Written by Megan Taylor, sports reporter covering international sports since 2020
Michael Maguire’s Brisbane Broncos coach position is secure for the 2027 NRL season, chief executive Dave Donaghy declared in Brisbane on Monday, July 13. The firm backing matters as the defending premiers face the prospect of missing the finals after a sharp decline in 2026.
Brisbane Broncos entered the season with a squad expected to cope with injuries, but their depth has failed to produce consistent results. With a bottom-four finish possible, speculation had begun to surround Michael Maguire’s future.
Injuries have also shaped the campaigns of several rivals, with the Latrell Mitchell injury update leaving South Sydney Rabbitohs waiting underlining the physical demands of the season.
“You can quote me on this ... Madge will be our coach,” Dave Donaghy told Code Sports.
“We signed Madge on a three-year deal.
“We had an amazing experience last year, but as a club, we always felt this was going to be a three-year exercise to get us to the place where we’re consistently pushing for sustainable success.”
The official Brisbane Broncos announcement confirms Michael Maguire originally joined the club on a three-year contract. He then guided Brisbane Broncos to their first premiership in 19 years.
Dave Donaghy also dismissed claims that Reece Walsh and Ezra Mam are unhappy at the club, calling the rumours “garbage”. Both players have endured injury-hit seasons, with Reece Walsh suffering a facial fracture and Ezra Mam recently sidelined by a shoulder problem.
Brisbane Broncos must now win every remaining match to retain any realistic finals hope. Their next test comes against Penrith Panthers on Thursday.
