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Aaron Woods 'filthy' at Michael Maguire's shock call as brutal details emerge of Kevin Walters' exit

The Broncos coach's exit has called chaos in the NRL world.

riley morgan
Sports Reporter
·4-min read

Former NSW forward Aaron Woods has admitted he is 'filthy' Michael Maguire has moved on so quickly to the Broncos, while shock details have emerged around Kevin Walters' exit. Maguire was officially released from his role as NSW coach from the NSWRL on Tuesday morning, before his deal with the Broncos was announced.

This comes after he was heavily linked to the Broncos - after Kevin Walters' departure - despite having a year left on his NSW contract. Maguire had reformed NSW in 2024 and led them to a huge series victory to break Billy Slater and the Maroons' hold on the series.

There are reports the Broncos were planning for Kevin Walters' (pictured left) exit for nearly four weeks as Michael Maguire (pictured right) has been announced as the new club coach. (Getty Images)
There are reports the Broncos were planning for Kevin Walters' (pictured left) exit for nearly four weeks as Michael Maguire (pictured right) has been announced as the new club coach. (Getty Images)

However, his sudden departure means NSW will be seeking a new coach in 2025 with a number of former names - including Brad Fittler - being thrown as potentials. While Maguire is heading to arguably the biggest coaching role there is in the NRL, former NSW rep player Woods is less than impressed with the coach's recent moves.

Maguire joined the NSW Blues after leading New Zealand to a historic 30-0 victory over the Kangaroos in the final of Pacific Test Championship. Instead of building on his success, Maguire left New Zealand to join the Blues in a bid to change their fortunes in the Origin arena.

And the former Rabbitohs coach has now packed up and left to join the Broncos in a three-year deal, which has ruffled the feathers of club legends such as Gorden Tallis and Shane Webke. And Woods - who played 14 games for NSW - has called out Maguire for using some of his coaching roles as stepping stones.

When it was put to the panel they felt 'ripped off' Maguire was leaving so quickly, Woods fired back. "A little bit? I am filthy. Because he has done it to New Zealand as well," Woods said on Triple M Radio. "We are not the only stepping stone.

"He takes New Zealand to a Pacific Nations Cup win, 30-0, one of the greatest victories over Australia. Gets the opportunity to coach the New South Wales Blues. Comes out and says he wants to get the state and everyone behind him, which we do.

"We all support him. He had a great series victory...gets a better job at the Brisbane Broncos and moves on. I am pretty filthy as a Blues fan."

Michael Maguire (pictured left) has joined the Brisbane Broncos in a move that has ruffled feathers. (Getty Images)
Michael Maguire (pictured left) has joined the Brisbane Broncos in a move that has ruffled feathers. (Getty Images)

While Maguire may have landed the dream NRL job, the NSWRL board are reportedly upset over how his exit went down. To make matters more shocking, reporter Danny Weidler claimed the Broncos may have been making moves around Walters' exit close to four weeks before he left. "They're not happy because he did such a good job and now he's left them in a bit of a position. They say they needed more information earlier," reporter Danny Weidler said of Maguire's exit on Channel Nine.

"Since the news came out, there's mail that this decision was made (by the Broncos to split with Walters) four weeks ago, where they started to make proper inquiries and proper conversations. It's a fact Dave Donaghy used to work with Michael Maguire in Melbourne."

The Broncos' appointment of the Blues coach to the Brisbane club has not sat well with some of the legends. Walters was an admitted figure within the club, but his reputation was not enough for him to remain in the job after a horror 2024 campaign. The Broncos had now missed the finals in three of the four years he had taken control of the club.

And Maguire's links to the Broncos left club legend Webke in disbelief. "He coaches NSW. Spare me that," Webcke said on SEN Radio. "I've got nothing against him, but did we get rid of Kevvie Walters for that?"

On Monday night, Tallis went one step further and blasted the club and Maguire for the impending announcement. “I don’t think he (Maguire) is better than Kevin,” Tallis said on NRL 360. He added Walters should have had more time to find a solution and turn around the clubs' fortunes. “There were injuries last year for one - he’s been at the club for 30 years,” Tallis added.

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“He was three minutes away from winning a grand final. With his top players on the field for six games I think he learned more this year. I just think that if you go to Magic Round (next year) and you said that he wasn’t good enough anymore you just move on.

“So, (incoming Brisbane assistants) Ben Te’o and Trent Barrett said, and I’m not going to name one of those, they said ‘it’s a real easy fix - it’s not much and we’ll turn it around easy’. It’s one of the biggest brands in sport. Did they throw it out there to many applicants? Who did they interview for the job?”