Brisbane Broncos assistant coach Ben Te'o has officially resigned from his position with the NRL club after a significant verbal altercation with head coach Michael Maguire. The dispute, which centred on tactical disagreements, occurred in the days leading up to Brisbane's first victory of the 2026 season against the Melbourne Storm last Friday night.
Volatile Argument Sparks Club Intervention
According to a detailed report from News Corp, the argument between Te'o and Maguire escalated to such a concerning level that Broncos football boss Troy Thomson was compelled to step in. The coaching duo's tough conversation, which took place during a dinner meeting, quickly turned volatile, highlighting deep-seated tensions over team strategy.
Thomson subsequently held crisis talks with both Te'o and Maguire at the Broncos' Red Hill headquarters in a bid to mediate and restore harmony. Despite these efforts, Te'o, a former NRL star who played for Brisbane and the South Sydney Rabbitohs, has now submitted his resignation, marking a sudden end to his coaching tenure.
Long-Standing Relationship and Coaching Impact
Te'o and Maguire share a professional relationship that spans more than a year in Brisbane and dates back to their time together at South Sydney. Maguire, who led the Broncos to their first NRL premiership in 19 years last season, was instrumental in retaining Te'o after his hiring by former coach Kevin Walters just days before Walters' dismissal at the end of 2024.
Te'o played a crucial role in Brisbane's drought-breaking premiership victory last season, with his expertise widely credited as the primary influence behind the team's defensive plays. As a 174-game NRL veteran, his transition into coaching began with the Dolphins in their inaugural NRL season in 2023, where he served as an NRL assistant and head coach of the Queensland Cup side.
The 39-year-old's history with Maguire includes being one of his key players when Maguire coached the Rabbitohs to their first premiership in 43 years back in 2014. This long-standing connection adds a layer of complexity to the recent fallout, underscoring the intensity of their tactical disagreement.
