Madge Starts Off Being Madge: Michael Maguire has started his time at the Broncos by rubber-stamping Trent Barrett as his assistant and sacking club legend Alan Langer, who is arguably the greatest Bronco ever – and if not, he is certainly the most beloved.
Langer has had a relatively minor role in the football department, running water and messages on game day while being around the team during the week.
Sacking him is exactly what is wrong with Maguire – he has no sense of people.
Langer could have and should have continued to have a minor role in the football department if, for no other reason, than to link the club back to better times and give the old boys one of their own they can hang their hat on.
This is how Anthony Seibold started his time in charge of the Broncos – and we all know how that ended, The Broncos job is not one to be a bull at a gate.
The club needs change but it is a carrot club, not a stick club and unfortunately for Maguire, the stick is all he knows.
PVL Plays Expansion Right: Make absolutely no mistake – Peter V’Landys’ rejection of eight expansion bids is not an indication that his expansionist vision has died.
Unlike prior administrations that expanded for the sake of expansion, the ARLC boss is making sure that any successful bid makes a compelling business case that they will add to the value of the NRL and not just suck at its teat like a fat baby.
Last week eight bids were rejected including the much-hyped Perth Bears bid.
All bids will get a second chance to make their case but will need to find money, arguments and more money.
PNG are on track to become team No.18, Perth will have team No.19 when they fork out $20m.
Team No.20 though is open and it really will go to the best bid, the NRL should be looking at Queensland and Queensland only assuming Adelaide wants no part of it.
New Zealand do not deserve or have the ability to have a second team, NSW is full and so it should be Queensland, Queensland, Queensland.
Australia Still With Plenty of Work To Do: Australia ran out 22-10 winners over New Zealand in Christchurch but there remains major concerns with how this Australian team is placed going forward, particularly in the halves and on the wings.
Both Mitch Moses and Tom Dearden struggled to spark much while Zac Lomax was incredibly poor despite scoring two tries.
While Nathan Cleary will be the centrepiece going forward to the 2026 World Cup, there should be rightful worries that Moses and Dearden are struggling.
They are getting little help from Dylan Edwards at fullback and Isaah Yeo through the middle, both of whom are playing their Penrith style but one that is not fitting with those around them.
Cook Islands Crumble: There were high hopes that the Cook Islands could upset Fiji on Saturday night – they never came close.
Despite jumping to a 6-0 lead, the Aitu were embarrassed 56-6, it was a devastatingly bad performance that will embarrass the proud archipelago.
They wasted opportunities with the ball but most egregious was the awful tackling and the total lack of fitness, it will be a long Saturday when the Cook Islands meet PNG on Sunday.
The Most Stunning Thing I have Ever Seen On a Rugby League Field: Taane Milne kicked seven-from-seven for Fiji including many from the sideline in one of the most stunning events ever seen on a Rugby League field.
Fun Fact #1: Cook Islands has a population of just 15,040 people.
Fun Fact #2: Rugby League is the national sport of the Cook Islands.
Fun Fact #3: The Tuapapa Maraerenga Panthers are the most successful team in the Cook Islands domestic competition this century, winning seven titles since 2005.
Betting Market of the Week: After rolling out Peter Gough, Chris Butler and Liam Kennedy for internationals over the weekend, the NRL will this week troll us by naming who to officiate this week’s internationals:
- $3.50: Kasey Badger
- $2.60: Henry Perenara
- $2.20: Percy Le Blanc
Rumour Mill: Ryan Papenhuyzen has been linked to a stunning move to Canterbury with the Bulldogs prepared to offer the star No.1 certainty of position and more than $250,000 extra per season.
Ben Hunt will not return to the Dragons with the Roosters heavily favoured to win his signature for 2025.
John Bateman is expected to sign with Manly with the Tigers clearly showing no interest in bringing him back.
The Coaching Crosshairs: There will be job openings in 2025, with the Tigers, Knights, Sea Eagles and Cowboys could all look to make changes while there could be others.
Here are the Top 5 available coaches from different competitions as well as the Top 10 assistants.
Super League
- Matt Peet (Wigan)
- Willie Peters (Hull KR)
- Steve McNamara (Catalans)
- Sam Burgess (Warrigton)
- Brad Arthur (Leeds)
NRL Assistants
- Justin Holbrook (Roosters)
- Josh Hannay (Cronulla)
- Marc Brentnall (Melbourne)
- Dean Young (St George Illawarra)
- Brian McDermott (Newcastle)
- Ben Gardiner (Penrith)
- Matt Ballin (Brisbane)
- Ryan Carr (St George Illawarra)
- John Morris (Wests Tigers)
- Jim Lenihan (Gold Coast)
NSW Cup
- Ben Harden (Penrith)
- George Ndaira (Newtown)
- Mick Potter (Canterbury)
- Brock Sheppard (Canberra)
- David Tangata-Toa (New Zealand)
Queensland Cup
- Eric Smith (Northern Pride)
- David Elliott (Norths)
- Karmichael Hunt (Souths Logan)
- Paul Aiton (PNG)
- Luke Burt (Burleigh)
Moronic Coaching Decision of the Week: Leaving Kodi Nikorima on the bench for so long when Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad was clearly not working at five-eighth in their opening Test against Australia.
Nikorima got just 10 minutes when the Kiwis were behind most of the match and in desperate need of a solid kicking game and some creativity with the ball. Stacey Jones made a huge blue in not using Nikorima earlier and with more intelligence.
Watch It: With news that Australia are likely to tour England at the end of next seasons, reviving the great Kangaroo Tours of days gone by, we go back to 1986 and a documentary about the team that became known as ‘The Unbeatables’. Watch it here.