Broncos 'spy' funnelling 'inside information' from Storm

The Broncos are getting inside information on the Storm from a "spy" in the lead-up to Sunday's grand final. Brisbane forward Ben Talty was in the Storm's inner sanctum only a few months ago, spending the pre-season and trials with Craig Bellamy and his men. He narrowly missed the cut for a spot in the Storm's top 30 in February and returned to feeder club Norths Bears in the NSW Cup. But then in June, the Broncos decided to give the 26-year-old his chance. Brisbane coach Michael Maguire left Talty out of his 17-man squad named on Tuesday - but may still have a change of mind before game day. "He's actually spent the past two off-seasons with them so he knows a fair bit about their combinations and approach to games," a Broncos insider told Wide World of Sports. "We'd be silly not to have a chat to him and ask him for any insights in the lead-up to Sunday." Talty has played 10 games for the Broncos since his move north, winning nine. Ironically, his one loss was to the Storm by 22-2 in round 23. Maguire left Talty out of his 17-man squad named on Tuesday - but may still have a change of mind before game day.

Ben Ikin delivers concerning message to Michael Maguire after telling Kevin Walters claim

Former Broncos footy manager Ben Ikin has declared Michael Maguire will need to adapt to the current playing group or risk being pushed out the door, despite the current squad being built in the vision for previous coach Kevin Walters. On the weekend, Ikin watched his former club suffer their sixth defeat in seven matches as Maguire's reign as coach was called into question. Fans took to social media and urged the club to bring back their former player. Ikin was formerly the head of football at the Broncos, but departed in 2023 to become the CEO of Queensland Rugby League. On Tuesday, Darren Lockyer made some telling comments after he was asked about Maguire's future having not guaranteed his job if things continue in the same manner. And on Wednesday, Ikin also raised the alarms having suggested Maguire needs to adapt quicker than he expected. There have been reports of player unrest at the club with talks Maguire's style of coaching is taking its toll on the players. On Tuesday, Kotoni Staggs slapped down these suggestions having defended the coach. But Ikin feels the coach is struggling to implement his style with a squad put together to help former coach Walters' vision. "They look like a group that is not all on the same page at the moment," Ikin said on SEN Radio. "Most people could tell you that Madge's style is probably a lot different from Kevvie's. That current roster and footy program was built in Kevvie's image. So you bring in someone who is a polar opposite in Madge and it's going to take a while to adapt."

Four Broncos in the gun after 'embarrassing' performance

Michael Maguire has no alternative but to wield the axe after the Broncos' embarrassing performance at Brookvale on Saturday night - their sixth loss in seven games. But where to start? Analysing the heavy defeat to a weakened Manly team, there are four players whose stats were woeful and will be lucky to keep their places. I'll name names - though they had plenty of mates:

1. Ezra Mam - 5 missed tackles and 3 errors
2. Cory Paix - 1 run for 1 metre
3. Kobe Hetherington - 4 runs for 29 metres
4. Billy Walters - 1 run for 5 metres.

These four - and plenty more - will have a nervous wait until the team is named on Thursday afternoon.

Broncos 'buried' despite Manly star's rotten injury luck

Manly's Josh Aloiai has suffered another injury blow after he was ruled out of his side's clash with the Broncos in the first half. The Sea Eagles' prop played just 21 minutes before he left the field in discomfort. By half-time, his fate was confirmed with Manly ruling him out for the game. In round six against the Sharks, Aloiai suffered a shoulder injury that ruled him out until this round (13). Earlier, the Sea Eagles went on a first-half blitz to continue the misery for Brisbane. Clayton Faulalo scored first in the fifth minute before Brisbane's Ezra Mam hit back. After Mam's try, it was all the Sea Eagles, though. Faulalo scored his second before Nathan Brown and Haumole Olakau'atu crossed the line to make it 22-6 at the break. Daly Cherry-Evans was the star in the first half, finishing with two try assists. After the break, it was all Manly again. Olakau'atu grabbed his second in the 70th minute before Tolutau Koula finished off a beautiful set play with minutes remaining. "They have buried the Broncos tonight. I wasn't expecting this," Greg Alexander said on Fox League. Manly finished 34-6 winners. The loss pushes the Broncos to 11th with Manly seventh on the ladder.

Kevin Walters responds amid links to replace Des Hasler as Gold Coast Titans coach in NRL

Kevin Walters insists he wants to coach again in the NRL but has refused to address speculation he's in line to replace Des Hasler at the Titans after describing it as "disrespectful" to the veteran coach. Hasler's job at the Gold Coast is under fire after a poor start to the season that sees the Titans sitting 16th on the ladder after just two wins in eight games. It's now emerged that the under-siege coach has a number of performance-related clauses in his contract that could see the Titans axe Hasler without needing to pay him out, if the veteran mentor cannot turn things around. News Corp reports that Hasler faces the axe if Gold Coast don't make the top-eight and play finals footy this season. The Daily Telegraph's Michael Carayannis says the clauses also state that if Gold Coast are mathematically out of finals contention later in the season, then the Titans can decide to part ways with the veteran coach then and there. “He originally signed a three-year deal but there’s clauses in his deal and one of those is a top-eight clause,” Carayannis said. “That is if they don’t make the top eight this year, the Titans are under no obligation to keep him at the club next yet. There’s another element to it and that’s if when they are mathematically no chance of playing finals footy, they can split immediately." With 14 wins generally accepted as the number necessary to play finals footy in most years, it means Hasler's Titans would have to win 12 of their remaining 14 games this season for his job to be safe. The Titans have been hurt by a number of injuries to key players already this season, with Kiwi Test fullback Keano Kini the biggest blow after being ruled out for the season. Former rep forward David Fifita has also experienced complications from pre-season ankle surgery that's set to keep him sidelined for an extended period. The underwhelming form of the rampaging back-rower has been a major issue for Hasler in 2025 and so too has the defence of the Titans, whose 250 points conceded is the second-worst behind only the bottom-placed Eels.

Hynes Passes Huge Test

The challenge of an attacking shootout with Mitchell Moses saw Nicho Hynes find his best form of the season in the Magic Round opener. Moses was great in a brave Eels side - but Hynes was better, laying on three tries in his team's 28-18 win. Hynes and Brayden Trindall have been taking turns leading the Sharks attack and at Suncorp, it was the former Dally M winner in the driving seat. The classy halfback revelled against the Eels, giving his outside men time and space and the speedy Sharks back did the rest. Hynes has been a little hot-cold this season but such a strong performance on the big Magic stage will work wonders for his confidence for the long road ahead.

Awkward Walsh dilemma exposed by Bronco's epic record

Are the Broncos a better team without Reece Walsh and with Selwyn Cobbo at fullback in 2025? The question has to be asked in the wake of Thursday night's stunning 42-18 defeat of the premiership-leading Bulldogs. Walsh is a brilliant player at his best but has been hot-cold all season, with some of his errors costing the Broncos big time. After gifting the Warriors a golden point win last week, he was diagnosed with a knee injury that will see him sidelined for at least a month. The versatile Cobbo was shifted to fullback in his absence and was more consistent than Walsh has been, playing a key role in the Broncos' impressive stampede. Cobbo has now started three games at fullback - and the Broncos have won all three!

'Hard Reset' Walsh Needs

A few weeks back I suggested that the Broncos needed to sit Reece Walsh down and have a chat to him about not trying to do too much on the field. After Saturday night's thrilling golden point loss to the Warriors, the Broncos need to have a serious talk to Walsh again. And now he is out for at least a month with a knee injury, Walsh has the opportunity to give his football brain a hard reset. The star fullback was off his game for most of the night in Auckland and gifted the Warriors victory by putting the kick off to golden point out on the full. Luke Metcalf calmly landed the subsequent penalty from halfway and the game was over. It was an inexcusable mistake from a player who knows better and Walsh's fragile confidence has taken another knock that will take some time to recover from.

Maguire reveals player power's role in journeyman's rise

Gehamat Shibasaki has been one of the fairytale stories of the first month of the premiership - and Broncos coach Michael Maguire has revealed that player power played a huge role in his revival. Over the summer, most critics thought the 27-year-old was wasting his time trialling for the mighty Brisbane Broncos backline. That he was no chance to make the club's 30-man squad, let alone the starting 13. But through sheer persistence - and a little help from his team-mates - Shibasaki is now a regular member of the Broncos team. Maguire admits he knew little about the centre of Torres Strait Islander, Japanese and Palau descent when he took over the reins of the Broncos in pre-season. "I did know that he'd been here before (in 2018-19), then moved around and lost his way a little… even went to Japanese rugby," Maguire told Wide World of Sports. "He had plenty of work to do to catch up with the rest of the guys but he knuckled down and did it and that impressed me. "The other thing - he came through the juniors with Patty Carrigan and few of the other boys and they all spoke highly about him - that worked in his favour for sure." Shibasaki started the season in the top grade but even then, seemed to just be warming the centre spot for the injured Kotoni Staggs. But last week when Staggs finally return to the club, Maguire dropped Deine Mariner and kept Shibasaki in his team. The under-rated centre responded with a two-try performance in the 20-12 defeat of the Dolphins. After being a wanderer who played six games of league in the past four seasons at the Knights, Cowboys and Rabbitohs, Shibasaki appears to have finally found a home - back where it all began.

Cobbo's Trip Across The Ditch

Alarm bells started ringing on both sides of the ditch when one of my spies spotted Broncos superstar Selwyn Cobbo in Auckland last week. Cobbo has been linked with a move away from the Broncos and the Warriors are a little skinny for outside back depth. So all the pieces seemed to be falling into place… until I did a bit of sleuthing. "Nice try Moley - but he was just there for a couple of days for his partner's mum's birthday," Cobbo's manager told me. And another great story bites the dust…

Reynolds' contract noise grows as 'desperate' clubs loom

Adam Reynolds is coming towards the end of his original deal with the Broncos and with an extension yet to come to fruition at a time when halfbacks are at a premium, speculation is brewing that he could be on the move. The veteran halfback was at his brilliant best on Friday against the Cowboys, coming up with a try assist, forcing two dropouts and scoring a rare try of his own. Reynolds is approaching his 35th birthday but is still operating at a high level, despite continued concerns over his body in recent years. While publicly he's remained somewhat coy about his plans, Reynolds has indicated that his desire would be to play on, potentially for another two seasons. "That will sort itself out in the future," he said after the round three win. "That will sort itself out in the future," he said after the round three win. Adam Reynolds in action for the Brisbane Broncos against the North Queensland Cowboys in round three. Adam Reynolds during the round three win over North Queensland. "I'm enjoying myself, I've got a great team around me and the coaching staff is fantastic. "As long as I'm continuing to enjoy my footy, I've got to keep doing my job … as long as I'm doing that, the future will look after itself." Should the Broncos table a contract extension, the biggest question will be how much they are willing to pay - and perhaps, how much Reynolds could earn elsewhere. The club already has Ben Hunt on its books for 2026 on reasonable money, while Ezra Mam is yet to come back from suspension and is on huge coin long-term. As we've seen countless times, three does not fit into two and someone will miss out. Rumours began to swirl on Monday morning that if Brisbane don't come up with an offer for their skipper soon, Reynolds could return to his roots in Sydney.

Broncos Superstar A Frustrated Young Man

Reece Walsh is one of the most talented players in the league, but has seemingly lost all confidence at the start of 2025. After making four errors last week in the loss to the Raiders, he had an absolute shocker in the 26-16 win over the Cowboys. Walsh seems to be trying too hard to make things happen - he made five errors, gave away two penalties, was placed on report and put a kick out on the full. In fairness, he did some good things, notably a 40/20 and a try assist, but the negatives far outweighed the positives and his body language was that of a frustrated young man. In a winning team, it was a worrying performance and someone needs to get inside his head and settle him down… and get him back to playing the confident, fluent football we all know he is capable of.

Reece Walsh cops crushing new blow as Raiders favourite sends emphatic message to Billy Slater

Reece Walsh's grip on his State of Origin jersey appears to be slipping after an underwhelming display in Saturday night's shock thumping by Canberra. And Raiders fan favourite Corey Horsburgh has sent another emphatic message to Maroons coach Billy Slater as his push for a recall to the Queensland side gathers steam. Walsh squandered a glorious chance to respond to rival fullback Kalyn Ponga's masterclass for Newcastle on Thursday night, that has seen calls grow for the Knights skipper to be picked in the Maroons No.1 jersey ahead of the Brisbane star. The Broncos fullback had a night to forget in the nation's capital as Ricky Stuart's Raiders gave the visitors a stark reality check. Many experts named Brisbane among the favourites to win the premiership this year after their crushing win over the Roosters in round one. But Michael Maguire's men were sent crashing back to earth by an impressive Raiders side that made it two wins from two to start the new season.Walsh was well below his best for the majority of the game after coughing up four errors, missing four tackles, and running for just 96 metres. The Broncos fullback is close to unplayable when he's on song but has a tendency to have these sorts of games every now and then and it will surely be a concern for Maroons coach Slater when it comes to picking a Queensland team to try and win back the Origin shield this year. The Brisbane No.1 failed to inject himself into the game during a very quiet first half as Canberra's pack out-muscled and out-enthused the star-studded Broncos middle forwards, led by Payne Haas and Patrick Carrigan. And when Walsh did try to get more involved in the second forty, with his side trailing 16-10 at the break, the Broncos fullback was once again guilty of trying to do too much as errors and ill-discipline came back to bite Brisbane. Walsh inexplicably dropped one ball close to the tryline after breaking through Canberra's defence, before throwing a cut-out pass into touch in another poorly executed play. He also put winger Jesse Arthars - whose hat-trick gave Brisbane hope - under unnecessary pressure after taking a kick return and throwing a questionable pass to his teammate, who was subsequently bundled into touch.

Lockyer pressed on $4m Mam issue amid Broncos squeeze

Brisbane legend Darren Lockyer has urged suspended young gun Ezra Mam to keep a close eye on his veteran teammates while serving a nine-game ban. Mam is not available for selection until round 10 after copping the ban and a $120,000 NRL fine after pleading guilty to one count of driving while relevant drug is present in blood, and driving without a licence over a car crash in October. The 22-year-old was on the verge of winning a Clive Churchill Medal in the 2023 grand final until his heroics were undone by Nathan Cleary's Panthers in 15 minutes of mayhem. He was one of the hottest young players in the game and inked a five-year contract extension last February, said to be worth $4 million. The year then fell off a cliff as his own form dipped and the Broncos missed finals, the coach was sacked and then he narrowly avoided jail. The club recruited veteran playmaker Ben Hunt, who alongside fellow elder statesman Adam Reynolds last week orchestrated a 50-14 demolition of the Roosters to kickstart their season under new coach Michael Maguire. Hunt had initially flagged an intent to play hooker once Mam was back in the No.6 jumper but with the likes of Cory Paix, Billy Walters, Blake Mozer, and Tyson Smoothy also battling for the No.9 jumper, spine spots are in hot demand at Red Hill. On Wide World of Sports' QLDER, club director Lockyer was asked whether Mam will struggle to get back into the team. "I think it's a premature conversation," Lockyer said.

Father time shines on broncos

League is a young man's game - but the oldest halfback combination in the NRL in nearly 30 years has already produced a stunning improvement in the Broncos. Ben Hunt's return alongside Adam Reynolds proved an instant winner as the Broncos smashed the Roosters 50-14 in an emphatic start to the Michael Maguire era. The pair - with over 600 games between them - making them the most experienced halves duo since Des Hasler and Cliff Lyons at Manly in 1996 - decimated the Roosters. The Broncos raced in nine scintillating tries - and the two thirty-somethings played a role in most of them. It's the ideal beginning to Maguire's tenure at the Broncos and will begin the process of eradicating the memories of the club's woeful fall from grace in 2024.

Broncos player tipped to join Cowboys amid NRL dilemma around Selwyn Cobbo and Kotoni Staggs

NRL great Scott Sattler has revealed the Cowboys are likely to snare either Tyson Smoothy from the Broncos or Jayden Brailey from the Knights before the June 30 deadline this year as cover for star hooker Reece Robson. The Cowboys are likely to be without Robson during the State of Origin period after he emerged as the No.1 hooking option for NSW last year. Todd Payten doesn't really have a genuine back-up hooker in his NRL team, although Karl Lawton or Sam McIntyre could fill the role during Origin time. According to Sattler, rumours are rife that the Cowboys will look to snare one of Smoothy or Brailey to fill the void.Brailey is on the outer at Newcastle and was left out of their leadership group for 2025. The Knights are said to be happy for the veteran to move on, with Phoenix Crossland set to start at No.9 this season. As for Smoothy, he's become surplus to requirements at the Broncos and has already signed with Wakefield in the English Super League for 2026. Smoothy played a lot of first-grade during Kevin Walters' time as Brisbane coach, but under Michael Maguire he appears to be stuck behind Cory Paix, Billy Walters and Blake Mozer. Smoothy will likely spend 2025 in Queensland Cup, unless the Cowboys come knocking. "I'm hearing Tyson Smoothy or Jayden Brailey to the Cows before June 30," Sattler said on SEN radio on Monday night. "If Robson goes down or is selected for Origin there's no-one there who has any experience."

Michael Maguire's surprise Deine Mariner move as Selwyn Cobbo faces awkward call at Brisbane Broncos

Broncos coach Michael Maguire could be set for a shock selection call in round one with Gehamat Shibasaki in line to usurp Deine Mariner for the available centre position as Kotoni Staggs nears a contract extension. Maguire recently admitted Selwyn Cobbo will most likely see a return to the wing this season having been named to start against the Bulldogs out wide. However, Shibasaki's inclusion raised eyebrows with flyer Mariner left on the bench with no explanation. Broncos fans speculated Mariner could be nursing an injury, which explained his exclusion from the strong starting side lining-up against the Bulldogs this Saturday. Mariner was one of the stars for the Broncos, under former coach Kevin Walters, last year having scored 17 tries in 21 games. The flyer's speed was a huge bonus for a backline that suffered too many injuries as the Broncos tumbled out of the top eight. However, Maguire has thrown a curveball to Brisbane Broncos fans has suggested Shibasaki could be in line to start in round one. The 27-year-old train-and-trial star has impressed Maguire during his brutal pre-season camp and the coach is considering starting Shibasaki. Reports suggest the Broncos are moving to upgrade Shibasaki's development contract and he could be in line to feature in 2025. This could see Mariner and Cobbo in a shoot-out for a position either on the wing or centre with Staggs all set to wrap-up a new deal. Staggs is a certainty to start for the Broncos at centre. Jesse Arthars appears a lock in one wing position after a brilliant performance in the NRL All-Stars exhibition. Mariner, Cobbo and now Shibasaki appear to be in a three-way race to make the starting 13. Shibasaki has only played three games in his NRL career since 2017, but appears a real shot at starting in round one.

Walters impress but signs arn't good

Billy Walters is fighting for his rugby league career at the Broncos - and made an early impression in the 50-12 thrashing of the Titans in Toowoomba on Sunday. Paying at five-eighth, Walters set up the first try of the game for centre Gehamat Shibasaki. The son of sacked coached Kevin Walters was the Broncos' starting hooker - but word is things will be different under Michael Maguire. And the fact that Maguire took two hookers - Cory Paix and Tyson Smoothy into what was in effect a reserve grade trial - and played Walters at six, is not a good sign for Billy. He didn't do much after that early touch of class, while Paix scored two tries, staking his claim for a spot in the Broncos' top 17 for round one.

Analysis NRL 'Fractured relationship' tested by big Broncos call

The fractured relationship between the Broncos and former favourite son Kevin Walters could take another hit before round one. Mail out of the Broncos camp is that new coach Michael Maguire is set to leave Walters' son Billy out of his 17-man team for the start of the premiership. This comes just months after Kevvie was shown the door by the Broncos following the club's disastrous fall from grand finalists to also-rans last season. The inside mail is that Maguire will go with two hookers in his squad - likely Blake Mozer and Cory Paix - with Billy, who was the club's starting hooker for much of last season, left out in the cold. Mozer is battling an injury and if he's unfit for round one, Tyson Smoothy is also in the mix. The fact that Walters was named at five-eighth in a second-string Broncos team to meet the Titans on Sunday only adds weight to the theory. Maguire is just what the Broncos need to turn the club around - an old fashioned hard-head who will see them spending more time doing laps of the oval and less on Instagram. The players won't like it - but when the results start to come, they will realise why Maguire takes the hard line. On paper, the Broncos have as much strike power as the likes of Penrith and Melbourne but need to deliver after the calamity of 2024. The team is chock full of internationals and Origin players and has a great balance across the park. Ben Hunt's arrival will also be a huge boost, especially if Adam Reynolds again misses a large chunk of the season through injury. Up front, the Broncos have the men to get them pushing the opposition backwards in Payne Haas, Pat Carrigan and Jordan Riki. There are few weaknesses in the squad and anything less than a top four finish would be seen as a failure.

Kotoni Staggs saga at Broncos takes $2 million twist in brutal new blow for Selwyn Cobbo

Kotoni Staggs is reportedly poised to sign a $2 million extension with Brisbane that that could spell bad news for Selwyn Cobbo's hopes of staying at the Broncos. The future of Brisbane's star outside backs has been a topic of discussion for months, amid suggestions coach Michael Maguire would not be able to fit both under the salary cap and would have to prioritise one of his strike weapons. Staggs' recent promotion to Brisbane's leadership group indicated the former NSW Origin centre was ahead of Cobbo in the pecking order. And it's now understood the 26-year-old will reject interest from rival Sydney clubs and commit his future to the Broncos, in a deal that could run until the end of the 2029 season. The Courier Mail reports that while Staggs has not yet signed the new deal, he is in "advanced negotiations" with the club to agree an extension that will be for at least the next three years, and possibly four - taking him to the end of the 2028 or 2029 seasons. The re-signing of the gun centre would be the first major piece of retention from Broncos coach Maguire and see him ward of the likes of the Sydney Roosters, who among the clubs reportedly interested in poaching Staggs. The 26-year-old appeared to be behind Cobbo in the pecking order at the Broncos last season before his teammate's form dipped and he battled off-field problems. But Staggs enjoyed a strong finish to the season that saw him claim the Allan Langer Award as the club's best back and Maguire has been impressed enough by the centre's attitude to elevate him to the Broncos' leadership group. “Kotoni has always been a handful of a player and I’d love to keep him here absolutely,” Maguire told The Courier Mail. “The one thing I’ve liked since coming here is Kotoni’s leadership qualities. He is an experienced squad member now and his leadership has really stood out."