The Brisbane Broncos are facing a troublingly familiar situation in their first season under coach Michael Maguire. Twelve games into Maguire’s highly anticipated campaign to bring the club back to its 1990s glory days, concerns are already surfacing about a potential player revolt at Red Hill.
Following a heavy 34-6 loss to Manly at Brookvale – their sixth defeat in the last seven games – many are noting similarities between this season and Anthony Seibold’s first year in charge back in 2019.
Currently sitting at 5 wins and 7 losses, the Broncos have an identical record to what they had under Seibold at the same point in 2019, a year that ultimately ended poorly despite a finals appearance. While Seibold’s stint ended in failure, current captain Adam Reynolds is pushing back on comparisons and dismissing speculation of unrest within the squad.
Reynolds told Nine’s 100% Footy, “It’s easy for outside noise to try to split the team and the coaching staff, but we’re all working hard. People can say what they want, but internally we know what we’re capable of, and we believe Madge is the right man to lead us.”
The Broncos currently sit 11th on the ladder after finishing 12th last season under Kevin Walters, just a year removed from a grand final appearance in 2023. The club’s board was confident Maguire was the right choice, especially after his strong showing as NSW coach in 2024, where he helped turn the series around from a 1-0 deficit.
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