Brisbane Broncos cop massive blow as Melbourne Storm retain key figure amid interest from rivals
The Broncos are on the hunt for a general manager of football to work with new coach Michael Maguire.
Frank Ponissi is reportedly set to remain at the Melbourne Storm and shun interest from the Brisbane Broncos and Collingwood Magpies. The Broncos are hunting for a general manager of football to run their footy department, trying to fill the void Ben Ikin left when he departed to become CEO of Queensland Rugby League.
The Brisbane club had identified Ponissi as their top target and had been hoping to lure the key figure away from the Melbourne Storm. But according to the Daily Telegraph, Ponissi is set to spurn rival offers and sign a new deal at the club.
Ponissi has been at the Storm working with coach Craig Bellamy for 17 years, and the Collingwood Magpies had also reportedly shown an interest in acquiring his services. But it looks as though the Broncos and Magpies will have to continue their search.
By spurning Collingwood and the AFL, Ponissi will also provide a massive boost to the NRL and NSW Rugby League. He played a key role in helping the NSW Blues beat Queensland in the State of Origin series this year alongside coach Michael Maguire. With Maguire taking over as Broncos coach, it had been hoped the connection could lure Ponissi to the Brisbane club.
Broncos looking for GM of football to support Michael Maguire
The Broncos haven't had a general manager of football since Ikin's departure in 2023, which came about after a falling out with then-coach Kevin Walters. Walters and Ikin had a number of differences of opinion, and Ikin's role was scaled back significantly before he left.
With Walters now gone and the Broncos in desperate need of an overhaul, they're keen for a general manager of football to sit in an overarching role. They also recently appointed experienced and highly regarded Troy Thomson as their new football operations manager to replace Joe McDermott.
New coach Maguire will need the right support to turn the club around, which is where Thomson and the new football GM will be vital. "I think we've got some real culture challenges. We've had some culture challenges across the course of this year," Broncos CEO Dave Donaghy said last month.
"We had been working to address those, but we'll continue to work towards addressing those because it's really important. I think first and foremost it's about making sure our people have the right environment, but also that they're willing to buy into what our club's about.
"We've looked to invest in really strong leadership and we'll continue to invest in strong leadership. We're in the market for a general manager of football to come in to help support Michael, and I think that'll be another important step that will reinforce that."
The Broncos never really had a GM of football in the 25 years that Wayne Bennett was coach. Bennett was omnipresent and delegated when required, but the Broncos program is now so vast that it is required. The club recently moved to deny rumours that Ikin might be returning to the role.
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Jonah Pezet joins Ryan Papenhyzen in rejecting Storm offer
Meanwhile, the Storm are at risk of losing both Ryan Papenhuyzen and Jonah Pezet after the latter rejected their contract offer and is now a free agent. Rival clubs have been keen to secure Pezet's services, and he's free to negotiate with other teams - as is Papenhuyzen.
Papenhuyzen and Pezet have both rejected contract offers from the Storm in recent days, with Papenhuyzen unimpressed by a $750,000 per season offer and keen to test his value on the open market. Pezet had been hoping to strike a new deal that would allow him to be 'loaned' to a rival club while he waits for an opportunity behind Cameron Munster and Jahrome Hughes, but according to the Daily Telegraph that hasn't eventuated.
