LeagueNews.co | Cooper McEnroe
In a classic tale of triumph and heartbreak, Michael Maguire has revealed the "empty feeling" he experienced after steering NSW to State of Origin glory in 2024, a moment that ultimately led him to donning the Brisbane Broncos' jersey.
Meanwhile, former Broncos head honcho Kevin Walters is rumored to be donning a new coaching hat with the NRL's latest addition to the playing field.
It was a bitter end for Walters when he was shown the door by the Broncos last September following a disappointing 12th-place finish, just one year after reaching the grand final in 2023.
The swift appointment of Maguire by the Broncos left the NSW Blues scrambling for a new mastermind to lead them to victory.
At the season launch event, Maguire shared a poignant moment of self-realization from the previous July, when a successful State of Origin campaign left him yearning for more time at the NRL helm.
Despite the jubilant victory, Maguire found himself standing alone at the team hotel, watching as his players and staff dispersed back to their respective clubs, leaving him with a sense of longing for his own team.
"I'll never forget the odd mix of emotions I felt after wrapping up the Origin series and facing the media the next morning," Maguire recounted.
"As I bid farewell to my players and staff who had already returned to their club duties, I couldn't shake the feeling of 'where is my team?' It was then I knew I wanted back in the game."