The Broncos coach has had enough of the claims around his players.
Brisbane Broncos coach Michael Maguire has taken it to the players during training and put them through a tough wrestling drill after fans and club legend Trevor Gillmesiter called out their physicality. The Broncos forward pack and toughness has been questioned this year in their two losses this year with the Canberra Raiders and the Roosters out-muscling Maguire’s side.
The Broncos were battered into submission last week with a revved-up Roosters side taking it to Payne Haas, Patrick Carrigan and the forward pack. Suggestions were the Broncos side had a ‘soft’ side as they fold when big forward packs start to get a roll on.
“It was a harsh lesson. We needed to be more physical,” coach Michael Maguire said after the Roosters loss. The Roosters turned up and had more physicality. I know it’s in our team but we have to look at ourselves,” Maguire said.
And this prompted Broncos great Gillmeister, also known as ‘The axe’, to call for the players to show more mongrel in the tackle. This wasn’t lost on Maguire who put the players through a demanding ‘wrestling’ drill on Wednesday in order to get the players in each others faces in a physical session.
And Broncos star Jordan Riki admitted the session was an eye-opener after the weekend. “We have got to man up and front up,” he said. “On Monday we had a fairly decent wrestle session. It was pretty physical.
“A few of the boys that played Cup on the weekend came in and took their part in the wrestle group. I’ve had quite a few conversations with Madge (Maguire) and defence coach Benny Teo as well, and I definitely do believe that’s one thing I can bring, a bit of physicality.
“It’s not just myself. I feel like everyone across the park needs to probably man up a little bit and definitely bring the heat. We know that the Warriors are going to come out firing against us, but we’re definitely ready to go there and do the job.”
Trevor Gillmeister calls out Broncos side
Gillmeister was known for his bone-rattling tackles in the 90s and won two premierships with the Broncos. And after watching the loss to the Roosters last week, the club great had a message to the playing group.
“I agree with Madge (Maguire). The Broncos need to start hurting a few more blokes,” Gillmeister told AAP. “They have got to be more physical in the middle and the only way to do that is to bend their backs and use their shoulders more in the tackles.
“They need to whack a few. You can’t be nice on a football field. Once you’ve finished the game shake hands and say, ‘sweet mate. No dramas. See you next round and I can cut you in half again next time’.”
The Broncos play the Warriors in New Zealand this week and are out to make a statement having lost their second game of the season. And Gillmeister had high-praise for Xavier Willison who is pushing for a case to start in the side and push Carrigan back to lock.
The 22-year-old managed 51 minutes off the bench last week and showed his physicality using all 114kg of his frame. “The beauty of Willison is for such a big bloke he has got a good motor and it will only get better the more game time he plays each week,” Gillmeister said.
“He is good on his feet and can step. I’d like to see him bend his back a bit more in tackles. I think he would take the opposition by surprise and cut them in half occasionally.”