Broncos assistant coach Ben Te’o has sensationally quit the club after an explosive verbal bust-up with Michael Maguire.
Concerns about what is going on behind the scenes at Brisbane have only intensified after Code Sports revealed the pair had a fiery clash over team tactics ahead of the Broncos’ 18-14 win over the Storm.
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The tensions reportedly boiled over after Te’o, Maguire’s chief defensive assistant, argued over defensive tactics following the club leaking 40 points to the Eels the week prior.
Well-placed sources told Code Sports their discussion quickly reached a flashpoint during a dinner just days out from Brisbane’s Round 3 clash with the Storm.
The outlet reports Broncos football boss Troy Thomson held crisis talks with Maguire and Te’o at Brisbane’s Red Hill headquarters on Monday night in an attempt to smooth things over.
Brisbane chief executive Dave Donaghy and crisis manager Grant Williams launched an investigation into what unfolded.
However, Te’o informed the club on Tuesday morning he no longer wishes to work with the club after the Maguire spat.
Internally, Te’o is largely credited with putting in place the defensive structures that helped the Broncos snap a 19-year title drought last season.
He was originally hired by Kevin Walters, just days before the Broncos legend was sacked, with Maguire honouring his contract.
Before his foray into coaching, Te’o played under Maguire during the Rabbitohs’ 2014 drought-breaking premiership, before he quit the club to pursue a career in rugby union. He later returned to the Broncos in 2020 before retiring in 2021.
Te’o previously opened up about working under Maguire on The Bye Round Podcast last year and how his temper has changed over the years.
“He’s changed. When I got him in 2014, he was young, aggressive, straightforward, and very challenging. He’d go off pretty easily,” Te’o told James Graham on The Bye Round.
“He’s a lot more measured now. Obviously time and experience but yeah, the blow-ups aren’t the same but yeah he’s evolved.
“His principles are the same. It’s different being a player under him to now working with him but I get what’s important to him and that’s why it works. “
The latest Broncos drama comes just days after Broncos bosses sensationally removed Gorden Tallis’ name from a conference room at the club’s $27 million headquarters following his constant criticism of Maguire and club captain Adam Reynolds.
You can read the full story on Code Sports.
