Brisbane boss Dave Donaghy has moved to shut down growing rumours that the reigning NRL champions had been looking to boot Michael Maguire after a poor title defence, declaring he “will be the coach” for the 2027 season.
The Broncos have definitely missed the mark in their reigning year, winning five from 16 and sagging to a bottom four running place.
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It’s a marked difference for the premiers, who this time last year were just about to stage one of the most incredible runs the sport has ever seen to clinch the title. But it doesn’t mean its panic stations at Red Hill, despite what some publications have been claiming in recent weeks.
“You can quote me on this… Madge will be our coach. We signed Madge on a three-year deal,” Donaghy told CODE Sports today.
“We had an amazing experience last year, but as a club, we always felt this was going to be a three-year exercise to get us to the place where we’re consistently pushing for that sustainable success.
“For a long time this club has been up and down. We’ve had good years and lean years. Let’s call it for what it is: it took the club 19 years from 2006 until we won another premiership,” he added.
“We don’t win that comp last year without Madge.”
Some camps had been suggesting — as they also did in the title year, for what it’s worth — that “Madge” had lost the playing group because he trains them too hard, with superstars like fullback Reece Walsh and five-eighth Ezra Mam named as some of the disgruntled players.
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Donaghy completely laughed off the suggestion that Walsh has been looking at the exit should Madge stay, adding he’s simply been “really unlucky” with injuries.
“He was playing the house down on the Gold Coast and ended up with a facial fracture [in Round 5] that set his season back,” he said. “I was just talking to him the other day. He can’t wait to get back after Origin.”
The Broncos boss also addressed Ezra Mam and his playing future. “The club has been really good for ‘Ez’… I know how much he loves playing for this club. He’s missed the last few weeks with a shoulder injury, but he’ll be back and I’m sure he’ll prove the doubters wrong yet again.”
Madge and his Broncos are next in action on Thursday against the Panthers.
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