- Working relationship sours after explosive disagreement
Brisbane Broncos assistant coach Ben Te’o has resigned from his role with the team following a verbal altercation with head coach Michael Maguire.
It’s been revealed the pair argued over tactics before Brisbane won their first game of the 2026 season against the Storm last Friday night.
Te’o and Maguire’s stoush was so concerning that Broncos football boss Troy Thomson had to intervene, according to a News Corp report.
The coaching duo had a tough conversation that quickly became volatile during a dinner in the days leading up to the match.
Thomson has since held crisis talks with the pair at Brisbane’s Red Hill headquarters in an effort to broker a peace.
But Te’o, a former NRL star with Brisbane and the Bunnies, has now tendered his resignation.
Broncos assistant coach Ben Te’o (pictured) has resigned after having a run-in with head coach Michael Maguire
Te’o and Maguire (pictured) have worked together for more than a year in Brisbane and have a relationship which stretches back to their days with Souths
Maguire (pictured) led Brisbane to their first NRL premiership in 19 years last season
Te’o played an important role in Brisbane’s drought-breaking premiership victory last season and is credited as the main influence behind their defensive plays.
The 174-game NRL veteran was originally hired by Brisbane’s former coach Kevin Walters.
He took the job just days before Walters was sacked as Broncos boss at the end of 2024.
Maguire and Te’o have a long-standing relationship that dates back to their time with South Sydney, so ‘Madge’ was happy to honour the incoming assistant’s contract.
Te’o was one of Maguire’s most important players when he coached the Rabbitohs to their first premiership in 43 years back in 2014.
The 39-year-old’s first foray into coaching at a high level was with the Dolphins in the club’s inaugural NRL season in 2023.
He served as the NRL team’s assistant and was also head coach of the club’s Queensland Cup side.
