Michael Maguire's main task to turn around Brisbane's fortunes was summed up by a key message the new head coach had about who will wear the famous logo in 2025 - and who won't.

"Fifty per cent of our game is defending and that's where I have challenged every player," Maguire said.

An analysis of the Broncos' performances in the past five seasons shows clearly that defensive frailties have been a major issue.

Three of those years - 2020, 2021 and 2024 - include the worst points conceded record in the club's history with 624, 695 and 607 points given up respectively.

Even in the 2023 grand final against Penrith, after a wonderful year, they were unable to make a 24-8 lead count and failed to aim up defensively when the blowtorch was applied.

Maguire has spoken about his keen interest in Broncos history and one prescient fact that stands out to him is how defensively strong the side was in winning six titles.

Just one example is the so-called "razzle dazzle" 1992 Broncos. For all their flair, they conceded just 311 points in 22 games at 14 points per match. Compare that to the 25 points per game the Broncos leaked last year in a dismal 12th placed finish and the lesson is stark.

It is a reason why Maguire picked the unheralded Gehamat Shibasaki (centre) and Jack Gosiewski (second-row) to start in the trials. Time will tell if they remain as starters, but both are defensively solid and have that workman-like mindset that Maguire admires.

Two-time Broncos premiership winner Peter Ryan was the defensive coach who helped mastermind the 2006 title win, the club's most recent premiership triumph, alongside former coach Wayne Bennett.

Ryan, one of the greatest defenders to lace a boot, recently attended a Broncos training session and liked what he saw from Maguire and new defensive coach Ben Te'o.

Maguire has a suite of attacking stars like Reece Walsh, Selwyn Cobbo, new arrival Ben Hunt and currently injured Kotoni Staggs at his disposal in 2025 but getting everyone working together when they don't have the ball, like Penrith have done in four consecutive title wins, is the crux of premiership success.

The early signs, including conceding just 26 points in two matches while winning the NRL Pre-Season Challenge, have been promising.

"It's hard to get people who have predominantly been attacking weapons to do extras on their defence for the benefit of the team," Ryan told AAP.

"The biggest component for successful defence is attitude. From the outside looking in, this is what Madge (Maguire) has up his sleeve.

"He has the ability to coach a team to make them disciplined to the point where every day at training they are committed to making the effort in defence, with the right attitude.

"The attitude to defence of the players I saw the other day at training was excellent ... but they haven't really been tested yet."

The Broncos have trained at high intensity and with accountability.

Mistakes are punished with all team members doing push-ups when an error is made. It's hardly revolutionary but it is a change to what had been the norm previously.

All the players interviewed this season have spoken of Maguire as a tough taskmaster they want to impress.

The coach has not been afraid to make positional changes. Pat Carrigan has moved to prop to allow "cattle dog" Kobe Hetherington a shot at No.13.

Cory Paix, a noted outstanding trainer, has been given a crack at starting hooker after playing no NRL in 2024.

Asked about one aspect of change that had impressed him under Maguire, the 25-year-old No.9's answer was telling.

"Everyone has a clean slate," he said.

That slate will be wiped even cleaner if players don''t have the want and desire in defence that the coach demands.

Ryan left the NRL as a player at the end of 1999 to pursue a rugby union career and won the Super 12s title with ACT Brumbies in 2001, the first player ever to win premierships at the elite level in both codes.

The Broncos life member came back to the club in a coaching capacity to help plot the stunning 15-8 grand final win in 2006 over Melbourne. He insists what worked then, still applies today.

"I was looking for jobs after COVID in league or union and some people said to me that I had been out of the game too long, but I was out of rugby league for six years when I came back to the Broncos in 2006 and we won a comp," he said.

"All I taught that year was that it didn't matter what the session was - tough or technical - but we are going to work hard.

"With working hard comes the right attitude. Fortunately for us we had guys like Shane Webcke, Petero Civoniceva, Brad Thorn, Darren Lockyer and Tonie Carroll in one of the best Broncos teams ever put on the field.

"This is an amazing roster as well that Madge has today. The biggest question is: Have they all bought in?

"Madge has to get everyone on the same page and, from what I have seen so far, I think he has done that."