How unheralded Brisbane Broncos, led by Cory Paix, helped salvage a sinking ship; Deine Mariner dropped for Dolphins clash

“I have taken each day as it comes. This may have been my last year at the Broncos, so I was going to enjoy every moment possible.”

Paix headlines a trio of unheralded Broncos to transform their careers under Maguire, and he helped overturn a horror 2024 campaign in which they fell to 12th – after being two minutes away from a premiership in 2023 – as their defensive frailties triggered 10 defeats from their final 13 games.

The return of strike centre Kotoni Staggs from injury for the Battle of Brisbane has come at the expense of Deine Mariner, who has been usurped by 33-game journeyman Gehamat Shibasaki.

Shibasaki impressed Maguire for his defensive decisions while on a 12-week train and trial, and has averaged 149 running metres and three tackle busts a game, while missing just five tackles.

Jack Gosiewski, who had managed just 74 games since his 2016 debut, also caught Maguire’s eye in the preseason to unseat Queensland Maroons squad member Brendan Piakura in the back row.

The 30-year-old burst out of the blocks against the Roosters – scoring a try, running for 104 metres, and making 19 tackles for one miss – but has since struggled to replicate those heights.

Missing seven tackles while running for a combined 59 metres in his past two outings, Gosiewski has thus far retained his place for the looming Battle of Brisbane.

However, Piakura has vowed to win back his jumper, despite his campaign getting off to a nightmare start, in which he was sin binned one minute after joining the fray against Sydney.

The 22-year-old has since played 32 minutes in a losing cause against the Raiders, before taking over from Gosiewski roughly half an hour into the triumph of the Cowboys, as he embraced the fight for his future.

“If you’re not getting challenged, what’s the point of doing it? The challenges each year keep the mind fresh from not being complacent,” Piakura told this masthead.

“All the back rowers have been training the house down.

“No jersey is safe, and that’s exactly what you want. It keeps everyone on their toes, keeps us working hard, and hopefully, I get that jersey.”