Brisbane Broncos forward Martin Taupau set to be axed after Michael Maguire criticism

News.com.au

16-05-2025

Broncos veteran Martin Taupau is reportedly set to front the club's leadership group after liking a social media post criticising Michael Maguire's style of coaching.
According to Code Sports, Taupau's time in Red Hill is all but over and he will sit down with Adam Reynolds, Pat Carrigan, Payne Haas, Ben Hunt and Kotoni Staggs to explain his actions.
Former Tigers forward Elijah Taylor was asked by fans why Brisbane could be struggling for form, delivering a criticism of Maguire's coaching on Instagram.
The post included three reasons why the Broncos weren't delivering despite having a host of multimillion dollar stars, whilst also touching on Maguire's 'intensity'.
Taupau liked Taylor's post in a telling sign he agrees with the former NRL star's opinion, which reportedly led the Broncos internally discuss sacking the prop with immediate effect.
There is also reportedly the possibility Taupau will be sanctioned by the leadership group, and he's unlikely to be offered a contract beyond the 2025 season, meaning he could have played his last game for the club if he is not picked again.
'A lot of people are asking me what's wrong with 'Madge' (Maguire), what's wrong with the Broncos,' Taylor said on the Footy Hacks Instagram account.
'One, his intensity. I've never seen a coach ride the game so hard.
'After a win, the world is a better place. After a loss, you're off to a funeral and someone will be getting cooked at the video session.
'Two, training methods. Ninety-five per cent of the time on the field it's full contact. The hardest pre-season I have ever done is with Michael Maguire.
'You haven't done an NRL pre-season until you have done a Michael Maguire pre-season.
'Three, time efficiency. Let's have a meeting for a meeting for a meeting. I'd get home from training and the kids don't know who I am anymore. Hardly home.'
According to Code Sports, Taupau felt the full effects of Maguire's brutal pre-season, collapsing during running on the first day in November.
Taylor also highlighted that he often felt 'sore' while running out to play an 80 minute game, saying: 'If Madge can clean that up, I'm sure he can turn the Broncos season around.'
However, according to rugby league reporter Ben Dobbin, the damage has already been done by Taupau, with the club 'absolutely filthy' and going into 'meltdown'.
'They are extremely disappointed, they hate to be put into this situation and they're trying to change the culture,' Dobbin said on Triple M's Thursday Scrum.
'They will be meeting with the player in the coming days and there will be ramifications. They are absolutely furious about the fact he's liked this. The senior playing group are unhappy.'
Brisbane superstar Payne Haas, meanwhile, put to bed suggestions Maguire had lost the playing group when fronting media on Thursday.
'That's a bit of bollocks,' Haas said.
'We've got his back. Everyone's got high belief in this group and what he does. We support him 100 per cent.'