Martin Taupau is unlikely to receive a contract extension from the Broncos and is facing possible disciplinary action from the club. This comes after the veteran forward appeared to publicly criticise head coach Michael Maguire by ‘liking’ a social media post that questioned the coach’s intense methods.
The post was made by Elijah Taylor, a former NRL player who played under Maguire at the Wests Tigers. Taylor spoke candidly about the toll Maguire’s demanding coaching style took on him, claiming he often felt exhausted before games due to the intensity of training. Taylor described Maguire as extremely emotional after losses, overly reliant on full-contact sessions, and criticised his tendency to schedule excessive meetings, all of which he suggested contributed to burnout.
Current Broncos player Taupau, who has been stuck in reserve grade for much of the year, liked the post — a move widely interpreted as support for Taylor’s comments. Taupau later backtracked, issuing a public apology and saying the like was unintentional. He insisted he enjoys playing under Maguire and is committed to helping the team succeed in 2025.
Despite his statement, The Courier Mail reports Taupau will be required to front the Broncos’ leadership group over the incident, and the club has ruled out renewing his deal for 2026. A further punishment may still be handed down, and his chances of returning to first-grade action this season appear slim.
Meanwhile, Payne Haas has dismissed suggestions of unrest within the Broncos camp. Responding to media speculation — particularly from journalist Phil Rothfield, who has claimed that Maguire’s methods have unsettled players — Haas firmly backed his coach. He acknowledged the team hasn’t delivered results recently but said the players remain united and fully support Maguire.
“We love being here and training hard. The results just haven’t come yet,” Haas said. “All that talk is rubbish. We’re all behind Madge. He’s been great, he believes in us, and we believe in what he’s doing.”
