Michael Maguire opens up on call to reverse Kevin Walters decision and retain star at Broncos

Michael Maguire has opened up on his decision to retain Kobe Hetherington at the Broncos after previous coach Kevin Walters had allowed the forward to negotiate with other clubs. New Brisbane Broncos coach Maguire made plenty of quick changes when arriving at the club last month, but one of his first decisions was to reassure Hethrington of his place in the squad.

Walters had spoken about the chance Hetherington would be off after his contract, with the Broncos allowing him to negotiate with rivals. Five clubs were circling the 25-year-old, before Maguire immediately made moves to reverse this decision and reassured Hetherington he has a future at the Broncos.

This comes after Hetherington was selected for the Prime Minister XIII after the NRL season came to a close. And Maguire admitted the Broncos will look different to how they played under Walters.

This saw him immediately reverse Walters' decision to keep the forward in Brisbane, with Maguire viewing the second-row or lock a key cog in the machine. "Around the defence side of things, we will be stronger. The effort areas in what you do inside the defence. But also what you do when you have got the ball," Maguire said on SEN Radio on Monday. "It will be different to what you have seen.

"I am big on effort. I am big on helping each other. The various characters we have here, someone like we have here, like Kobe Hetherington. He is a style of player i do enjoy. You have got to do the tough stuff of the game. Because that is what is going to create the big opportunities."

In Walters' final season, there were talks standards had slipped in the dressing room with a number of 'rock stars' at the Broncos. However, Maguire appears to be ready to dispel this speculation having already put the squad through a gruelling pre-season.

Payne Haas stuns Michael Maguire in pre-season

One player that has really stunned Maguire is Payne Haas. Maguire took charge of NSW in State of Origin this year and delivered the trophy after a remarkable series. Haas was one of the players that stood up in Game 2 and 3 for NSW.

And Maguire has noted Haas has translated some of the preparation he learned while in the Origin camp this year into his Broncos pre-season, which is going to only help him in 2025.

"Payne is still learning and growing. He was able to see quite a number of players during the Origin time and how they prepared. And he has added a lot more to where he is at now. He is an incredible human being. I am looking forward to a good pre-season with Payne and he understands his position in the team. He is a leader."

Ben Hunt signs with Broncos ahead of 2025 season

Maguire will now have a new player to welcome to training after Ben Hunt signed with the club on a two-year deal worth $600,000 per year. And only hours before the news, No.7 and captain Adam Reynolds talked about what his role would be in the team if he joined ahead of the 2025 season.

"Ben could do a lot," Reynolds said. "He's a great player, with what he brings to the football field. He's a leader off the football field as well, which is super important in any organisation. He's an X factor and amongst some of the game's greats, and obviously it would be a big benefit to get them here to the club.

"If you've got competition in the squad, it's going to make you a better player and Ben would add to that if he did arrive here. He's a competitor, brings a lot of experience and no doubt it would be a great addition to the squad if we can get him." While some expected Hunt to play as a utility for the Broncos, Ezra Mam's potential absence to start the season could see the former Dragons captain slide right into the five-eighth role next to Reynolds.