'Probably think I'm mad': Broncos coach says NRL title defence is alive

Despite a demoralizing 42-point defeat and a current six-game losing streak, Brisbane Broncos coach Michael Maguire remains steadfast in his belief that the team's NRL title defence is far from over. The reigning premiers slumped to their latest loss against the South Sydney Rabbitohs on Thursday night, effectively conceding the match by halftime with a 30-point deficit.

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We're still well and truly alive, and people will probably think I'm mad.

The Broncos now sit with a challenging 5-9 record, placing them six points adrift of the top eight heading into the latter half of the season. Their losing streak has included defeats against teams at the lower end of the ladder, compounding their difficult position. This slump follows a pattern where the team has struggled against both top-tier opponents and those below them.

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I've got a number of guys that are not on the field at this present moment. We're not going to use that as any sort of excuse or anything like that. But they'll all come back, and there's a lot of quality there.

Maguire acknowledged the team's current predicament, stating, "We're probably in a bit of a tough hole at the moment." However, he emphasized that the absence of key players due to State of Origin duties and injuries is a significant factor. Reece Walsh, Payne Haas, and Kotoni Staggs were unavailable for the South Sydney match, while several other starters are sidelined with injuries. "I've got a number of guys that are not on the field at this present moment... But they'll all come back, and there's a lot of quality there," Maguire asserted.

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We're probably in a bit of a tough hole at the moment … We'll get those boys back at some stage. We all know what the team's capable of doing.

The coach drew parallels to the previous season, where the Broncos also faced adversity with a 5-7 record before a remarkable turnaround saw them win 10 of their final 12 matches, ultimately clinching the premiership. Maguire is confident that a similar resurgence is possible, especially with the anticipated return of absent stars. Captain Adam Reynolds echoed this sentiment, highlighting the team's spirit and fight, and looking forward to a break to refresh before making a charge towards the finals. The Broncos face a tough run of fixtures against top-eight teams in the coming weeks.

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It's never nice when you're losing games, but that's where you find out about each other and the character of the team. We've got a lot of spirit and fight within the group.