- Gordon Tallis has been critical of Michael Maguire’s appointment
- The pair crossed paths with Maguire offering an olive branch
- Tallis rejected a sit-down with Maguire giving a brutal response
Broncos icon Gorden Tallis has reportedly rejected a peace offering from Brisbane’s new coach Michael Maguire, after the pair crossed paths on NRL grand final day.
The Broncos confirmed at the start of October that Maguire would take over the team immediately ahead of the 2025 pre-season.
Maguire’s appointment marks a stunning turnaround for the 2014 premiership winner with South Sydney, who was sacked by the struggling Wests Tigers midway through 2021.
He has since won a Pacific Championships with New Zealand and an Origin series with NSW, before now returning to club land with 2023 grand-finalists Brisbane.
Tallis has been highly critical of the appointment, and according to News Corp, the Broncos legend had an awkward encounter with Madge on grand final day at Accor Stadium.
‘He said, “G’day mate,” and shook my hand and he said, “We should catch up for a coffee”,’ Tallis said.
‘I told him, “I don’t drink coffee”.
‘I don’t need to be friends with any coach. I never caught up with Kevvie, I don’t catch up with Des (Hasler) and I never caught up with Justin Holbrook.
Gorden Tallis (pictured) has reportedly rejected a peace offering from Brisbane’s new coach Michael Maguire
Maguire said that he and Tallis should catch up for a coffee, but the Broncos great rejected the offer
‘What I say is just my opinion. It’s not an opinion on behalf of the Broncos old boys. No-one tells me what to say.
‘I’m paid to give my opinion and when I’m asked I am just going to give my honest thoughts.’
Maguire’s immediate challenge at Brisbane will be to pull the playing group into line, with questions around their attitude following their defeat in last year’s grand final.
The club’s drop to 12th place on this year’s ladder marked one of the greatest slides in premiership history, despite them having one of the NRL’s most star-studded rosters.
Maguire has a big job on his hands next season at the Brisbane Broncos
Maguire is also bound to face challenges from the Broncos’ all-powerful old boys club.
Four years after Anthony Seibold noted their ‘agendas’ on his way out of Brisbane in 2020, it is already clear things will be difficult for another outsider.
Besides Tallis, Broncos legend Shane Webcke has also questioned why the club would sack Walters.
