Brisbane are in the midst of an all-too-familiar form slump, losing their past four matches in a row following their rousing win over the ladder-leading Canterbury Bulldogs in Round 8.
This time last year, Michael Maguire was in the thick of his maiden State of Origin campaign with New South Wales. But fast forward through a triumphant series for the Blues and his move to the Broncos and the coach is now in decidely choppier waters.
Yet with the club’s season threatening to spiral out of control for the second straight time, Maguire has opted to lean into the curve.
The coach has dropped a selection bombshell ahead of their meeting with the Gold Coast, punting Selwyn Cobbo despite the team’s struggles.
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Why Michael Maguire dropped Selwyn Cobbo
"As a leadership group and as a coach, we’re pushing standards here and expectations on how we’re doing things," Maguire explained.
"There’s obviously things that every player goes through at times and this is no different. He’s in the background now doing his work and making sure he gets himself right.
"Selwyn and I talk all the time," Maguire responded while refusing to divulge the exact details of why he had dropped the star.
"I’ll keep that between us."
Josiah Karapani has been drafted in as Cobbo’s replacement ahead of Deine Mariner in another surprising development.
The 23-year-old has mixed his time up on the wing and in the centres in the Queensland Cup this year for the Burleigh Bears.
In his seven appearances though, he has done enough to capture Maguire’s attention with six tries, 34 tackles breaks and 156 run metres per game to his name.
"Karapani has got his opportunity and Selwyn has got to look at a few things in his game," the coach added.
Could shock axing of Selwyn Cobbo see him leave the Broncos?
As if the pressure wasn’t already ramping up enough on him, Maguire was forced to field questions about the long-term implications of his decision to demote Cobbo to the reserves.
However, the coach maintained that he was still on great terms with the Maroons and Australia flyer, while backing him to reach the standards he expects in the near future.
"Definitely [he can bounce back from this]," Maguire stated.
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"I don’t look at it from that point of view," he replied in regards to Cobbo being off-contract at the end of the campaign.
"I’m here to coach the team and we’re creating standards.
"A lot of people outside are talking but I’ve been around a little bit. My job is to make sure the boys are focused and to get them going. And I’ve got a lot of belief in this team."