Parker vs Macca: What really happened with Te'o and Madge?

Broncos bombshells continue to drop and it’s only March.

In February the club and fans were rocked by the shock news Payne Haas would be leaving at the end of this season and defect to the Rabbitohs.

Then came Corey Parker’s suggestion that Pat Carrigan may exit unless he gets a big money deal.

Add to that a World Club Challenge defeat in the UK, a 26-0 hammering by the Panthers in round one, an eight point loss to the Eels the week after and an explosive behind the scenes war with club legend Gorden Tallis and safe to say it’s been a rough few weeks at HQ.

Somewhere, amid the defeats, public spats and big name defections, something has happened between coach Michael Maguire and Ben Te’o who earlier this week tendered his resignation with immediate effect.

The rumour mill has been rife.

Some report that there was a verbal altercation between the two coaches while others claim it was due to the fact the Broncos blocked Te’o from working with the Maroons and Billy Slater.

Then there is the conspiracy theorists that think he is set to replace Todd Payten at the Cowboys or those who think he will be the heir apparent at Souths when Wayne Bennett calls time.

Opinions differ among journalist and among those close to the individuals at the centre of the latest drama.

Parker and Andrew McCullough debate what really happened at Red Hill.

“Ben Te’o has resigned, you are closer to what’s going on than us. Why did Ben leave?” Parker asked off the bat on SENQ Breakfast.

“It’s hard to hit me with that first up at 7am,” McCullough replied.

“There’s been a disagreement or they haven’t seen eye-to-eye you don’t just quit or move if you’re not happy. I haven’t spoken to either of them.

“Obviously something has happened that hasn’t gone well for with either party and he’s decided ‘this isn’t for me’, or Ben’s not silly, he’s got something else lined up.

“He’s not a quitter and he’s not a dummy. He will know what he is doing. His ducks will be in a row.

“He will know what is happening in the sense he is doing something else and he will get out now and take some time and he has an opportunity at the end of the year or he and Madge have not seen eye to eye and he has pulled the pin.

“I don’t think it will be personal, it will be like you two (Parker and Ian Healy) getting on outside of work but not seeing eye to eye at work and having enough.

“If Ben wants to defend a certain way and the boss doesn’t and you think that’s going to impact you as a coach you might want to go. You can build it up as personal because everyone wants a soap opera.

“He could be seeing an opportunity elsewhere. He might think his ideas aren’t working.”

While McCullough was adamant it was nothing personal, Parker was not convinced.

“I disagree,” Parker said. “I think it has to be personal. If it was technical, then you can get around that.

“You have a head coach at the top of the food chain; He has two or three assistants; in Ben’s case it’s the defensive side. They won a competition last season – albeit they were seventh best defensive team in the comp which is unheard of. Head coach is still top of the food chain. Trent is probably 2IC.

“The only way I can see if Ben feels he is not as thought he is a part of the Broncos and he resigns is if he feels undermined or his work means nothing – that makes it personal.

“I think this became personal.

“I’ve been in the system, and I’ve been in that role. I was with Siebold and I disagreed with him but ultimately, he is the boss.”