Broncos make big Madge call as brutal review into disastrous title defence demands 14 changes

Michael Maguire will reportedly remain as Brisbane Broncos coach in 2027 after surviving an extensive internal review into the club’s disastrous premiership defence.

After winning the 2025 NRL premiership, the Broncos have suffered a stunning fall from grace this season and are on track for a bottom-four finish, placing significant pressure on Maguire and Brisbane’s football program.

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But according to The Courier Mail, Broncos bosses have backed their premiership-winning coach to oversee the rebuild next season, with Maguire reportedly told he will remain in charge for the final year of his contract.

The decision comes as Brisbane enters the final stages of what has been described as the most comprehensive review in the club’s history following the worst premiership collapse in 63 years.

Well-placed sources reportedly said the Broncos board did not discuss sacking Maguire during the review process, while there was no recommendation from the review panel for the 52-year-old to be terminated.

Instead, Maguire is set to be given the opportunity to revive the fallen premiers in what shapes as a make-or-break 2027 campaign.

The Broncos are reportedly tired of the dramatic fluctuations in performance that have plagued the club in recent seasons but believe Maguire’s methods can establish the cultural foundations required to deliver sustained success.

Brisbane has reached two grand finals and won a premiership across the past six seasons, but has also missed the finals four times during that period.

Maguire was reportedly quizzed extensively by the review panel about his plan to rebuild the football program, with the coach also acknowledging he would need to make personal adjustments to help return Brisbane to premiership contention.

The review, which has taken place across the past three weeks, is expected to conclude following Brisbane’s final home-and-away game against the Bulldogs on Thursday night.

An independent panellist has interviewed a range of figures across the organisation, including Maguire, assistant coaches Matt Ballin and Trent Barrett and other members of Brisbane’s football department.

Broncos bosses have reportedly already been presented with a preliminary list containing an estimated 14 recommendations designed to overhaul the football program.

While Maguire is poised to remain at the helm, changes are expected around him.

Ballin and Barrett are both contracted for next season and are expected to remain, but Brisbane’s coaching staff could be strengthened following the departure of defence coach Ben Te’o in March, with the position left vacant for the remainder of the season.

Broncos great Corey Parker is reportedly planning to meet with Maguire in the coming weeks to discuss a potential role at the club.

Brisbane officials have also discussed adding a cultural mentor to provide greater support for the club’s Polynesian players.

Te’o, who is of Samoan heritage, had previously played an important role beyond his defensive coaching duties and was regarded as a trusted figure among Brisbane’s Pasifika contingent.

The review has also examined Brisbane’s high-performance program, including the structure of the club’s pre-season and the impact of its long-haul trip to the northern hemisphere for the World Club Challenge.

Changes could include scrapping pre-season camps or reducing the amount of time players spend away from Red Hill in an attempt to streamline preparations for 2027.

Significantly for Maguire, the Broncos executive reportedly claims it has not received a single complaint from the playing group about the coach, with the review finding players had no issue with the demands being placed on them at training.

It represents a vastly different outcome to Brisbane’s review following the 2024 season, when the Broncos finished 12th under Kevin Walters before ultimately making a coaching change.

This time, Brisbane has elected to stick with the coach who delivered the club a premiership just one season ago.

Maguire will now be tasked with proving that faith is justified, with 2027 shaping as a defining season for both the coach and a Broncos side attempting to rebound from one of the most dramatic premiership collapses in NRL history.

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