Latest news with #KotoniStaggs
News.com.au
3 days ago
- General
- News.com.au
Senior Broncos players snap back at critics and defend coach
They've been bashed from pillar to post in the wake of their humbling loss to the Sea Eagles, but senior Broncos players have hit back at suggestions that Michael Maguire's coaching methods aren't working. The Broncos have lost six of their past seven games to drop out of the top eight ahead of a crucial derby against the Titans on Saturday that will double as Adam Reynolds' 300th NRL match. Maguire replaced Kevin Walters this season and brought a hardened edge before a ball was kicked, but that hasn't delivered the results people were expecting with suggestions the players are already burnt out. Critics have called out the playing group for not responding to Maguire's methods, but centre Kotoni Staggs fired back at those claims and urged club bosses to show faith in the experienced coach. 'It's a load of crap,' Staggs said. 'You've got to train hard. It's a very tough sport, and if you don't train hard, I don't think you're going to go far in this competition. 'The training load here is pretty even, and I think any other club is doing the same as what we're doing. 'It's just excuses from outside noise that we can't control, we can just control what's happening within these walls. 'The training's good, the boys are sweet, we come here every day to training trying to turn the results around. 'They're the only people that can get us out of what we what we're going through right now. 'If we let that take control of us, then I guess we won't be able to get ourselves out of where we are.' The off-field drama has provided unwanted headlines ahead of Reynolds' milestone match, with the veteran halfback fed up with the outside noise. 'It's easy to write headlines when you are not winning games,' he said. 'It's external and doesn't mean anything to us. 'The conversations we are having in these four walls are the important ones. 'If you listen to people on the outside, you end up on the outside, so for us we know what we are capable of and what type of football team we have. 'It's easy to write from the outside. Unless they are in these four walls and know what is going on, it is irrelevant to us. 'People can say and write what they want but as a team and a club we are sticking solid and we will get through it. 'We will get a result and see what you write then.'
ABC News
3 days ago
- General
- ABC News
Broncos stars Adam Reynolds and Kotoni Staggs rubbish reports of player unrest under Michael Maguire
Brisbane's senior players have rubbished claims of player unrest under new coach Michael Maguire, as the Broncos battle a form slump of epic proportions. Maguire has been criticised of training the team too hard in some quarters, but it has been vehemently denied by skipper Adam Reynolds and Kotoni Staggs. Reynolds, who plays his 300th game this weekend, and centre Staggs insist the players have welcomed the hard edge provided by Maguire and slammed suggestions the playing group was disgruntled. After the 34-6 loss to Manly on Saturday night, 1991 premiership-winner Greg Alexander said the Broncos had "turned it up" and labelled them "wusses" for complaining about being over-trained. The Broncos have won one of their last seven matches and fallen in a heap in second halves of games, but Staggs said players had not been griping behind the scenes about Maguire's methods. "That's a load of crap, I say," Staggs said. "You've got to train hard. It's a very tough sport. If you don't train hard, I don't think you're going to go far in this competition. "The training load here is pretty even. I think any other club is doing the same as what we're doing. I think it's just excuses from outside noise that we can't control." Reynolds also disputed reports of player dissatisfaction with Maguire and his regime. "It's easy to write headlines when you are not winning games. It's external and doesn't mean anything to us," he said. "The conversations we are having in these four walls are the important ones. "If you listen to people on the outside you end up on the outside, so for us we know what we are capable of and what type of football team we have. It's about sticking together, working hard and seeing it through. Reynolds is well qualified to speak about Maguire, having won the 2014 premiership under him at South Sydney. He conceded the poor displays were an indictment on the playing group, but backed Maguire to lead the Broncos to title glory during his tenure and out of the mess they are currently in. "I know how hard he works and what it means to him. He's passionate. He's loyal," Reynolds said. "He has seen success and knows what success takes. It hasn't been smooth sailing, but we are working hard to turn that around. I can assure you we will turn it around. "We get prepared extremely well and as players we have to take the blame and responsibility for it. The only people that are going to get us out of this are ourselves." As for giving up against Manly, Staggs wouldn't have a bar of it. "No, we didn't give up," he fired. "There were times through the game where we could have been much better, yes, but there's no giving up there." AAP
News.com.au
3 days ago
- General
- News.com.au
‘Load of crap': Senior Broncos players fire back at critics and defend coach Michael Maguire
They've been bashed from pillar to post in the wake of their humbling loss to the Sea Eagles, but senior Broncos players have hit back at suggestions that Michael Maguire's coaching methods aren't working. The Broncos have lost six of their past seven games to drop out of the top eight ahead of a crucial derby against the Titans on Saturday that will double as Adam Reynolds' 300th NRL match. Maguire replaced Kevin Walters this season and brought a hardened edge before a ball was kicked, but that hasn't delivered the results people were expecting with suggestions the players are already burnt out. Critics have called out the playing group for not responding to Maguire's methods, but centre Kotoni Staggs fired back at those claims and urged club bosses to show faith in the experienced coach. 'It's a load of crap,' Staggs said. 'You've got to train hard. It's a very tough sport, and if you don't train hard, I don't think you're going to go far in this competition. 'The training load here is pretty even, and I think any other club is doing the same as what we're doing. 'It's just excuses from outside noise that we can't control, we can just control what's happening within these walls. 'The training's good, the boys are sweet, we come here every day to training trying to turn the results around. 'They're the only people that can get us out of what we what we're going through right now. 'If we let that take control of us, then I guess we won't be able to get ourselves out of where we are.' The off-field drama has provided unwanted headlines ahead of Reynolds' milestone match, with the veteran halfback fed up with the outside noise. 'It's easy to write headlines when you are not winning games,' he said. 'It's external and doesn't mean anything to us. 'The conversations we are having in these four walls are the important ones. 'If you listen to people on the outside, you end up on the outside, so for us we know what we are capable of and what type of football team we have. 'It's easy to write from the outside. Unless they are in these four walls and know what is going on, it is irrelevant to us. 'People can say and write what they want but as a team and a club we are sticking solid and we will get through it. 'We will get a result and see what you write then.'
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
'Weird' signing of Storm player that could force Cobbo and Staggs out of Broncos
Questions are being asked about why the Brisbane Broncos still haven't confirmed the signing of Grant Anderson from the Melbourne Storm, or a supposed contract extension for Kotoni Staggs. Reports emerged last November that Anderson had signed with the Broncos for 2026, and Storm coach Craig Bellamy confirmed the outside back's departure in April. But the Broncos are still yet to formally announce Anderson's arrival. Coach Michael Maguire has stated on numerous occasions that he'd love to keep both Selwyn Cobbo and Kotoni Staggs, and a contract extension for Staggs is said to be all-but signed. However that too is yet to be confirmed, and it's led to renewed speculation about what the future holds. With the Broncos under immense salary cap pressure, it's likely they'll eventually have to part ways with one of Staggs or Cobbo. Cobbo has been linked to NRL expansion teams PNG and Perth, and could become a marquee signing for one of the new franchises. As for Staggs, rumours have been rife for months that he's agreed to a new deal to remain in Brisbane on $2.4 million over three seasons. But the deal still hasn't been lodged with the NRL, and it's led to concerns that one of the parties (Staggs or the Broncos) might have got cold feet. With Anderson arriving in 2026 and Gehamat Shibasaki establishing himself as a first-grader, it opens up the possibility that the Broncos could look to save a heap of money by parting ways with both Staggs and Cobbo. Neither of Anderson or Shibasaki (or Jesse Arthars or Deine Mariner for that matter) would be on big contracts, meaning the Broncos could upgrade their forward pack if Cobbo and Staggs departed. There's a serious need to improve the back-row in Brisbane, with the likes of Jordan Riki, Brendan Piakura and Kobe Hetherington struggling. Speaking on Triple M radio on Sunday, leading journalist Michael Hooper said: "The funny thing with the Grant Anderson contract is it's never been formally announced. If you speak to anyone at Melbourne, they certainly believe it is going to happen, but the Broncos have never put out a formal announcement." In the same segment, James Graham asked what more Staggs has to do to earn a new deal. He said: "He must be sitting there thinking 'I carried this team last year. Why did I bust my arse? And why would they go and sign Grant Anderson in November?' Grant Anderson's agent must have thought it was a prank phone call from the Broncos." NRL pundit Anton Posa also recently described it as 'weird' that Anderson's move to the Broncos hasn't been confirmed over six months later. That's not official yet, weirdly. — Anton Posa (@antonposa) May 28, 2025 Where do you think Grant Anderson will play at Brisbane next year?Does the official GA fanclub move between clubs? — Daniel🇺🇦 (@DJT_34) March 30, 2025 We currently have Shibasaki on the other edge, killing it on a minimum contract. Grant Anderson is available and was rumoured to sign at the end of last year. The Broncos need to spend their money smarter. We have a 2nd row disaster that needs to be fixed. I love tones but ahhhh — . (@NichollsAngus) May 7, 2025 RELATED: Andrew Johns responds amid Nathan Cleary and Mary Fowler rumour Brisbane Broncos coach spotted in eye-opening move in dressing rooms Brisbane-based journalist Ben Dobbin declared the Staggs deal "not done", despite the player and Broncos continually saying it's a mere formality. The Brisbane centre has reportedly 'verbally agreed' with club officials to remain, and will become one of the highest-paid centres in the NRL on $800,000 per season if the reports are correct. "Obviously I have just left that in management hands," he said last month. "They are sorting that out and I will continue playing footy with the Broncs. Hopefully it just gets sorted soon and we can get on with it. "I've always wanted to be at this club as a young kid and I've been here for almost eight years now. I don't see myself being anywhere else. I love the club and it has done a lot for me and helped me along my path and journey inside and outside of footy. Hopefully we can get something done."
Yahoo
07-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
NRL news: Kotoni Staggs' confession about fiancee amid $2.4m re-signing development with Broncos
Kotoni Staggs has credited fiancee Brittany Becht for getting him back on track after some of his lowest moments, which has helped him land on the cusp of a $2.4 million contract extension at the Broncos. The Brisbane centre has reportedly 'verbally agreed' with club officials to remain at the club, and will become one of the highest-paid centres in the NRL on $800,000 per season. Staggs has come a long way since 2021 when he had to meet with NRL boss Andrew Abdo due to off-field dramas. Abdo told him to get his act together or face further sanctions, and the Broncos centre was just one more indiscretion away from being sacked. Kotoni Staggs and fiancee Brittany Becht. Image: Getty Since those rocky times he has been in a long-term relationship with fiancee Becht, who he credits with keeping him on the straight and narrow and growing as a person away from the game. "Every player has an important woman in their lives and I have got a lot in mine. They have got me to where I am," Staggs said on Wednesday ahead of the Women in League round of the NRL. ADVERTISEMENT Advertisement "I have a great partner and she is probably the main reason I have turned my outside life into a positive thing. She has helped get me back on track. 'There were times where I didn't do the right things outside of footy and it got me into some trouble. I had a look at myself and I needed to take a good look at myself and see what I wanted to do, how I am looked at after footy is done and how I want people to judge me. "I put everything aside to play good footy and not want to be in the media for the bad things, but for the right things. I switched around and got into the leadership group here and I've wanted to show the younger boys what the right thing is to do and set the right example." Kotoni Staggs credits fiancee Brittany Becht for getting him back on track. Image: Brittany Becht/Brisbane Broncos Kotoni Staggs hopeful of finalising contract extension soon Staggs became a member of the Broncos' leadership group in 2025 under new coach Michael Maguire, and sets a high standard with his preparation and performance on and off the field. He's currently a free agent and can negotiate with rival clubs, but doesn't want to be anywhere else but Brisbane. ADVERTISEMENT Advertisement There was an expectation that his multi-year extension would have been announced by now, but he's not worried. "Obviously I have just left that in management hands," Staggs said. "They are sorting that out and I will continue playing footy with the Broncs. Hopefully it just gets sorted soon and we can get on with it. "I've always wanted to be at this club as a young kid and I've been here for almost eight years now. I don't see myself being anywhere else. I love the club and it has done a lot for me and helped me along my path and journey inside and outside of footy. Hopefully we can get something done." RELATED: ADVERTISEMENT Advertisement A new deal worth $800,000 per season would put Staggs behind only Stephen Crichton and Herbie Farnworth as the highest-paid centres in the game. The Bulldogs and Dolphins players are both on $850,000. Staggs played one game for NSW in 2022, and is holding out hope of a State of Origin recall in 2025. But with Crichton, Latrell Mitchell, Tom Trbojevic and Bradman Best all in the mix, it appears unlikely at this stage.
