Retired Brisbane Broncos captain Adam Reynolds declined to mention coach Michael Maguire in his farewell speech, highlighting a deepening rift between the two ahead of Reynolds’ final match at Suncorp Stadium on Thursday night. The incident came amid public tensions following a week-long dispute over whether Reynolds would receive an on-field send-off.
Reynolds, who officially retired after the Broncos’ 46-20 defeat to Melbourne Storm, thanked club executives, including chief executive Dave Donaghy and chairman Karl Morris, along with the Broncos board, his teammates, and former Brisbane coach Kevin Walters. However, he conspicuously omitted any reference to Maguire, the coach under whom he last played for Brisbane.
The strained relationship dates back to a controversy earlier in the week concerning the halfback’s farewell opportunity. Initially, Reynolds expressed frustration after being denied a traditional lap of honour at Suncorp Stadium, a decision reportedly influenced by Maguire following medical staff advice about concerns over Reynolds’ calf injury. Reynolds later reversed his statement, claiming that the decision to retire was his alone, a position supported by Maguire, who said Reynolds “ended up calling it a day.”
Maguire and Reynolds share a history dating to 2012, when the coach gave the halfback his NRL debut at South Sydney Rabbitohs. Together, they won the 2014 premiership, ending South Sydney’s 43-year title drought. They reunited at Brisbane in 2025, culminating in the club’s first premiership in 19 years the following season. Despite this shared success, the absence of any acknowledgment in Reynolds’ farewell speech underscored a breakdown in their relationship.
Compounding the disappointment was the manner in which the Broncos organised the farewell ceremony. The club issued a formal apology to its 71,000 members for a poorly executed send-off during the match. Reynolds and fellow departing players Jesse Arthars, Delouise Hoeter, and Corey Jensen were given a lap of honour that was met with only muted applause. The occasion was further diminished by an on-screen promotion for a Kia vehicle, a lack of highlight reels, absence of ceremonial music, and no official presentation involving family photos. Reynolds appeared visibly underwhelmed and embarrassed throughout the event.
The Broncos’ handling of the farewell and the public discord between Reynolds and Maguire have drawn attention to internal challenges at the club during a period of transition. The farewell marked the end of a notable career for Reynolds and leaves lingering questions about the club’s cohesion moving forward.