Maguire favoured to land Broncos job as club moves “swiftly” in coaching search

Just days after the shock departure of Brisbane Broncos coach Kevvie Walters, a new “preferred candidate” has emerged in NSW Blues mentor Michael Maguire.

Walters left the club on Thursday night after his side sensationally missed the finals, despite making the Grand Final just 12 months prior.

With a major offseason review underway at Red Hill, the club is wasting little time getting in touch with potential candidates for the top job, including the former Premiership winner, according to the Courier Mail’s Pete Badel.

“I believe the wheels have been in motion, I believe they’ve got a firm Plan B,” Badel said on SEN 1170 Mower’s Club.

“From the information I’ve got, that Plan B is Michael Maguire.

“He hasn’t got the job, I know he’s had some preliminary negotiations with the Broncos, there’s no deal done at this stage.

“I know they want to move swiftly, they want a new coach for the upcoming preseason in November, so I think you might find a deal might be done with their new coach in the next week or two.

“I think at this stage Maguire is the preferred candidate and I’d be surprised if a deal wasn’t done shortly because ‘Madge’ has a real passion to do the job, he’s prepared to walk away from the Blues.

“If they can come to the right financial terms I think Michael Maguire will coach the Brisbane Broncos in 2025.”

Plenty has already been said about Maguire’s potential appointment from the Broncos’ old boys, with many suggesting an ‘outside’ coming into the club could be a bad thing.

Badel admitted if the club’s former greats want the club to succeed, they should throw their full support behind Maguire if he is to get the job.

“Ultimately, I think the old boys just want success for the Broncos, I don’t think they’ll care who coaches the club as long as they win premierships,” Badel added.

“If Michael Maguire wins a comp for the Broncos, do you think they’re going to care that he was born in the ACT?”

“The old boys, the club has listened to them, when Kevin Walters was appointed they wanted Kevvie, they listened to the old boys because they were considering Paul Green for the job, the old boys had a strong push for Kevin to get the job to unify the club again.

“The Broncos (accepted) those requests, they got their wish and it now it hasn’t worked out so it’s not like the old boys' sentiments haven’t been taken on board.

“I just think if the old boys want success for the Broncos they just have to buy in to the next appointment and if that next appointment is Michael Maguire, get behind him, push for him and let’s hope he gets success for the club.

“When the Broncos are great rugby league is a better sport.”