Broncos coach Michael Maguire insisted fans are “always welcome” after suggestions they had been locked out of a recent open training session at Suncorp Stadium.
The session in question was advertised on the club’s website, but with the proviso that it was “strictly viewing-only” with “no autographs or meet-and-greets” to be allowed.
“After training is completed, the squad will leave the field to attend a recovery session,” the post added.
That didn’t end up happening, with the team still posting for photos with fans in attendance and signing autographs, but it didn’t stop Maguire from being questioned over the decision at his press conference ahead of Friday’s game against the Eels.
“As you can see out there, there’s plenty of people getting signatures. They’re very open to it,” Maguire said.
“We’ve got to understand that they’ve got to get themselves ready for a game of footy. That’s part of it.
“They want to give themselves as much as they can to their fans, but also too they’ve got to turn up. We’ve got a big game tomorrow. They’ve got to have their heads ready to go. There’s that balancing act between that but if the boys can play the way they know they can and perform for their people, there’s no reason why they can’t sit there.”
Maguire added that while he understood people may perceive the club as being closed off, the reality could not be further from the truth.
“One thing I do know about this club is it’s about the people,” he said.
“We talk about it internally all the time. The fans and the fact that we have 40,000-plus and we’re all chasing sell-out crowds. The players talk about it.
“We want to bring the people on the run. That’s part of it. The boys have found the style of how we want to play, and we want to get the people behind it.
“I think as much as that might be the look, (if) you walk the streets, it’s definitely all about the people.”
There is certainly a buzz surrounding the streets of Brisbane at the moment, with the Broncos riding a five-game winning streak and hoping to force their way into the top four.
“I’m looking forward to a really strong performance. We’ve got everything to play for,” Maguire said.
“There’s an opportunity there to be taken. It’s not so much about who we’re playing, it’s about what we’re doing. It’s really important.
“We’ve got a fair bit out of the last five weeks, the way we’ve played.”
