After stints on the Tigers and the Blues, Michael Maguire is aware of a factor or two about working in manic crèches.
However nothing he skilled at these two asylums will examine to the adolescent delinquency awaiting him on the Broncos.
Maguire could also be a hard-arsed Mary Poppins who whips poor attitudes in to form, however proper now Brisbane wants greater than a spoonful of sugar and an early bedtime.
With blokes working amok offshore and strutting round city like sexy peacocks, can he remodel Queensland’s flagship membership from offenders on benders to title contenders in September?
Right here’s seven points he should sort out if he desires to quell this unbridled zoo.
Get Ezra Mam sorted out
Because it stands, there is just one assure from the Mam scenario.
If Maguire’s pre-season coaching was already sure to be ferocious, now will probably be one thing that makes the Seventh Circle of Hell really feel like a Swedish therapeutic massage.
However what about Mam himself?
Priority signifies that such a critical allegation would normally result in a membership reducing ties with the participant, nevertheless it’s by no means that simple.
As we all know, many authorized sensitivities must be allayed earlier than a footballer may be unceremoniously sacked.
The membership’s authorized staff wants to contemplate statutes, clauses, whether or not he’s any good at footy, and if they may deal with him signing with the Roosters 48 hours in a while a cut price wage.
However no matter Mam’s destiny, Maguire wants it resolved ASAP so he higher begin driving Dave Donaghy and the Queensland police like a pedalo.
Get Reynolds firing and/or reverse the ageing course of
The previous Rabbitoh was as soon as probably the most misdiagnosed injury-prone participant in footy, however solely earlier than he validated the parable by degrading to moist styrofoam.
Regardless of his injury-interrupted 2024, it’s plain Reynolds was a main issue within the membership’s resurgence final yr, and that the staff has gone rattier than ever in his absence this season.
Adam Reynolds. (Picture by Bradley Kanaris/Getty Photos)
Maguire must get his halfback wholesome and again on the park completely, as a result of lord is aware of alternative halfbacks are thinner in numbers than the lonely wisps atop the coach’s chrome dome.
In spite of everything, extremely touted rookie Coby Black continues to be a number of years off, and following his renewed dedication to the Roosters, it’ll be one other two seasons not less than earlier than the membership will get one other crack at Sam Walker.
This leaves the one believable possibility of recalling Alfie Langer, switching him from the coach’s shirt to play within the No.7 jersey however the causes are apparent why Maguire couldn’t do that.
(As a result of it will please Gorden Tallis).
Maximise Reece Walsh
Walsh is a dynamo so gifted that when he was born, each child in a 50-mile radius misplaced all their abilities.
Sadly, all these youngsters now play first grade for the Broncos too, and that’s why Maguire wants extra wizardry than ever from his fullback to bridge the abject gulf in skill.
Whereas hardly an enfant horrible, Walsh’s off-field antics have eclipsed his on-field accomplishments in current instances a lot that the Dally M votes he was as soon as incomes at the moment are being awarded to Dave Donaghy.
As such, Maguire might want to handle his precocious expertise with all of the scientific delicacy of extracting a wedgie by way of a keyhole.
Principally, the coach simply must strike a steadiness the place Walsh is free to specific himself whereas adhering to the sport plan and handled like an grownup supplied he’s offline and in mattress earlier than 8pm.
Silence the Outdated Boys
Such is their affect, the Broncos can’t run a block play on the fourth sort out with out the specific written consent of the outdated boys.
Why else do you assume Alf was on the sector 98% of the sport?
Maguire has a gargantuan activity forward in soothing this cartel of surly firm retirees, particularly a bloke like Tallis who boasts extra time on-air than Eddie McGuire.
The one manner the brand new coach can maintain them quiet is by profitable, or by residing in a nuclear bunker together with his cellphone completely on airplane mode.
Payne Haas. (Picture by Albert Perez/Getty Photos)
Use Payne Haas’ class extra successfully
The powerhouse prop’s 2024 was a thankless slog as he battled a foot damage and one other normal 12 months of persistent newspaper prattle.
This included ongoing rumours of his imminent departure and his household delivering extra whacky dysfunction than the Griswold and Jackson households mixed.
However, none of this has diminished his standing as one the sport’s elite large males, however very like Walsh, Maguire must in some way enhance his 120% effectiveness to 150%.
This might be achieved by utilising the prop extra as a wrecking ball than a draught horse, which is simpler mentioned than executed if he’s nonetheless carrying side-saddles stuffed with lazy teammates.
Persuade the followers
Maguire must win the approval of the membership’s followers, and regardless of sacking Langer, pissing off Tallis and Shane Webcke, and not directly undermining Kevin Walters, he’s already made an honest begin.
Earlier than a ball has even been kicked, Broncos supporters are enthused by the mere notion of a paradigm shift away from the Walters period, if solely as a result of the press conferences will mercifully return to being delivered in plain English.
Nevertheless, it’s inescapable that at his core, Maguire is an rebel New South Welshman behind enemy strains who solely months earlier engineered one of many the Sunshine State’s most shameful collapses – all on their very own hallowed turf.
Michael Maguire. (Picture by Quinn Rooney/Getty Photos)
Can the devoted actually embrace a person who stared down Queensland fundamentalism to be the primary NSW Blue in years to return from a Brisbane decider with one thing apart from a dodgy rash?
Neglect Mam and the Outdated Boys, gaining the approval of a metropolis stuffed with one-eyed extremists like Queenslanders can be Maguire’s Everest.
Why?
As a result of his state-based allegiance can be the very first thing raised at any signal of tumult, and something wanting glory will guarantee he’s ranked alongside Ivan Henjak and the aqua jersey because the membership’s newest failed dalliance with the color blue.
