It’s taken two-thirds of the NRL season, but the Brisbane Broncos finally have their first choice spine on the field together—and coach Michael Maguire is excited.
Speaking on SEN radio in Queensland, Maguire acknowledged the early-season issues caused by injuries and suspensions, but was optimistic about the weeks ahead.
The 51-year-old said he expected the combination of Reece Walsh, Adam Reynolds, Ezra Mam and 2025 recruit Ben Hunt to improve sharply, particularly given the representative quartet have played just one game together this season, the Round 19 victory over the Gold Coast Titans.
With 35-year-old Hunt returning from a long-term hamstring injury against the Titans, it’s now full steam ahead for the fifth-placed Broncos with chemistry to be built and refined as the final series approaches.
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“It’s really important (to have them playing together), I think they’re going to keep evolving over the next month,” Maguire said.
“Hunty’s smarts at number nine will be a real helping hand for our spine and that will release Ez (Mam) and Reecy, while our forward pack will really start to understand how he plays and moves.”
‘We’ve managed to get there now’
Maguire also pointed to the extra in-game versatility that comes from finally having his four playmaking stars on the field together.
“We’ve got two seniors (Reynolds and Hunt) and two X factors in Ez and Reece, it means we can play a controlled style, but also those two boys can express themselves when needed, when there’s a bit of space,” he said.
“It is exciting to have the spine back, it’s what we thought we were going to have when we first started, but we’ve managed to get there now and each game they play they’ll get better and better.”
With the club’s mid-season wobbles seemingly behind them, Maguire and the Broncos are close to full strength for Friday night’s Round 21 home clash with Parramatta.
Expectations are high—but can Walsh, Mam, Reynolds and Hunt propel the glamour club to its first NRL premiership since 2006?