AFL
Brisbane coach Michael Maguire speaks on Broncos’ captaincy change for 2025 in latest interview, amid Adam Reynold’s injury
As he recovers from a neck operation, Brisbane coach Michael Maguire believes Adam Reynolds is “definitely” on track to start the NRL season.
However, he acknowledges that he has not yet decided who will captain the Broncos in 2025. Additionally, Ezra Mam will not be able to play competitive football until May after the NRL reportedly blocked a loophole that would have allowed the 21-year-old to return to action sooner.
After Christmas, Reynolds underwent surgery to address a nerve problem in his neck that had been bothering the seasoned halfback and had flared up early in Brisbane’s preseason training. Nevertheless, the 34-year-old returned to Red Hill this week, where he has been training, following a successful surgery.
The Roosters will be the first team Brisbane plays in the NRL on March 6. Reynolds will have around five weeks to prepare for the season opener. Additionally, it has been reported that the veteran will play a rare game against the Bulldogs in the NRL Pre-season Challenge. Recruit Ben Hunt, who is anticipated to play five-eighth while Mam serves his nine-game suspension due to the latest drug-driving scandal, will then have the opportunity to work on his halves combination with Reynolds.
The Broncos will play the Bulldogs on February 22 and the Titans on February 16 in their preseason games. Maguire is sure that Reynolds will be ready to play at the beginning of the new season, if not sooner, and Brisbane’s new coach is happy with how the veteran has recovered from surgery.
“He ran (on Monday), not full-on, he’ll spend a month in rehab and then be back into training. I wouldn’t be surprised if he’s back a little earlier,” Maguire told News Corp. “He’s definitely (all good for the start of the season). It’s amazing what they can do now. They go in and tidy it up. He has had it for a while and he felt if we did something about it (it would help). He spoke to plenty of doctors and the surgeon said they could do it and fix up all his issues.”
Maguire revealed he hasn’t made a decision on the Broncos’ captaincy for 2025 yet, with speculations the coach might start fresh by promoting representative forwards Patrick Carrigan or Payne Haas in instead of Reynolds.
“I’ll make that at the back end of the month,” the Brisbane coach said about the captaincy call. “I’ll decide that when the time is right. Reyno is our captain at the moment and is leading well.”
Ezra Mam will not be able to play for Broncos feeder club
Ezra Mam returned to preseason training with the Broncos this week, but he will have to wait four months to play his first competitive match of the year after the NRL reportedly closed a loophole for the 21-year-old to return earlier. The NRL slapped Mam with a nine-game ban and a $120,000 fine after he was sentenced for a car crash in October while driving without a license and with a drug in his system. The suspension was not related to the judiciary, so there were hopes that Mam would be able to play in Queensland’s Hostplus Cup.
Mam can only train with the Broncos, however, since the NRL has apparently ruled off that possibility. He won’t be eligible to participate in a competitive match until May 9, when Brisbane plays South Sydney in round 10.
Prior to any ball work, Mam reportedly worked closely with Hunt and attack coach Trent Barrett during the field session, practicing passing and kicking.
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