The Brisbane Broncos have managed to steal the spotlight during NRL grand final week, diverting attention from the much-anticipated decider between the Penrith Panthers and Melbourne Storm. This shift was evident during the official press conferences with Panthers coach Ivan Cleary and Storm coach Craig Bellamy on Thursday, where the conversation strayed from Sunday’s game and instead centered around the State of Origin coaching position for New South Wales (NSW).
Rather than letting the focus remain on the final, the Broncos drew attention earlier in the week by announcing that Michael Maguire would be their new head coach. By confirming this appointment on Tuesday, they set off a media frenzy around their embattled club that has overshadowed what should be the most crucial game of the season. Instead of waiting until after the grand final to make their announcement, the Broncos’ timing has led to a week of speculation and headlines, distracting from the Panthers-Storm clash.
Maguire’s move to the Broncos has left the NSW Blues searching for a new State of Origin coach, a topic that has generated more buzz than the grand final itself. Cleary and Bellamy, both highly successful NRL coaches, have emerged as potential candidates to take over the Origin role, even though there has traditionally been reluctance within the NSW camp to hire a coach with full-time NRL responsibilities.
Bellamy, who was asked about the possibility of coaching the Blues at the Dally M Awards on Wednesday, faced the same line of questioning again during Thursday’s grand final press conference. Similarly, Cleary was also asked whether he’d consider the position, further diverting the focus from Sunday’s decider.
The Broncos’ decision to announce Maguire’s appointment this week has caused a significant shift in media attention, turning what should have been a week dedicated to the grand final into one dominated by State of Origin speculation. Consequently, the anticipation for the game has been somewhat hijacked, with the attention drifting to the coaching future of NSW rather than the upcoming NRL title clash.
