Brisbane Broncos head coach Michael Maguire has unveiled a unique passion project, teaming up with Supercars rising star Broc Feeney in a mentor role as he plots the NRL club's path to back-to-back premierships in 2026.
High-Performance Minds Collide
The premiership-winning coach, 51, has long held an interest in motorsport. His fascination has now evolved into a formal collaboration with Triple Eight Race Engineering driver Feeney, alongside teammate Will Brown. Maguire's involvement stems from time spent with drivers at the Gold Coast 500, where he gained an appreciation for race-day strategies.
"I'm a big fan of how each of the teams go about their race day. The different strategies are really interesting to watch," Maguire told News Corp.
He revealed a particular bond with Feeney, who is a devoted Brisbane Broncos supporter. "I've definitely bonded with Broc in particular as he's a huge Broncos fan and I'm really looking forward to exchanging ideas on high performance and helping him where I can," Maguire added.
Mutual Admiration in Elite Sport
For his part, Feeney expressed humility and excitement at gaining insight from one of Australian sport's most respected figures. The young driver was also recently impressed by the V8 skills of Broncos players Ben Hunt, Patrick Carrigan, Jesse Arthars and Corey Jensen during their day out at Queensland's Norwell Motorplex.
"I'm absolutely thrilled to have someone like Michael Maguire not only take an interest in what I do, but also offer advice and support," Feeney said. "He is one of the best minds in Australian sport and has done it all in rugby league, so to have him involved with the team is awesome. I am also a big Broncos fan, so it is very cool."
Broncos' 2026 Campaign and Season Ahead
Maguire's mentorship role aligns with his core mission: securing consecutive NRL titles for the Broncos by 2026. The club's premiership defence begins with a blockbuster clash against the Penrith Panthers at Suncorp Stadium on March 6.
According to TAB, the Broncos are current premiership favourites at $5, just ahead of the Panthers ($6). The Sydney Roosters and Melbourne Storm follow at $7 each.
The season's key fixtures include:
- The grand final rematch against Melbourne Storm at AAMI Park in round three on March 20.
- The 2026 NRL season kick-off in Las Vegas on March 1, featuring a double-header where the Newcastle Knights tackle the North Queensland Cowboys before the Canterbury Bulldogs take on the St George Illawarra Dragons.
This cross-sport alliance highlights the growing trend of high-performance knowledge sharing, as Maguire aims to translate competitive insights from the racetrack to the rugby league field in pursuit of sporting history.
