How Broncos NRL coach could mastermind Feeney ambush

A sharper-edged Broc Feeney is back at the top of the points, and he could have a dual premiership-winning coach to thank should he scale Supercars’ Everest in 2026.

The Red Bull Ampol Racing star seized the drivers’ championship lead in Christchurch following a dramatic clash between erstwhile leader Brodie Kostecki and reigning champion Chaz Mostert.

The ever consistent Feeney is winless in seven races, yet will arrive in Tasmania with the covered orange numbers on his Ford, denoting the points lead.

Feeney has recently lent on the expertise of NRL coach Michael Maguire, who led the Brisbane Broncos to its first premiership since 2006 last year.

Maguire, a Supercars fan, was trackside at last year’s Boost Mobile Gold Coast 500, before taking part in a cross-code event — including Feeney — at Norwell Motorplex in the weeks after the 2025 Supercars finale.

At was at that finale where Feeney lost out to Mostert in devastating fashion, first clashing with Ryan Wood before suffering a mechanical failure.

Back in 2023, the Broncos suffered a similarly crushing heartbreak, surrendering a Grand Final lead to lose to the Penrith Panthers.

Having helped the Broncos snap their drought, Maguire wants to do the same with Feeney.

"Watching Broc at the back end of last season, it was tough,” Maguire said in a MotorRacing 360 feature.

"I was really looking forward to seeing him being able to take the mantle. But what that will do, it will allow him to grow into a career that's right in front of him. He’s at the start of his career.

“Those things that he's been through now, I'm sure will definitely help him into when he gets the end of that next opportunity of being in that same position.”

After forming a bond with Maguire at Norwell, Feeney sat in on a series of Broncos sessions in the off-season.

Feeney then turned up in a brand new Ford and won two of the first three races in Sydney, signalling to his rivals — including arch-rival Wood — that he's not messing around in 2026.

"Obviously a hard one. It takes a long time to process and to be honest, will I ever be over it? Probably not,” Feeney said in the feature.

“You're always going to look back on that one as the one that got away. But there was only a few weeks later, we all arrived at Norwell and started having more conversations with Madge and that's where we really started kicking things off.

"I was lucky enough to come and spend a day here at a training session, got to sit in on a couple of meetings, and the Broncs went through something very similar to what I had a couple years ago and they've bounced back and won a premiership last year.

“For me, it's a learning process. I've definitely changed, and I think probably a few people can see that from what happened at the end of last year."

Feeney also weighed in on his rivalry with Walkinshaw TWG Racing, which bubbled over with an on-track clash with Mostert in Taupō. Pre-season, Wood said he hadn't spoken with Feeney. The two later shared a podium in Taupō, but little was said.

Wood was on the end of heartbreak in Christchurch, losing the Jason Richards Trophy to Feeney after his own failure. Feeney later showed remorse for Wood, but insisted on MotorRacing 360 that he’s still not content.

It comes after Wood’s mentor Greg Murphy claimed a conversation should have been had between Feeney and Wood, with tension instead bubbling over into the new season.

"Obviously there's still a bit of rivalry going on between the two teams and that's great. It's good for the sport,” said Feeney, who said pre-season he was "angrier than ever".

“Wouldn't say we're mates, but yeah, he just came up to me afterwards and said 'good job'. He wants to catch up and try and settle the dust.

"We haven't spoke since then, to be honest, I'm not over the moon about that. I think a conversation probably should have been had, but obviously that's not my loss.

"I'm focused on myself. I'm at the top of the points at the moment. We're focused on winning a championship and whatever I've got do to do that, I'll do.”

Feeney resumes his 2026 campaign in Tasmania on May 22-24.