Maguire will be judged on Broncos titles: Tallis
Murray Wenzel |
Gorden Tallis says Michael Maguire’s success at Brisbane will be measured in NRL titles as the Broncos great delivered a reality check ahead of their finals return.
The Broncos finished their first regular season under the former South Sydney mentor in fourth, setting up a qualifying final against minor premiers Canberra in the nation’s capital on Sunday.
They’ve navigated injuries to both halves Ezra Mam and Adam Reynolds to be among the form September teams as Brisbane chase the club’s first title since 2006.
“Massive, I think they can,” Tallis said of the Broncos’ title chances.
“They nearly did it in 2023 and they’re not to that level (yet), but in the last month they’ve unlocked it.
“Dare I say it’s been Billy (Walters) and Ben (Hunt) unlocking their attack.
“They’ve simplified things.
“And they’ve got over the Origin hurdle. It does fatigue you; it’s real and Payne Haas and Patty Carrigan have come through that and they seem confident and fit.”
Maguire left his post as NSW coach to take over from club great Kevin Walters, who missed three of four finals series while at the Broncos’ helm.
The outlier was the Broncos’ scintillating 2023 campaign that ended in Walters’ side conceding the largest grand-final lead to lose 26-24 to Penrith.
Tallis hasn’t forgotten that night, or Nathan Cleary’s decisive 77th-minute try he thinks cost his former Brisbane premiership teammate his job.
Maguire won a title with the Rabbitohs in 2014 and Tallis reckons he’ll need to add to the dusty Red Hill trophy cabinet to consider his Broncos job done.
“They’re judged on winning grand finals, that’s where they’re judged,” Tallis said.
“A coach (Walters) got sacked three minutes away from winning one.
“So you get judged on … winning. That’s it, end of story.”
Tallis urged livewire fullback Reece Walsh, who overcame an injury scare at training this week, to continue to back his method after a stirring final-round defeat of Melbourne.
“He’s doing it right now,” Tallis said of Walsh’s game-breaking ability.
“The best form of defence is attack. That’s what got them there and you have to play the style of footy that suits.
“Play the way they do; throw the ball around (and say), ‘Catch us if you can’.”
Canberra have named talisman Josh Papalii in the front row despite an ankle injury at training last week, but have Matty Nicholson and Trey Mooney on the extended bench as cover.
Tallis expects the tough-as-nails prop to front up.
“The footage looked horrid; it was bad,” he said.
“But an experienced guy like that … he’s been around, pretty robust in the middle there and he doesn’t seem to get too fussed.
“A young kid would push himself but Papa, he would know. They’re built differently.”
AAP
