Madge’s ‘interesting’ dilemma could force wave of Broncos changes
Updated . First published
Broncos great Darius Boyd admits it could be time for Michael Maguire to cast an eye towards the future after their NRL finals hopes were dashed.
The reigning premiers remained a slim chance of making the top-eight until last weekend’s loss to the Cowboys, which officially ended their title defence.
Ben Hunt walks off after the round 21 loss. Getty Images
Brisbane have endured a horror run with injuries this season as the likes of Payne Haas, Pat Carrigan, Adam Reynolds and Reece Walsh spent time on the sidelines.
But to fall from winning the grand final last year to sitting in 14th position with six rounds to go is something few would have predicted.
Melbourne - the team the Broncos beat in the 2025 decider - are also set to miss out on the post-season due to their own injury and form struggles.
“To think both grand finalists from last year are probably out of finals contention is quite remarkable,” Boyd said on Wide World of Sports’ QLDER.
Maguire is under mounting pressure as coach at Red Hill and the knives will be out from some ex-Broncos players once the season finishes.
With six matches left, the question now for Maguire is whether he continues to stick with the nucleus of the current squad, or starts blooding some young guns.
9News reporter Adam Jackson posed the question to Boyd, who conceded it could be the right time to allow the likes of Tom Duffy, Blake Mozer, Antonio Verhoeven, Tupou Francis and Phillip Coates the opportunity to stake their claims for 2027.
“It’s an interesting point,” Boyd said.
“At the end of the day, you have to look at the future and what’s next - if this season is gone, you never wave the white flag, but you’ve also gotta build for the future and the more games that some of those guys get the better.
“We talk about the Dolphins squad and how strong they are … those guys who got more opportunities when they were injury ravaged have been really successful this season, so maybe the Broncos need to have that approach too.
“As a fan and player, you want to be challenging every year and you don’t want to hear about premiership windows.”
Veteran halfback and captain Reynolds is set to hang up the boots at the end of this season, with Duffy and incoming recruit Jonah Pezet expected to battle for the vacant No.7 jumper next season, while champion prop Haas is on his way out too.
Nine commentator Peter Psaltis said that the Broncos “should be competing for premierships every year” and Boyd was positive about next season and beyond, despite both Reynolds and Haas departing.
“When you think about it, they’ve got Reece, Ezra and Pat Carrigan, they are core guys at a young age who have got seven, eight or nine years left at least and you just build around them,” the two-time premiership winner said.
“You add some experience with [Mitch] Barnett, you bring Dane Gagai in for more experience, Ben Hunt returns - there’s a lot to be excited about.”
