It’s got so bad for Brisbane they should consider this eight-man hit list to replace Madge — Crawls

Another week and another loss for the bumbling Brisbane Broncos.

In fact, it has got so bad for the reigning NRL champs it would not shock me one bit if behind the scenes Broncos powerbrokers are already drawing up a hit list of potential candidates to take over if they end up having to pull the trigger on Michael Maguire in the coming months.

Eight names that immediately spring to mind include Cameron Smith, Brad Arthur, Ben Te’o, Darius Boyd, Nathan Fien, Kevin Walters, Trent Barrett and Mick Ennis.

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Or should the Broncos shoot for the stars and put Ivan Cleary at the very top of their wish list for 2028?

The fact is the Broncos would be crazy to be sitting back and pretending what is going on at the club right now is not a problem.

Because it is one thing to lose eight straight games and crash out of finals contention a year after winning the premiership.

But what is a far more serious issue is dealing with all this talk of a potential mass player exodus because of claims some players no longer want to be at the Broncos because of the coach.

Whether there is substance to the speculation that has emerged in recent weeks at this point is uncertain.

But the unavoidable reality is that once this perception takes hold at a club, it becomes incredibly difficult for any coach to recover regardless of his record or reputation.

So while much of the discussion over the past fortnight has focussed on Maguire being the perfect fit to replace Laurie Daley as NSW coach if he is moved on, what I find extraordinary is that next to no attention so far has been paid to the far bigger question confronting rugby league’s most powerful club.

Who replaces Madge?

The problem for Brisbane is that the list of available coaches is surprisingly thin.

Craig Bellamy’s name has always surfaced previously whenever the Broncos job has become available.

But given Bellamy’s health concerns, he is no longer an option.

So do the Broncos pursue an experienced coach from another club who is currently under contract, or gamble on the next generation?

Cameron Smith’s name will inevitably be mentioned given he is already employed in a leadership consultancy role at the Broncos.

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And while Smith has said previously that he is not interested in coaching an NRL team, he did put his hand up to coach the Australian Test team before Kevin Walters was appointed last year.

Kieran Foran’s success at Manly has also showed that you don’t necessarily have to have years as an assistant coach under the belt if you have the necessary belief to back yourself as well as the respect of the playing group.

Meanwhile, Arthur remains the best credentialled coach on the open market — and the job he is doing over at Leeds in the Super League hasn’t done his reputation any harm.

Te’o would be an intriguing option given his dramatic exit from the club earlier this year after his well-publicised blow up with Madge, although there is no doubt he also left with the respect of the playing group.

Darius Boyd is also building his reputation through Queensland’s under-19 program and has worked closely with the Broncos backs including Reece Walsh, while Fien is highly regarded as an assistant at the Dolphins.

We all know Trent Barrett has NRL head coaching experience and is already one of Maguire’s assistants.

As for Ennis, he has long spoken about wanting a crack at head coaching and would certainly have the personality and confidence to handle the spotlight that goes with being the Broncos coach.

Then there’s Kevvie Walters.

But would the Broncos swallow their pride and bring one of the club’s favourite sons back?

Probably not would be my guess.

Not because Kevvie is not capable, but the people who punted him would look like complete mugs if they brought him back now.

But it says plenty about the current coaching market that the question is still worth asking.

Which brings me back to the one name Brisbane should have at the very top of any long-term wish list regardless.

Yes, Ivan Cleary has said he doesn’t want to coach another NRL club when he steps away from Penrith at the end of next season.

He has also hinted rep footy may be the next challenge if he stays coaching.

But circumstances change, and money talks.

Who’s to say the opportunity to coach the biggest club in rugby league would not entice him to change his mind?

And if Brisbane could somehow lure Ivan north, why stop there?

Nathan Cleary is also off contract at the end of 2027 and free to negotiate with rival clubs from November 1.

The Broncos currently have their fingers and toes crossed backing either Tom Duffy or Jonah Pezet to emerge as Adam Reynolds’ long-term replacement alongside Ezra Mam.

But if Nathan Cleary puts himself on the market for 2028, why wouldn’t you at least pick up the phone if the Broncos are serious about chasing another premiership anytime soon?

Although the complication with Ivan Cleary is that he would only become available from 2028, while there is growing speculation Maguire may not last beyond this year.

Whatever the case, I have no doubt the Broncos coaching job will become the game’s biggest story post State of Origin.

As the competition moves into the final two months of the regular season with the reigning premiers already out of finals contention.

DRAGONS SHOULD JUST GIVE YOUNG THE JOB

St George Illawarra’s 24-10 win over Wests Tigers should cement Dean Young the head coaching job moving forward.

While it is only the second win in nine games since Young took over back in round eight, it is two more than they got in the previous 11 games under Shane Flanagan.

TIGERS’ FINALS HOPES DISAPPEARING

In comparison what started as an exciting season for Benji Marshall’s Tigers is turning into another complete and utter disappointment.

I was one of the dopes who jumped on the Benji bandwagon after they shot to five wins from their first seven games when they sat in the NRL top four.

But since then they have gone on to lose seven of their next nine _ and that finals drought that stretches back to 2012 looks like extending for another season.

The loss on the weekend leaves the Tigers in 12th spot, meaning they need to win at least six of their final eight matches to make the top eight cut.

Good luck with that.

EELS’ YOUNG HALVES DELIVER IN MOSES’ ABSENCE

It was great to see the Parramatta’s young halves stand up in the absence of Mitchell Moses.

And it would have been a particularly satisfying for Jonah Pezet who has struggled to get a crack at the NRL due to injury and form this year.

There’s also been some talk the Broncos were having second thoughts about signing Pezet, which is the reason Michael Maguire is said to have approached Ben Hunt about playing on for another year.

But I do think we’ve seen enough from Pezet to suggest he will develop into a more than handy NRL player with experience and opportunity.

CODY’S BRAIN SNAP SHOULD COST HIM A NEW CONTRACT

Cody Walker will never grow up.

And I am gobsmacked there was talk in the papers over the weekend that Souths have tabled the veteran an offer for next year _ on the same weekend Cody’s latest brain snap cost his team any chance of victory against the under-strength Panthers.

Talk about poor timing.

Seriously, not only did he cost his team a try and left them a man down for 10 minutes while he was in the sin bin for kicking Jack Cogger.

But Walker now has a week on the sidelines to think about it as his team fights to stay in finals contention.

If the loss ends up costing the Bunnies a spot in the finals, there is no way Walker should be another contract for next season.

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ANOTHER BUNKER HOWLER

I love watching Tom Jenkins.

The flying Panther they call “Milky” has just emerged as a try scoring phenomenon this year after finishing with another hattrick against the Bunnies.

But in the fair dinkum stakes it was absolutely laughable that the bunker awarded his second try when it was a clear double movement _ after Jenkins extended the ball carrying arm after it had hit the turf.

I’ve tried to lay off being too critical of the match officials this year.

But some of the decisions in recent weeks have been just mind boggling and it’s simply not good enough in professional sport.

A SHOW OF CLASS FROM THE $1M DRAGON

It was great to see Val Holmes bounce back to form in the Dragons’ win over Tigers after finishing with two tries.

And Val was equally impressive with his post match interview on Fox League.

Despite copping a stack of mostly justifiable criticism this year, Holmes came across as just so humble and grateful that his team had finally got another win.

It was so refreshing listening to him.

For a bloke who gets paid a million dollars a year to play footy, it just showed that he still well and truly has his feet planted safely on the ground.

HOLBROOK HAS KNIGHTS CHARGING

Finally to the Newcastle Knights, and it is wonderful watching the transformation of last year’s wooden spooners under Justin Holbrook.