Broncos Coach Defends Coaching Style Amidst Assistant’s Sudden Departure
Brisbane Broncos head coach Michael Maguire found himself under intense scrutiny on Thursday morning, facing an extended press conference following the abrupt departure of assistant coach Ben Te’o. Maguire, however, pushed back against suggestions that he struggles to accept advice from his coaching staff, asserting his openness to input while deflecting specific questions about the circumstances surrounding Te’o’s exit.
“I take advice from many people. I actually really enjoy taking advice from people,” Maguire stated when directly asked if he had difficulty incorporating feedback from his assistants. He elaborated on his coaching philosophy, suggesting a shift from his earlier career. “I probably do less coaching now than I ever have, to be honest. As a young coach you’re fairly full-on, and people have probably spoken about that over my journey as a coach, but where I’m at at the moment, I enjoy bringing staff on and people on.”
The press conference was dominated by inquiries into the breakdown of Maguire’s relationship with Te’o, who had served as the Broncos’ defence coach and blue shirt trainer. The pair shared a history of success, having won a premiership together at the South Sydney Rabbitohs in 2014, ending a 43-year premiership drought for the club. Maguire was also instrumental in the Broncos’ own drought-breaking Grand Final victory in 2023.
When asked about navigating a turbulent week, Maguire acknowledged the unpredictable nature of rugby league. “Things [have happened] that, I guess, you don’t expect to happen,” he admitted, speaking from the Broncos’ Red Hill headquarters. “You’ve gotta deal through those and you’ve gotta remember you’re dealing with people. That’s the important part here. And obviously we’ve gotta move forward because we’ve got a big game [on Friday night].”
Maguire fielded approximately half a dozen direct questions about the Te’o situation, along with numerous indirect inquiries. His response to the initial direct question was firm: “I’m not gonna go into too much conversation. Look, he submitted his resignation and we’ve taken that, and that’s all I’m going to talk about.”
When pressed on the significance of Te’o’s departure as a loss, Maguire reiterated his focus on immediate priorities. “I’m gonna keep going back to this conversation because we’re still working through things. We’re working through a situation now, and we’ve got to make sure that everything’s about what we need to do and performing tomorrow [against the Dolphins at Suncorp Stadium].”
Regarding his personal coping mechanisms after the falling out, Maguire stated, “There are relationships, and we’ll definitely talk over time around these things.”
Addressing the Coaching Gap and Future Plans
The question of how the Broncos are managing without their defence coach was met with a pragmatic response from Maguire. “We’ve got processes and things in place already,” he explained. “And you’ve gotta remember I’ve got a pretty smart playing group. I’ve got some experience there across the group itself. And you’ve gotta remember the year that we have just been through. We’re 12 months on [from Maguire taking the head coach role], so that 12 months on gives the experience of how we are as a team, and you saw that last Friday [in Melbourne against the Storm]. We’ve got to replicate that. Coaching in the systems that we’re in now that we’re 12 months on does become a lot easier. It’s just about applying yourself.”
On the urgency of finding a replacement for Te’o, Maguire indicated that his immediate focus lies elsewhere. “I’m not in a rush to do anything other than focus on tomorrow night,” he replied. “I know I’m gonna keep going back to it, but that’s the most important thing where we are at this present [moment]. And those things [replacing Te’o] will happen in time. I’ve got some really good people internally, I’ve got a great academy with some great staff, so everyone will take a load here and there where it’s needed.”
Club Stability Amidst Off-Field Turmoil
In the face of challenging off-field events, including the recent “Payne Haas bombshell” and Te’o’s departure, one journalist posed a pointed question about the club’s overall well-being: “What is going on in the club? Is something wrong?”
Maguire remained steadfast in his assessment, drawing on the team’s recent performance. “Well, the performance that I saw last Friday [against Melbourne] pretty well determines how I believe you look at a football team,” the 52-year-old stated. “They dug in for each other, they supported each other, Haas came out after half-time [despite carrying a shoulder injury] when I guess he probably didn’t need to, but he was incredible. It says a lot about where they’re at at the moment. And look, things go on in any organisation, but what we’ve got to recognise is that [if] we go tomorrow night and we play the way we can, we’ll give ourselves a great night, and that’s what we need to focus on.”
When asked directly if his relationship with Te’o was irreparable, Maguire’s response was curt: “We’ve got a game tomorrow.”
Adding another layer to the situation, Broncos chief executive Dave Donaghy confirmed on Wednesday that the club had prevented Te’o from accepting a role as a Queensland State of Origin assistant coach under Billy Slater. Maguire, when asked for his perspective on this development, maintained his position: “Oh, look, I’m gonna stick to my line here. I do apologise if you want more, but I’ve got a playing group in there and I’ve got a staff [group] in there and we’ve got a really important game tomorrow night.”
Player Support and Team Unity
The press conference also touched upon the fact that several Broncos players, including captain Adam Reynolds, had publicly expressed their support for Te’o following his exit, speaking highly of his contributions as an assistant. This led to a question about Maguire’s concerns regarding potential rifts within the team camp.
Maguire responded by emphasizing the importance of supporting individuals. “I’m very thankful. Benny and I have been through a lot,” he said, seemingly referring to his past with Te’o. “But as I said, we’re focused on tomorrow.”
Facing Pressure and Embracing the Broncos’ Culture
When questioned about feeling under pressure, Maguire deflected, returning to the immediate task at hand. “We’ve got a game tomorrow night. The game keeps moving. There’s an expectation from everyone, [including] the people that support this club,” he stated. “I got to feel what it felt like to have success around the place [last season]. I’m respecting that we’ve got to make sure that we’re in that headspace tomorrow night.”
His confidence in the team’s ability to remain focused amidst adversity was met with a smile. “As a lot of the players here remind me, welcome to the Broncos,” he chuckled. “It’s the Broncos, and they’ve been able to do what they did last year, so I’ve got no concerns around that whatsoever.”
As the press conference neared its conclusion, a journalist attempted one final probing question, acknowledging Te’o’s departure as a “significant loss” and asking if Maguire could simply acknowledge it. The two-time premiership coach, however, remained consistent with his prepared remarks. “I appreciate, obviously, your conversations,” he said, “and as I said, I’m gonna keep talking around what we are doing tomorrow night. So thank you very much.”
