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Maguire: Eels 'silly' not to test Broncos backs
Jasper Bruce, AAP •  March 11th, 2026 5:09 pm
The high ball proved a problem against Penrith so Brisbane can expect more of it from the Eels | Photo: Jono Searle/AAP
Michael Maguire admits Mitch Moses would be silly not to target Brisbane's backline with his kicking game after a clumsy display in the round-one loss to Penrith.
The Broncos coach confirmed he would bench Ben Hunt and start Ezra Mam at five-eighth against Parramatta this Thursday night, though would not commit to keeping Mam next to Adam Reynolds in the starting halves long term.
Instead, Maguire says the reigning premiers are focusing on one major lesson out of their 26-0 round-one spanking from Penrith.
"It's pretty simple: Hang onto the ball," Maguire said.
"Look at our completion rate. That tells the story right there.
"We just didn't put ourselves in a position, last week, to put a bit of pressure on the opposition."
The Broncos were left looking for answers during a tough start to their title defence | Photo: Jono Searle/AAP
Brisbane completed at only 61 per cent, the worst rate of any team in round one, and it was their back five that gave up 10 of the 19 errors.
Two of Penrith's four tries came after one of the backs fumbled a kick from Nathan Cleary, with another following Kotoni Staggs' play-the-ball knock-on.
On Tuesday, Eels super-boot Moses shrugged at suggestions he would follow Cleary's lead by peppering the sloppy Broncos this week.
But Maguire was realistic that Parramatta would indeed be targeting his back five again at Suncorp Stadium.
"They'd probably be silly not to," he said.
"But we've got to make sure that we look after each other.
"We've looked very much at ourselves this week. We need to get back to what works for us."
Maguire conceded starting 35-year-old Hunt in the halves ahead of livewire playmaker Mam did not go to plan last week.
"We went with the team we did last week and we weren't able to play to where we know we can," Maguire said.
But the coach defended the call to give Hunt and Reynolds the first chance as the halves pairing given last year's premiership run.
"We've been very successful with Hunty and Reyno. We won a comp off the back of that," he said.
Adam Reynolds and Ezra Mam will reunite in the Broncos' halves against Parramatta | Photo: Darren England/AAP
Maguire would not confirm whether Mam and Reynolds would remain his starting halves combination for the long term.
"It's up to the players to be able to show that each week. We're on a journey to round two now. They've shown that they're very capable," he said.
"We've definitely shown that over time but this is a new season. What's done is done, we've got to move forward to what's ahead of us."
