Just days after the Broncos returned to winning form with a commanding 44-14 victory over Gold Coast, club legend Wally Lewis has opened up about a conversation he had with fans on the streets of Brisbane, highlighting the challenges Michael Maguire still faces.
Currently sitting eighth on the ladder, Maguire’s team is tangled in a fierce race with roughly 10 other clubs as they vie for a finals berth this season. This scenario starkly contrasts with the high expectations that accompanied the premiership-winning coach’s appointment, following his impressive tenure as NSW’s coach last year and the widely accepted belief that the Broncos have a roster capable of finishing in the top four.
Broncos director Darren Lockyer indicated to Wide World of Sports’ QLDER last week that Maguire’s position as head coach could be in jeopardy if the team ends the season in the bottom half of the NRL standings.
In reaction to this pressure, the Broncos delivered a convincing performance against the last-placed Titans—an outcome that many would assume would bolster confidence in the coach. However, Lewis expressed that the sentiments among Brisbane’s fans have evidently shifted against Maguire.
“While on the street, numerous people asked me about Michael Maguire, questioning, ‘This bloke, surely he can’t be the right coach for our boys?’,” Lewis shared on QLDER.
“‘We need to get rid of him already,’ and I’m thinking, wow, that’s quite a quick conclusion to draw, expecting him to build Rome in a day. It’s astonishing how swiftly that apprehension has grown.”
Lockyer commented that the upcoming month is crucial for the club, particularly with several teams tied on 14 competition points. He noted that the return of Ben Hunt from injury will be vital.
“It’s incredibly tight; winning a couple of games could change everything. After the bye, they’ve got two home games lined up, but they’re significant ones as they face the Sharks and the Warriors in successive weeks. That will give us a clearer picture,” he added.
Kotoni Staggs makes a break against the Titans. Getty
“It’s a pivotal month for them; we’ve seen their potential. If you look at the first halves against the Bulldogs and the Titans on the weekend, that’s what they’re capable of. The challenge now is how to maintain that level of performance for the full 80 minutes, week in and week out.”
Maguire is contracted until the end of 2027, yet the Broncos made headlines last year when they dismissed club favourite Kevin Walters after a 12th-place finish, just one year removed from a grand final appearance.
At this stage of the previous season, Walters had the Broncos positioned fifth on the ladder but faced unemployment at year’s end after a 50-12 loss to the Storm in the regular season’s final match.
In other news, the club is reportedly considering a change in logo, a significant move considering they have featured only two logos throughout their 37-year history.
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Long-time fans will recall when the team entered the NSWRL in 1988 with the iconic bucking bronco as their emblem.
A new logo was introduced in 2000, featuring the current horse-head design, which saw slight modifications in 2006.
However, another redesign is on the horizon, with a new shield-shaped horse-head logo that pays homage to the original club badge from 1988.
A spokesperson for the Broncos has declined to confirm if the new logo will feature on their jerseys next season, stating it “has not been approved, accepted or registered at this point.”
Next season will mark the 20-year anniversary of the Broncos’ last premiership triumph.
The club’s original logo from 1988. Brisbane Broncos
The Broncos logo adopted in 2000. Brisbane Broncos
The new Brisbane Broncos logo. X
Compiled by SportArena.com.au.
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