Updated ,first published
Broncos chief Dave Donaghy says the club was blindsided by the sudden resignation of assistant coach Ben Te’o on Tuesday as it emerged that Brisbane had turned down an approach by Billy Slater for him to join the Queensland Maroons coaching staff.
In the latest chapter of what has been a tumultuous start to the year for the premiers, Te’o quit amid reports of a dramatic falling-out with head coach Michael Maguire.
News Corp reported Te’o and Maguire had a heated altercation about defensive tactics at a dinner before Brisbane’s victory over Melbourne Storm at AAMI Park last Friday night.
Just four days after that win, the defence coach, who played under Maguire in South Sydney’s grand final victory in 2014, submitted his resignation.
According to sources speaking on the condition of anonymity, the 39-year-old was also disappointed after being prevented from becoming a member of Slater’s Queensland set-up for this year’s State of Origin series.
Te’o was approached by Slater to fill the vacancy left by one of the Maroons’ previous assistant coaches, Josh Hannay, who has taken over as head coach at the Gold Coast Titans.
But the Broncos would not let him take up the post, with fellow Brisbane assistant coach Matt Ballin as well as members of their training and strength and conditioning team already on Slater’s Queensland staff.
Sources said Te’o had also wanted to continue as Queensland under-19s coach last year after being appointed to that role in 2024, but Maguire told him he needed him around after a tough start to the season for the Broncos.
Teo’s exit from the club comes just months after he turned down an offer to join the Titans. Donaghy said he spoke to Te’o on Monday and was shocked to be told he wanted out.
“I was very surprised that I was having that conversation yesterday. I think we all, all were,” he said. “I don’t want to speak for ‘Madge’ [Maguire], but I probably will … he was, too.
“[It’s] really unfortunate that we’ve found ourselves in that situation. But I think clearly Ben felt really strongly about where he was and what he was feeling and felt like he wanted to take a step outside the arena for a period of time, and we should respect that.”
Donaghy said he didn’t want to go into the specifics of Te’o’s departure and about the reported blow-up with Maguire.
Te’o, who played 96 NRL games for the Broncos, had been lauded for injecting a hard edge into the defending champions since arriving in Brisbane before the 2025 season.
“I know Madge, for a fact, is pained by [Te’o’s decision] … because he deeply cares for his people,” Donaghy said.
“He’s got a long relationship with Ben, it stretches back to when they were winning comps together at Souths, and then they win a comp together in the coaching staff at the Broncos a decade or so later.”
Despite breaking a 19-year title drought last October, the Broncos have been in the headlines almost constantly this season – and not for the right reasons.
In February, their superstar front-rower Payne Haas announced he was signing with Wayne Bennett’s South Sydney for next season and beyond.
There were suggestions Haas was moving to the Rabbitohs because of Maguire’s intense style, but he dismissed that speculation, saying he had a “great relationship” with the coach.
There has also been a widening rift between Brisbane and former captain Gorden Tallis, who has high-profile television and radio jobs and been critical of Maguire and the Broncos.
Tension escalated last week when the former Test forward voiced concern about injured captain Adam Reynolds flying to Sydney to appear on Fox Sports shortly after sustaining a rib injury against Parramatta.
While the halfback ultimately sat out Brisbane’s 18-14 win against the Storm, their first in Melbourne in a decade, the Broncos reacted to Talllis’ commentary by removing his name from a conference room at their $27 million headquarters, replacing it with NRLW legend Ali Brigginshaw.
Asked about Maguire, Donaghy said: “We brought Madge in to do a specific role and I don’t think it can be questioned that he’s done that role.“
The Broncos boss said the coach was “incredibly selfless” and was “out there every day trying to make us better”.
“I don’t think anyone can argue with that,” he said.
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Chris Barrett is a senior sports reporter for The Sydney Morning Herald. He is a former South-East Asia correspondent for the Herald and The Age.Connect via X or email.