Broncos make huge change as Madge’s big mistake emerges

Brisbane Broncos are set to make a huge change amid an NRL Premiership defence that has all but capitulated.

The Broncos lost their 12th game out of 18 on Saturday night when they went down 18-10 to the North Queensland Cowboys.

Brisbane made a remarkable run to the NRL Finals and Grand Final in 2025, where they beat Melbourne Storm to win their first Premiership in 19 years.

Madge’s big mistake emerges

But head coach Michael Maguire has been accused of making mistakes in the pre-season, which was shortened due to the trip to England to face Hull KR in the World Club Challenge.

The Courier Mail has reported that Maguire’s insistence on making the trip and disrupting the pre-season led to unrest in the camp.

“Maguire was intent on Brisbane heading to England for the World Club Challenge in February on the back of a shortened pre-season,” the Courier Mail reported.

“The Broncos had minimal time to prepare for the 2026 NRL season after featuring in the last game of 2025 before numerous players embarked on Test campaigns.

“The Broncos returned and lost their first two games of the NRL season to Penrith and Parramatta at Suncorp Stadium.

“The England expedition also followed a two-week pre-season training camp in Toowoomba, split with weekends at home, which went down like a lead balloon with some players.”

The Broncos can still mathematically make the eight, but would have to win their remaining games, and hope a ton of results go their way.

Broncos make huge change

The reality is it’s over for Brisbane in 2026, and the club is now planning a big coaching change by bringing in Cameron Smith full-time ahead of the 2027 campaign.

The NRL great is currently coaching grassroots and schoolboys on the Gold Coast, while managing his media commitments.

Smith is already working with Brisbane’s leadership group as a consultant once a week, but his input is sporadic, and the club is eager to secure him permanently.

The Courier Mail has reported that the Broncos want Smith to provide an important ‘conduit’ role between the players and Maguire.

It remains to be seen if Smith accepts the offer, but it’s understood that the Broncos are hell-bent on making sure the rugby league great increases his involvement at Suncorp Stadium.