The Michael Maguire era at Brisbane has begun with a gruelling training session in searing heat with the new coach keen to explore the possibility of a return of former St George Illawarra captain Ben Hunt to the NRL club where he made his name.
The lips of the players were parched after being flogged in 30-plus-degree heat at the unorthodox time – for the Broncos at least – of 1.30pm. Prop Martin Taupau threw up at the end of it.
Maguire, determined to get the club back to playing in the big dance in October as soon as he can, said in characteristic fashion that the timing of training was “just the norm”.
He waxed lyrical about why securing Hunt for the 2025 season was on his radar, while realistically stating there was plenty to do to make that a reality.
Maguire also wants to extend the tenure of star duo Selwyn Cobbo and Kotoni Staggs who are off contract at season’s end.
Hunt, 34, said in Australian camp this week that returning to the Broncos was on his agenda and had a certain “romance” about it, considering he was signed as a 12-year-old and played his best football at the club in 187 games.
Hunt’s manager Col Davis is speaking to several clubs about their interest, with the Broncos one, and after his commitments in the Australia camp at the Pacific Championships are over those conversations will ramp up.
Ben is a world-class player and has plenty of experience,” Maguire said.
“We all know what he is capable of and what he would bring to the place. We will let him go through the Australian space this week, and after that he will probably sit down and work out what he wants to do.
“They are things that are a work in progress. One thing I won’t do is talk too much about contracts, but someone of Ben’s calibre coming to the team would definitely be great.”
Hunt’s stated desire to return to the Broncos also piqued Maguire’s interest.
“What it does say is a fair bit about the place and the experiences he’s had. It shows how special the Broncos (environment) is. I will talk to the right people once he finishes with the Aussies,” Maguire said.
Salary-cap space will be an issue, and another factor will be the playing future of Ezra Mam, who was involved in a car accident that injured three people while he was allegedly driving unlicensed and under the influence of a prohibited drug. Results of a second drug test are still pending.
The Broncos five-eighth subsequently checked into a rehabilitation facility.
A final resolution on Mam’s playing future is yet to be determined.
“I couldn’t tell you the timeline. That is a work in progress,” Maguire said.
Ezra is working on himself at the moment. I met Ezra four years ago and he is a good young man.
“He is going through a bit. I said ‘if you own it you can deal with it moving forward’, and that is something I know he is doing.”
Maguire insists he can get the best out of Cobbo and wants to keep the enigmatic outside back and Staggs at the club long-term.
That will be easier said than done, with both free agents and off-contract at the end of 2025.
The million dollar question is: How do the Broncos afford it?
That’s a dilemma that has many variables but Maguire is adamant it’s not an either/or proposition for him.
“They are two players I would like to keep. That is part of the salary cap,” Maguire said.
“Sitting down and going through that is not up to me. I will let the powers that be sort through that part, but those two players are world class.”
Sitting down and going through that is not up to me. I will let the powers that be sort through that part, but those two players are world class.”
Cobbo has shown himself to be a match winner for the Broncos and Queensland but has also been underwhelming on occasions. His back-end of last season was not impressive and he has struggled with the week-in and week-out grind of the NRL.
Maguire regards the 22-year-old as somewhat of a personal project.
“He is strong, and in my opinion I can really help him grow his game,” Maguire said.
Selwyn is young. You can see the talent he’s had here at the Broncos and when he’s played for Queensland he is destructive.
“Myself, personally, I feel as though I can help him grow as a player and a person as well. That is what I enjoy doing … growing individuals. There is a bit of work to do, as we know inside these walls, but that is something we will set out to do.”
Cobbo trained on Monday at the first pre-season field session under Maguire. It was a brutal run in extreme heat. It was clear Cobbo had plenty of work to do to get into the best shape physically.
“There is always room for improvement in any player. You saw the session but everyone will go through ups and downs of a pre-season. It is nice to see him applying himself,” Maguire said.
Staggs out-performed Cobbo in 2024 and showed at the back-end of the year the kind of form that led to him previously representing NSW and Australia.
“Kotoni definitely wants to be a Bronco and has spoken to me about what the club means to him,” Maguire said.
“Those players we want to keep here, hang on to and keep growing as Broncos.”
