Broncos star declares squad is ’100 per cent behind Madge’ after latest loss
Patrick Carrigan has declared the Broncos squad is “100 per cent behind” coach Michael Maguire as the veteran leader ponders how to fix a side that’s missed out on finals only a year after winning the competition.
Brisbane’s horror slide continued when the Knights won 30-6 on Saturday night at Suncorp Stadium.
Michael Maguire and Patrick Carrigan. NRL Imagery
The result was compounded by a concussion to Adam Reynolds, while Reece Walsh will await any punishment for a hair pull that led to a sin bin. Xavier Willison also left the game early due to injury.
Maguire, despite being fresh off a premiership win, has come under external pressure for the Broncos’ performances.
His hard-line mentality towards coaching has become a constant narrative and once again been peddled by people outside the club as a possible reason behind this season’s results.
Post-match, Carrigan put his support behind the coach.
“Obviously, it’s hard to stand behind performances like that, but as players we take accountability for that. Madge is detailed with his preparation and his care for us players is second to none,” he said.
“It’s the playing group that go out on the field and get an opportunity to perform in those 80 minutes and we’re not nailing our job at the moment. Once you cross that white line, it’s up to you as an individual and we’re falling short.
“Whilst our performances have been off, there’s definitely a lot of belief there and we’re 100 per cent behind Madge. As a playing group, we have to turn this around.”
The Broncos have been struck by injuries throughout the season but in recent rounds have managed to put forward full-strength sides.
They shocked the competition with a victory against Penrith three rounds ago but have now backed that up with losses to the Cowboys and Knights.
Maguire said things simply aren’t going the way of his side at the moment.
“It’s obviously tough because I’ve got a high regard about how these boys go about things. You can’t fault how they try and unfortunately, at the moment, things are not going our way and I feel for everyone going through it,” he said.
“They’re a group that supports each other and that’s what it’s about now. When you’re having to leave Patty and Payne out there for an 80-minute stint, it does disjoint things in your game plan and then all of a sudden, your attack doesn’t look as fluent.
“Sometimes a bit of frustration can come in because I know how hard the boys are trying and that’s what I see. They understand the enormity of what we are here at the Broncos, so it’s pretty hard watching the players have to go through that.
“It doesn’t help when you lose a couple of your players ... the players look to each other without a couple of their mates and think it could be a bit tough. Those things can come into it, but they fought.”
As for how the Broncos will approach the rest of the season, Maguire wasn’t against blooding other players but said he’d speak to his senior men before making any changes.
