Broncos Roster, Signings and Rumours Discussion 2025

[BroncsFan]

Yea fair enough. Kinda assumed there wasn't much merit behind the rumours, more just me hoping it was ture (I don't think we should be breaking the bank for Cobbo).

I don't think anyone will be looking to break the bank on Cobbo despite whatever his manager spins to the news cycle

 

[Johnny92]

Apparently we're not so fussed about keeping Cobbo...

'Better future': New details emerge after Broncos player signs with Penrith Panthers

It comes amid a boom youngster's decision to leave Brisbane for Penrith. Read more here.

au.news.yahoo.com

Seems like he's basically saying because Kotoni got put in the leadership group and Selwyn didn't that Selwyn isn't wanted..

As long as both players are happy playing under Madge I don't see us losing them.
And I don't think we'll have to break the bank to keep them.

 

[BroncsFan]

Seems like he's basically saying because Kotoni got put in the leadership group and Selwyn didn't that Selwyn isn't wanted..

As long as both players are happy playing under Madge I don't see us losing them.
And I don't think we'll have to break the bank to keep them.

Haven't clicked but I'm guessing this is a commentator saying it?

Kotoni was in the leadership group last year, so if he was a priority in that alone then a deal probably would've been sorted by now instead of letting him become a free agent.

I'm wondering if they're just letting things play out.

When Staggs and Cobbo signed their most recent deals their positions within the squad were much different.

Cobbo was re-signed with the intent that he would become the future fullback, because at that point Walsh had already left and there were no signs that he was coming back.

That's obviously changed now and Cobbo is now a winger/centre and 2nd choice fullback.

When Staggs re-signed it was on the back of him being our best player through covid, there was talk he might become a 5/8, etc.

I can't recall exactly when Staggs re-signed and whether it was before or after he did his ACL, but he is now a right centre moving forward and that's it.

I think both players were overpaid and it's yet another case of paying on potential... however we are now in an awkward position where their actual values are lower or at best on par with their current deals.

A potential reason that neither have been re-signed to date is that they may want them to test the market and show them what their value is so they can potentially re-sign them on a more appropriate deal.

I think Staggs is stated to be on like $700k... that is nearing top tier money for a centre and I don't think he's top tier when compared to Herbie, Crichton, etc.

Cobbo is on about $600k or so, which is close to value for a centre, but high for a winger... given the flexibility he provides across the squad (covering at least 3 positions) in see him as providing more value than Staggs... I dare say the entire league can see Cobbo providing more value, except everyone is looking to get him on a cut price deal after his form last year

 

[Sproj]

Haven't clicked but I'm guessing this is a commentator saying it?

Kotoni was in the leadership group last year, so if he was a priority in that alone then a deal probably would've been sorted by now instead of letting him become a free agent.

I'm wondering if they're just letting things play out.

When Staggs and Cobbo signed their most recent deals their positions within the squad were much different.

Cobbo was re-signed with the intent that he would become the future fullback, because at that point Walsh had already left and there were no signs that he was coming back.

That's obviously changed now and Cobbo is now a winger/centre and 2nd choice fullback.

When Staggs re-signed it was on the back of him being our best player through covid, there was talk he might become a 5/8, etc.

I can't recall exactly when Staggs re-signed and whether it was before or after he did his ACL, but he is now a right centre moving forward and that's it.

I think both players were overpaid and it's yet another case of paying on potential... however we are now in an awkward position where their actual values are lower or at best on par with their current deals.

A potential reason that neither have been re-signed to date is that they may want them to test the market and show them what their value is so they can potentially re-sign them on a more appropriate deal.

I think Staggs is stated to be on like $700k... that is nearing top tier money for a centre and I don't think he's top tier when compared to Herbie, Crichton, etc.

Cobbo is on about $600k or so, which is close to value for a centre, but high for a winger... given the flexibility he provides across the squad (covering at least 3 positions) in see him as providing more value than Staggs... I dare say the entire league can see Cobbo providing more value, except everyone is looking to get him on a cut price deal after his form last year

You know who should chase him if they have the money - Redcliffe. You could then get him and Hammer to duke out for fb and centre and those two along with Herbie would give that backline massive x factor. I don't see Cobbo going anywhere other than us or them anyway.

I'd hate to lose Cobbo. He looked like he was going to explode last year before he fell off a cliff but he wasn't alone there in our side. He can cover more positions than Staggs as well.

 

[Big Pete]

I will never understand how the signing and retention of junior players works within clubs. I wish there was more transparency to the public. Otherwise you just get the media riling up fan bases with articles about clubs losing players on their books for years.

When we sign junior guns up to these long term development contracts what cap does that come out of? And what’s to stop clubs stockpiling etc. Even more murky when you have nsw clubs with their out and out reserve teams and we have 3 affiliate clubs.

Let's use the Broncos as a case study.

They have five junior 'guns' on their list: Coby Black, Israel Leota, Bailey Trew, Cameron Bukowski and Jett Bryce. These are five players who all played Mal Meninga Cup last year and they're just entering the NRL system.

Black and Leota are on 135K minimum since they're on NRL deals.

Trew, Bukowski and Bryce are supposedly on 80K.

Then you have players like Beni Allen and Saxon Innes who are contracted to the club and are at a similar stage in their development as the other guns but those deals aren't covered on the NRL website.

This is where I'm curious. I presume when they train with the NRL squad, they're on training deals which nets them a $1000 a week. However, I presume they also receive a base salary when they're training with the affiliate clubs which could be anywhere between 10K-70K a year.

So if we take Harry Armstrong as an example, he's presumably on the same deal as Allen and Innes. Except now he's playing Flegg for Penrith - what can Flegg players earn?

I still think the Broncos and the other QCup clubs are missing a trick without a Flegg side. Melbourne have always been the argument for affiliate clubs, but even they have a Flegg side.

 

[mitch222]

You know who should chase him if they have the money - Redcliffe. You could then get him and Hammer to duke out for fb and centre and those two along with Herbie would give that backline massive x factor. I don't see Cobbo going anywhere other than us or them anyway.

I'd hate to lose Cobbo. He looked like he was going to explode last year before he fell off a cliff but he wasn't alone there in our side. He can cover more positions than Staggs as well.

Im yet to be convinced that playing football is Selwyns number 1 priority in life. He seems very much at ease with sitting on the sidelines if afforded the opportunity.

 

[1910]

Let's use the Broncos as a case study.

They have five junior 'guns' on their list: Coby Black, Israel Leota, Bailey Trew, Cameron Bukowski and Jett Bryce. These are five players who all played Mal Meninga Cup last year and they're just entering the NRL system.

Black and Leota are on 135K minimum since they're on NRL deals.

Trew, Bukowski and Bryce are supposedly on 80K.

Then you have players like Beni Allen and Saxon Innes who are contracted to the club and are at a similar stage in their development as the other guns but those deals aren't covered on the NRL website.

This is where I'm curious. I presume when they train with the NRL squad, they're on training deals which nets them a $1000 a week. However, I presume they also receive a base salary when they're training with the affiliate clubs which could be anywhere between 10K-70K a year.

So if we take Harry Armstrong as an example, he's presumably on the same deal as Allen and Innes. Except now he's playing Flegg for Penrith - what can Flegg players earn?

I still think the Broncos and the other QCup clubs are missing a trick without a Flegg side. Melbourne have always been the argument for affiliate clubs, but even they have a Flegg side.

I think having to play BRL for Beenleigh is a massive knock.- I would be shocked if Penrith didn't say you can come play Flegg and train with the NRL side and you'll be playing Cup not long after that.

It's much more appealing than BRL. I think he plays Cup anyway this year for Wynnum but last year when Penrith came knocking him, Allen and Bukowski are going out to Beenleigh on the weekend.

I know we debated this at the time when the QRL got rid of Colts but I think this is a very clear impact of that decision.

You also have full time training contracts; Te Kura was a full-time training deal when he was playing Meninga.

 

[Scorchie]

Isn't the harry situation similar to the Piakura situation who was the "hottest second row talent coming through". Its happened before, will happen again. We let Slater, JT and Smith go too, once upon a time.

 

[Manofoneway]

Isn't the harry situation similar to the Piakura situation who was the "hottest second row talent coming through". Its happened before, will happen again. We let Slater, JT and Smith go too, once upon a time.

There's always the laziest, next big thing we are willing to pay on potential just so that we can let the hard working smart footballers leave!

 

[Foordy]

We let Slater, JT and Smith go too, once upon a time.

I'm not sure that any of them were ever actually on our books.

playing rugby league in the same state as the Broncos, doesn't mean we "let them go"

Smith did have a scholarship, but was never on our roster.

 

[Big Del]

Im yet to be convinced that playing football is Selwyns number 1 priority in life. He seems very much at ease with sitting on the sidelines if afforded the opportunity.

Played with pain killing injections last year .
So I dunno about your theory there .

 

[Wolfie]

Played with pain killing injections last year .
So I dunno about your theory there .

He's contracted to play, and he probably likes money so he had to play. Pretty much every players is getting a needle at some point during the year and playing with an injury. Its not really anything out of the ordinary.

 

[1910]

Isn't the harry situation similar to the Piakura situation who was the "hottest second row talent coming through". Its happened before, will happen again. We let Slater, JT and Smith go too, once upon a time.

I think it's the opposite that's what worries me. Piakura and Howarth were the best two backrowers in their cohort in 2019. If Penrith was chasing them that would make sense in 2019.

Armstrong isn't Piakura or Howarth, he didn't make any Queensland side until U19 last year not a single rep side. There is something about him that I like- he's just a hard working solid kid.

He's playing Meninga Colts in 23, played one Cup game and one game for Qld and he's 19 nearly 20 in a couple of weeks. Yet the premiers want him.

So my question is why do the four-time premiers see and want? Jim Jones is very very good at what he does- This is the same guy that went to Gloria Jeans every week to watch a 17-year-old five-eighth Dylan Edwards to see if he wanted him. He doesn't miss a trick.

 

[Big Del]

He's contracted to play, and he probably likes money so he had to play. Pretty much every players is getting a needle at some point during the year and playing with an injury. Its not really anything out of the ordinary.

Yes .
But not so many have their their hand wrapped up like a mummy . Or end up so incapisated they can hardly break out of of a jog but still play week to week . Old mate I was replying to said he likes to sit out ?

 

[Big Del]

I think it's the opposite that's what worries me. Piakura and Howarth were the best two backrowers in their cohort in 2019. If Penrith was chasing them that would make sense in 2019.

Armstrong isn't Piakura or Howarth, he didn't make any Queensland side until U19 last year not a single rep side. There is something about him that I like- he's just a hard working solid kid.

He's playing Meninga Colts in 23, played one Cup game and one game for Qld and he's 19 nearly 20 in a couple of weeks. Yet the premiers want him.

So my question is why do the four-time premiers see and want? Jim Jones is very very good at what he does- This is the same guy that went to Gloria Jeans every week to watch a 17-year-old five-eighth Dylan Edwards to see if he wanted him. He doesn't miss a trick.

Who is Gloria Jeans when she is at home ?

 

[Wolfie]

Yes .
But not so many have their their hand wrapped up like a mummy . Or end up so incapisated they can hardly break out of of a jog but still play week to week . Old mate I was replying to said he likes to sit out ?

No, they have strapping you cant see. And plenty of players do what you reckon Selwyn has done. Happens every week, you just don't hear about it. As much as he got a lot of stick for his performances, Oatesy played the year out on one leg basically. Plenty of players turn up week in week out injured. I think its a fair comment that in the past Selwyn has both played when he probably shouldnt have and there have also been times he's probably sat out when he could have played.

Remains to be seen how he gets on this year. He hasn't been as professional as he could have with his training and preparation, or some of his actions off the field. I still dont think its unfair to question if he's as committed to football as he should be. I think he loves playing, i think he loves game day, i'm not sure he loves the training and preparation side of things.

 

[mitch222]

Played with pain killing injections last year .
So I dunno about your theory there .

Well explain him volunteering to sit out of games after origins every time he is given the opportunity. Or openly going to the coaches and saying don't pick me this week I'm tired. He has a long history of taking the easy way out when the times are tough

 

[Sproj]

I think it's the opposite that's what worries me. Piakura and Howarth were the best two backrowers in their cohort in 2019. If Penrith was chasing them that would make sense in 2019.

Armstrong isn't Piakura or Howarth, he didn't make any Queensland side until U19 last year not a single rep side. There is something about him that I like- he's just a hard working solid kid.

He's playing Meninga Colts in 23, played one Cup game and one game for Qld and he's 19 nearly 20 in a couple of weeks. Yet the premiers want him.

So my question is why do the four-time premiers see and want? Jim Jones is very very good at what he does- This is the same guy that went to Gloria Jeans every week to watch a 17-year-old five-eighth Dylan Edwards to see if he wanted him. He doesn't miss a trick.

That sounds like stalking to be honest.