The former Broncos head of football has broken his silence over the recent struggles of the club.
Former Broncos footy manager Ben Ikin has declared Michael Maguire will need to adapt to the current playing group or risk being pushed out the door, despite the current squad being built in the vision for previous coach Kevin Walters. On the weekend, Ikin watched his former club suffer their sixth defeat in seven matches as Maguire’s reign as coach was called into question.
Fans took to social media and urged the club to bring back their former player. Ikin was formerly the head of football at the Broncos, but departed in 2023 to become the CEO of Queensland Rugby League.
On Tuesday, Darren Lockyer made some telling comments after he was asked about Maguire’s future having not guaranteed his job if things continue in the same manner. And on Wednesday, Ikin also raised the alarms having suggested Maguire needs to adapt quicker than he expected.
There have been reports of player unrest at the club with talks Maguire’s style of coaching is taking its toll on the players. On Tuesday, Kotoni Staggs slapped down these suggestions having defended the coach.
But Ikin feels the coach is struggling to implement his style with a squad put together to help former coach Walters’ vision. “They look like a group that is not all on the same page at the moment,” Ikin said on SEN Radio.
“Most people could tell you that Madge’s style is probably a lot different from Kevvie’s. That current roster and footy program was built in Kevvie’s image. So you bring in someone who is a polar opposite in Madge and it’s going to take a while to adapt.”
Ben Ikin’s warning for Michael Maguire at the Broncos
The former Broncos player helped build the current roster at the club, which saw Walters take the side to the NRL grand final in 2023. Unfortunately, Ikin’s time at the club was marred by rumours he didn’t see eye-to-eye with then-coach Kevin Walters, and his departure came after his role was scaled back significantly.
Walters initially reported to Ikin, but that was changed so Walters could get around Ikin and report straight to CEO Dave Donaghy. And Maguire feels if he can’t convince a number of the players and coaching staff that his vision is the way forward, it will be the coach that is the one pushed out the door.
“At the moment it just looks like an organisation that is not aligned. But they will get that,” Ikin added. “They just need to be patient and keep grinding and come out the other side. Madge is going to have to sit down with his senior staff and senior players and say who is on board with this?
“And for those who really don’t want to do it this way, we have to make some tough calls on the roster. Here’s the issue: if ‘Madge’ can’t find people that line up with him, then the problem isn’t the people, the problem is Madge. Then Madge will have to think how he adapts. Otherwise he will be the one they push out the door.”
Michael Maguire moves Patrick Carrigan to lock
After the poor run of form, Maguire has made one of his biggest selection decisions to date. After sticking by his guns and starting Kobe Hetherington since the start of his tenure, Maguire has dropped Hetherington from the starting XIII and moved Patrick Carrigan back to lock.
Maguire has wilted and dropped Hetherington, which marks a change from one of his first moves when he joinde the Broncos. Only days after his arrival in Brisbane, Maguire reversed the decision from previous coach Kevin Walters on Hetherington’s future. Hetheringotn appeared to be heading out the door, but Maguire has backed the young star. While he has been moved to the bench, Maguire clearly still sees plenty in the hard-working defensive unit.
