Just now: Maguire officially get real on first Broncos assignment as he quickly Ventures into massive roster business” starting from Kevin Walters main downfall aspect” I simply see the potential” Maguire continues…
With his drastic reversal of fortune regarding out-of-favor athletes Kobe Hetherington and Cory Paix, Michael Maguire is already bringing about changes to the Brisbane Broncos during the Kevin Walters era.
On Tuesday, Maguire was formally announced as the new coach of the Broncos, taking over for Walters, who was fired after four seasons in charge.
And the former Souths and Wests Tigers coach is already stamping his mark on his new club. Last month it emerged that the Broncos had told emerging forward Hetherington he was free to speak to rival clubs and secure a deal elsewhere.
Many believe Hetherington has a bright future in Brisbane, and there was shock when the Broncos informed him he’s free to leave. As for Paix, the hooker has continually been linked to other clubs (in Australia and England) due to his lack of playing time at the Broncos.
Paix is a dynamic dummy-half, but didn’t play a single game in first grade this year due to the presence of Walters’ son Billy, young gun Blake Mozer and back-up hooker Tyson Smoothy. Broncos fans seemed resigned to losing both Hetherington and Paix, but Maguire has other plans.
The new Broncos boss told Peter Psaltis of Channel 9 on Tuesday that both Hetherington and Paix are in his plans moving forward. Psaltis wrote on social media: “They will be welcome to pre-season training as [Maguire] operates off a clean slate in 2025.”
Is Billy Walters’ future in doubt after father’s exit as coach?
Hetherington had become a reliable forward option in 2024 after the Broncos lost Kurt Capewell and Tom Flegler in the off-season to the Warriors and Dolphins respectively. Walters copped plenty of criticism for failing to recruit any big names to replace them, with the likes of Jordan Riki, Brendan Piakura, Fletcher Baker and Jayden Hunt failing to fire this season.
As for Paix, Maguire’s declaration that he does have a future at the Broncos might be bad news for Billy Walters. Kevin’s son started the majority of games at No.9 this year, but with a dearth of depth at dummy-half he might find himself on the outer under Maguire.
Michael Maguire eager to turn around struggling Broncos
Maguire has signed a three-year deal with the Broncos and has declared his ambitions to win a comp in Brisbane. With the likes of Reece Walsh, Payne Haas, Ezra Mam and Patrick Carrigan, the pieces are already in place for Maguire to turn the under-performing club around.
Maguire has put some noses out of joint with his decision to leave his role with NSW in State of Origin after just one season, but the 50-year-old has always cited his desire to get back into full-time NRL coaching. “I am a career coach,” he said on Tuesday. “I love the daily stuff and my last campaign in the Origin – it was an incredible experience – but I’ve missed having players around me daily and that’s what I’ve got a lot out of, living as a coach.
“After winning the Rabbitohs tournament in 2014, I’m really hungry to win another one. I simply see the potential and what a team like the Broncos can do—and that you can come pretty close to it.”
