Michael Maguire's stunning code-switch in bid to ignite Reece Walsh and Broncos backs in 2025

Reece Walsh and the Broncos backs have visited the Brisbane Lions' coaching facilities for a change of scenery as Michael Maguire continues to shake-up the club's pre-season. The players have been hard at work during Maguire's first pre-season as Broncos coach with Payne Haas and Jesse Arthars both talking about the high-standards the former NSW coach has set ahead of the 2025 season.

Broncos players were seen doing 10 push-ups for every mistake made at training the other day, which has seen a shift in work ethic under Maguire. Walsh was one of the superstars to return to pre-season early after a rollercoaster 2024 season.

Walsh recently admitted he 'doesn't care' about the talk outside of the team with Maguire already impressed with the 22-year-old at training. The fullback will be looking to build on his latest season and propel the Broncos back into the top eight and his work has already started.

And Maguire has reached out to the Brisbane Lions coaching staff and sent his backline to their facilities in a shake-up to pre-season. Maguire has called upon the experience of the Lions' fitness team to work with his players, while the coaching staff exchanged ideas. The players and staff then posed for a photo after the meeting.

The move has been hailed by fans who feel the young backline could learn a few things from the AFL premiership winning coaching staff in the off-season. Furthermore, the likes of Walsh, Selwyn Cobbo and Kotoni Staggs looked to be benefitting from a tough pre-season with the trio looking fit ahead of the season.

Only this week, Arthars claimed Haas and Walsh have been leading the way in training as they look to shut down the criticism of 2024 and the claims standards had dropped at the club. "Payne is always up there. He has sort of been in and out with his injury but he's always ripping in," Arthars said. "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."

Maguire's move follows in the footsteps of Craig Bellamy

Bellamy has long been a believer that learning from the rival code and their methods is an added benefit for the NRL. In 2014, the Storm and Port Adelaide linked up to help learn from each other. Ken Hinkley and Craig Bellamy have maintained contact as they bounce ideas off each other.

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In 2015, the Storm and Port Adelaide juniors shared a joint training session to learn different ideas of their rival code. And it appears Maguire is tapping into the only AFL team in the state to learn off the premiership winning team.

Jesse Arthars details changes in Broncos training

This week, Arthars told the media the team have been collectively put to work to eliminate mistakes from their game. And this is starting at training.

"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."