Michael Maguire has made it very clear he’s sick to death of fielding questions around his coaching future with the Brisbane Broncos, snapping at media on Thursday evening after another loss.
It’s been a horror season for “Madge” and his championship Broncos, who have won just seven games in 2026 after winning the NRL title last year. Incredibly, their 46–20 defeat to the Melbourne Storm on Thursday evening marked the ninth straight time they’d lost at Suncorp Stadium.
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All in all, it’s been a run to forget for a team that is meant to constantly challenge for the top spot, and it’s left Madge answering questions about his long-term tenure.
Red Hill brass has constantly said they stand behind their championship coach — though they are considering a strange week-by-week deal for him — but that’s done little to stop the rumour mills churning out suggestions Maguire may be heading for the door, and it all came out again this week.
Madge was again asked whether he was the right man to lead the NRL glamour club back to the top in the future, and it was clearly one question too far.
“You ask me this every day,” Maguire snapped back, and refused to be dragged into any further response on the topic that has dominated NRL media headlines all the way through the week up to Thursday.
He then quickly changed the subject, pointing out that the team has been “shooting itself in the foot at times throughout games” as the season wraps up.
“I know what this team’s capable of when they stick to it like we did last week [against the Raiders],” he said. “We… put pressure on ourselves. And if you do that at this level, whoever you play, it’s always going to be hard.
“We need to be smarter and better at times within games… and actually go for it.”
Club captain Pat Carrigan, who was also in the media briefing, admitted it had been a “very disappointing year” for the Broncos amid a weak premiership defence.
“Yeah, there’s always sentiment of that,” he agreed, when asked whether the Broncos players had let “Madge” down with their efforts.
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“I’ve been here a while now… and I’ve always been a big believer that players play the game, and we have a responsibility to do that as our job. We’ve missed the mark this year, so yeah, disappointed, frustrated, and a lot of hard work has to go into now having a successful season next year.”
Brisbane wrap up their horror season with a clash with the Bulldogs Thursday.
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