\u201d Donaghy said, \u201cthat happens by a design and a deliberate intent.\u201d<\/p>\n That success has come down to enhanced fitness levels, and Reece Walsh has perhaps become the most prominent example.<\/p>\n Walsh \u2013 who returns from a fractured cheekbone in Saturday\u2019s clash against the Roosters \u2013 became the NRL\u2019s poster boy on the back of his attacking wizardry.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n But under Maguire, the fullback has shown a willingness to do the tough stuff.<\/p>\n \u201cWithout a doubt the work they\u2019ve put in to get physically fit has helped him mentally,\u201d Lockyer said.<\/p>\n \u201cThose really talented players who like to take a risk, and sometimes can take a risk that doesn\u2019t come off, that to me comes down to fatigue that builds those poor decisions.<\/p>\n \u201cI think Reece is mentally aware of it, that he needs to be calculated with the plays he\u2019s putting on, but his fitness levels have improved, and it\u2019s showing.\u201d<\/p>\n For all the scepticism levelled at Maguire\u2019s approach, Donaghy said he had \u201cnever once had to defend it from me, or anyone involved inside the club\u201d.<\/p>\n And those methods have transformed the Broncos into one of the game\u2019s most resilient defensive units.<\/p>\n Since round 14 last year, Brisbane have conceded 7.87 second half points a game, and only 10 total across three finals games in 2025. That compared to 13.63 in 2024.<\/p>\n \u201cIt would\u2019ve been a bit of transition for them when he first came because he\u2019s known to work the players hard physically,\u201d Lockyer said.<\/p>\n \u201cBut I\u2019ve always been a firm believer that the fitter you are, the less fatigued you are, and less errors and bad decisions you\u2019re going to make.\u201d<\/p>\n Related Article With a capacity casualty ward, the fruits of that work were on show \u2013 claiming a one-point thriller against the Tigers, before a defensive masterclass against the Bulldogs.<\/a><\/p>\n They missed just 21 tackles in the 32-12 triumph of Canterbury \u2013 making 36 inside their own 20-metre zone, with 68 per cent of the game played in their territory. Even in wet conditions, they completed 40 or 43 sets with the ball.<\/p>\n The trick now, Lockyer said, was not only harnessing those performances, but embracing the harsher times that would eventually come.<\/p>\n \u201cAll the really good teams pride themselves on defending their try line. They need to maintain in their minds that\u2019s what they want to be known for,\u201d Lockyer said.<\/p>\n \u201cAt times your mental toughness is there, but every now and then, it needs to be checked. You need to go through adversity and pain to replenish that mental toughness.\u201d<\/p>\n![\"Jarome](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/1777319833_763_08014a2c4b60a752fad6a0ce00c81bdce2a765d6.jpeg\")
<\/a><\/p>\n![\"Michael](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/242e1711287aedf803da3271f6314f0eecea97938ad4cf1af3977898a7222ed7.gif\")
Michael Maguire shows his passion again during Brisbane\u2019s stunning come-from-behind win over the Raiders in their qualifying final.Channel Nine<\/p>\n![\"Noah](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/1777047328_775_cbd9e180a0e452523f1451733de3841661f2f442.jpeg\")
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