After stringing together five consecutive wins, the Brisbane Broncos are charging into Round 21 with serious momentum—and coach Michael Maguire isn’t backing down from bold decisions. Instead of grinding through their bye week, Maguire made a clear call: send the team home to spend time with their families.
It wasn’t a gamble; it was calculated.
“With family really,” Maguire told SEN Radio. “I’m usually full-on with the players, but when I get the chance I love to be at home—dropping the kids at school, going to their sports events. It was a nice little break.”
Some NRL coaches keep the squad on edge during a bye to maintain rhythm. Maguire went the opposite route, confident his group could reset without losing sharpness.
“I know sometimes a break can disrupt momentum, but we’ve been in a good weekly routine,” he said. “Now it’s about applying that again on Friday. Parramatta can start fast, so we’ve got to be switched on early.”
The Broncos sit fifth on the ladder, four points behind the Warriors. A top-four finish is still within reach with matches against Parramatta (home) and South Sydney (also at Suncorp) up next.
Broncos Finally Running Full Strength Spine
For the first time this season, Maguire gets to unleash the spine he originally built around:
Reece Walsh (FB) Ezra Mam (5/8) Adam Reynolds (Halfback) Ben Hunt (Hooker)
With suspensions and injuries finally behind them, this unit is now fit, firing, and ready for finals footy.
“Hunty hasn’t played a lot at 9, but his IQ there is next level,” Maguire said. “It frees up Reece and Ezra. I’ve got two senior leaders and two X-factors—that gives us control and creativity.”
Reece Walsh: Energy Source, Not Just Highlights
Maguire gave a glimpse into Reece Walsh’s impact beyond the highlight reels.
“He’s a livewire. Loves his footy. That energy rubs off. He’s a real competitor at training and I love coaching those guys,” Maguire added.
Walsh’s chemistry with Mam is central to Brisbane’s unpredictability and attacking fluency.
Bye Came at the Right Time
The bye didn’t just help mentally—it gave a physical breather to Origin-heavy leaders like:
Payne Haas – managing lingering niggles. Pat Carrigan – had a lighter load than usual during Origin III.
Carrigan appreciated the break, crediting it with helping him reset:
“Last year, I went too hard straight after Origin. This time Madge gave us five or six days, and it brought me back level-headed. I feel really good,” Carrigan said via AAP.
No Excuses, No Distractions
Maguire’s approach is clear: finals footy is earned through preparation, not noise. With the squad healthy, the top four within reach, and key players mentally recharged, the Broncos head into Round 21 with no room for complacency—and no distractions.
They’re rested. They’re ready.
Now it’s time to prove it.
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