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.
Four months earlier, he had broken a 19-year premiership drought. A ball had not yet been kicked in 2026.
“The bigger the club the more scrutiny. You can either use it as a motivator or let it get to you,” Broncos legend Darren Lockyer told this masthead.
“I choose the former. I think Madge would’ve channelled that criticism … and used it as motivation to the playing group to prove a point.”
Poor defeats to Hull KR, Penrith and Parramatta were followed by Ben Te’o’s exit as assistant coach, the eruption of a war of words with Gordon Tallis, and an injury toll reaching 13 squad members.
Haas’ defection to South Sydney sparked speculation Maguire had lost his locker room, and his hard-line methods were wearing thin.
Yet the past two weeks – two triumphs, with more than $5 million worth of talent sidelined – have silenced the doubters.
“I put him right up there as one of the best signings we’ve ever made,” Broncos chief executive Dave Donaghy said.
“He’s got a way about him I have deep admiration and respect for. The way he moves in an organisation and connects his group, they’re really special attributes he has.”
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.
Brisbane’s 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.
It speaks to the demands of leading a club boasting close to 70,000 members.
“I think everyone understands when they come into the organisation there’s a real responsibility to add to the legacy. We understand the interest around our club, and I’d much rather be relevant than not,” Donaghy said.
“The club’s based in the heart of Brisbane, we play at Suncorp Stadium and there’s a 45,000 average crowd – effectively akin to having a State of Origin every second week.
“There’s always expectation. I’m sure this has been a different experience for him, but he’s been outstanding for our club.”
A long tenure could beckon, once the time comes to assess a contract extension beyond the end of Maguire’s 2027 deal.
“Madge and I have known each other long enough to have that discussion when the time is right, and we’ll know when the time is right,” Donaghy said.
“He’s really clear around where he wants to take the group, he’s really clear around where he sees the group’s potential. We’ll make sure myself and others play that role to help him achieve sustainable success.”
While Lockyer is “wary” about giving too many “pats on the back”, several Broncos have become bona fide stars under Maguire’s tutelage.
Xavier Willison has announced himself as the Broncos’ long-term forward pack leader, producing the sort of statistics often reserved for the injured Haas.
This was the same enforcer who could be seen throwing up in back field throughout the preseason.
Now, he has shown a path beyond Haas, with Lockyer confident he could “take on Payne’s influence over the team when he leaves”.
Gehamat Shibasaki, Ben Talty and Josiah Karapani are others who have become mainstays after receiving lifelines by Maguire.
“That doesn’t happen by accident,” Donaghy said, “that happens by a design and a deliberate intent.”
That success has come down to enhanced fitness levels, and Reece Walsh has perhaps become the most prominent example.
Walsh – who returns from a fractured cheekbone in Saturday’s clash against the Roosters – became the NRL’s poster boy on the back of his attacking wizardry.
But under Maguire, the fullback has shown a willingness to do the tough stuff.
“Without a doubt the work they’ve put in to get physically fit has helped him mentally,” Lockyer said.
“Those really talented players who like to take a risk, and sometimes can take a risk that doesn’t come off, that to me comes down to fatigue that builds those poor decisions.
“I think Reece is mentally aware of it, that he needs to be calculated with the plays he’s putting on, but his fitness levels have improved, and it’s showing.”
For all the scepticism levelled at Maguire’s approach, Donaghy said he had “never once had to defend it from me, or anyone involved inside the club”.
And those methods have transformed the Broncos into one of the game’s most resilient defensive units.
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.
“It would’ve been a bit of transition for them when he first came because he’s known to work the players hard physically,” Lockyer said.
“But I’ve always been a firm believer that the fitter you are, the less fatigued you are, and less errors and bad decisions you’re going to make.”
With a capacity casualty ward, the fruits of that work were on show – claiming a one-point thriller against the Tigers, before a defensive masterclass against the Bulldogs.
They missed just 21 tackles in the 32-12 triumph of Canterbury – 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.
The trick now, Lockyer said, was not only harnessing those performances, but embracing the harsher times that would eventually come.
“All the really good teams pride themselves on defending their try line. They need to maintain in their minds that’s what they want to be known for,” Lockyer said.
“At 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.”
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