Broncos teammate's reveal about Reece Walsh that shows Michael Maguire move is working
The new coach has already improved the standards that fell away under Kevin Walters' reign in Brisbane.
Jesse Arthars' revelation that Reece Walsh and Payne Haas have been leading the way in pre-season training with the Broncos shows the club's decision to bring in Michael Maguire is already working. Maguire has been tasked with changing the culture and attitude at the Broncos after the players' egos got too big in 2024 - and it showed on the field.
After making the grand final in 2023 they crashed to 12th on the ladder this season, and Kevin Walters lost his job as coach as a result. But since coming on board, Maguire has immediately set about instilling a new culture around hard work and dedication.
And the fact Walsh has been one of the top performers at training shows the coaching change has already started to work. Haas could also be forgiven for taking it easy before Christmas considering he had off-season knee surgery, but the front-rower has been keen to impress Maguire.
"Payne is always up there. He has sort of been in and out with his injury but he's always ripping in," Arthars said this week. "And Reece has been going pretty hard. Everyone's doing pretty well.
"It's obviously a different training regime this year, so I guess the boys have been adapting to that over the last couple of weeks. The boys are going through their paces at the moment so it's good to see everyone hurting, and hopefully we'll benefit come Round 1.
"It's refreshing to see what Madge brings. We’re obviously still learning, it's still early days for us, but I think Madge has been really good so far."
Broncos standards' improving since Kevin Walters' sacking
The standards at the Broncos had slipped dramatically under Walters' reign, and there were claims the young brigade of players like Walsh and Ezra Mam were being treated like 'rock stars'. But there's no way that will be happening under Maguire.
"The boys have just been a bit more accountable for their errors, so if someone drops the ball we're all down doing 10 push ups," Arthars said. "Everyone's working really hard. It's obviously a different training regimen this year so the boys have been adapting to that over the last couple of weeks."
And new recruit Ben Hunt also won't be letting standards slip at training. "I think it's a great boost [having Ben at the club]," Arthars said. "Obviously he's a very experienced player and we've got a few young boys here in the position he plays and he can obviously cover a lot there so I think he's going to be a massive boost for the younger players. For the senior players as well, he's a leader and been around the block, so I think he's going to be massive for the club and it will good to see him return to his roots."
Jesse Arthars hopeful Staggs and Cobbo will stay at Broncos
The only drawback to Hunt's arrival is it might cause even more of a salary cap crunch amid the Broncos' attempt to keep gun centres Kotoni Staggs and Selwyn Cobbo. Both are off contract at the end of 2025 and are likely to draw big-money offers from rival clubs.
"I don't want to see them leave. They're obviously great mates of mine and they bring a lot of culture to this club as well," Arthars added. "Cobbs and Tones are two players at the club who we'll be looking to hold onto.
"They've always been good for this group. Tones is a massive player in this club, and behind the four walls that you guys wouldn't see, he's a very big leader. He was captain a few times last year and the year before, he's part of our leadership group and one of the driving forces in changing this culture and trying to make it a better place."
