Broncos Roster, Signings and Rumours Discussion 2026

leith1 said:
If Haas goes I hope we don’t chase Tino. Would be more keen on Koloamatangi tbh.
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Agreed. I’d rather Koloamatangi or even Lindsay Smith from Penrith. Lindsay Smith seems the most Haas like in terms of work rate and effort to me. Obviously not as freakish but he’s a great player from a great system.
 
I’ve got a bit of a cooked idea, and I’m not sure if it’s been discussed before.

The NRL should reduce the salary cap for all teams, but introduce a new system where players are also paid directly by the NRL based on key performance and career metrics.

I haven’t figured out all the details yet, but the general idea is that each player would have 2 contracts. The first would be with the NRL, reflecting how much the league values them as a player and ambassador for the sport. The second would be with their club, negotiated under a reduced team salary cap.

This approach would allow the NRL to reward and retain its top talent while still keeping the competition fair, since clubs would continue to negotiate within the cap.

For instance, if the NRL values Payne Haas at $1m a year, he could then negotiate separately with clubs to determine what they can offer under the cap. If a club offers another $1m, his total income would be $2m for the season. If a rival code tries to poach him, the NRL could step in and bump up their contribution to keep him, maybe adding another $500k to his deal.

Reece Walsh is obviously worth more to the NRL than any one club could pay him without wrecking their team balance. But even if he had a $3m a year contract with the NRL, nothing’s stopping a team like the Tigers from offering him $2m a year and outbidding the Broncos, who might only be able to offer $1.2m.

I think it would actually help shittier teams keep the local talent because their decisions around signing with a particular team may be less money focused if the NRL already has them on a decent wicket
 
theshed said:
I’ve got a bit of a cooked idea, and I’m not sure if it’s been discussed before.

The NRL should reduce the salary cap for all teams, but introduce a new system where players are also paid directly by the NRL based on key performance and career metrics.

I haven’t figured out all the details yet, but the general idea is that each player would have 2 contracts. The first would be with the NRL, reflecting how much the league values them as a player and ambassador for the sport. The second would be with their club, negotiated under a reduced team salary cap.

This approach would allow the NRL to reward and retain its top talent while still keeping the competition fair, since clubs would continue to negotiate within the cap.

For instance, if the NRL values Payne Haas at $1m a year, he could then negotiate separately with clubs to determine what they can offer under the cap. If a club offers another $1m, his total income would be $2m for the season. If a rival code tries to poach him, the NRL could step in and bump up their contribution to keep him, maybe adding another $500k to his deal.

Reece Walsh is obviously worth more to the NRL than any one club could pay him without wrecking their team balance. But even if he had a $3m a year contract with the NRL, nothing’s stopping a team like the Tigers from offering him $2m a year and outbidding the Broncos, who might only be able to offer $1.2m.

I think it would actually help shittier teams keep the local talent because their decisions around signing with a particular team may be less money focused if the NRL already has them on a decent wicket
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That's open for corruption in this sport. I'd never trust it until the administration was 100% independent.

It will just mean overhyped players like Ponga would be on a couple of million, while talent that the NRL boys club don't agree with, gets shafted.
 
theshed said:
I’ve got a bit of a cooked idea, and I’m not sure if it’s been discussed before.

The NRL should reduce the salary cap for all teams, but introduce a new system where players are also paid directly by the NRL based on key performance and career metrics.

I haven’t figured out all the details yet, but the general idea is that each player would have 2 contracts. The first would be with the NRL, reflecting how much the league values them as a player and ambassador for the sport. The second would be with their club, negotiated under a reduced team salary cap.

This approach would allow the NRL to reward and retain its top talent while still keeping the competition fair, since clubs would continue to negotiate within the cap.

For instance, if the NRL values Payne Haas at $1m a year, he could then negotiate separately with clubs to determine what they can offer under the cap. If a club offers another $1m, his total income would be $2m for the season. If a rival code tries to poach him, the NRL could step in and bump up their contribution to keep him, maybe adding another $500k to his deal.

Reece Walsh is obviously worth more to the NRL than any one club could pay him without wrecking their team balance. But even if he had a $3m a year contract with the NRL, nothing’s stopping a team like the Tigers from offering him $2m a year and outbidding the Broncos, who might only be able to offer $1.2m.

I think it would actually help shittier teams keep the local talent because their decisions around signing with a particular team may be less money focused if the NRL already has them on a decent wicket
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Admire your thinking but it just sounds...bad.

Relying on the NRL to be valuing players, no thanks. Imagine the drama on here when the NRL value Ethan Strange at 600k but only value Mam at 400k so we are forced to pay extra to keep him at the same overall value that Canberra pay.

Opens up for the NRL to start dictating where players play. Walsh is worth 1.5M to them if he goes to the Bears...want to stay in Brisbane we will give you 900k etc

There is a reason this system doesnt work but again, admire the thinking.
 
This whole R360 situation is stinking to high heaven.

I’ve had someone tell me the haas 3 million figure is not dollars but Euros. That’s sheer insanity. Even going back to dollars a roster of 20 players would look like $30-40 million if they want a decent team not just one overpaid star and team of second grade nuffiies.

It just screams its a scam. Even with oil money, it’s a spectacular amount of money to plunge into a league that will have no established teams. They’ll bleed hundreds and hundreds of millions.
 
Super Freak said:
From my understanding that post is a response to the Triple M rumor. Other people posting the rumor around the same time talking about Triple M mentioning it.
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Ah, I thought that post came early in the morning and Triple M were rambling on in the afternoon
 
the concept of NRL paying has some merit, but BIG issues as well.

The lower teams will be screaming for a balance to come and this has some legitimacy.

Wests, Knights, etc will be out for blood if they do not get some of these elite players -

If one team has multiple Elite paid players and others do not, then they will scream blue murder.

I do not think there is a right answer here - maybe remove the cap limit and let teams live or die by the sword - if you can afford $3 Million for Haas as well as other players, this MAY be the way to go.

Poorer teams will not survive the TOP league, but a 2nd tier with coverage and money may keep them in the mix

Interesting times ahead

DP
 
I think DD response is really well crafted. Selling the broncos, and the appeal to stay but also highlighting the significant risk he would be taking so he sign up with a new league, new concept and new operators. I hope the warming was not too subtle enough that it is missed by hass and his team.

Either decision i would rather see him in a union jersey rather than another nrl clubs.

With regards to replacements. If our back 5 metres keep up the way they finished the year, we would be less dependent upon big charges and metres from a prop forward, so it may impact us less than if this happened 1-2 years ago.
 
NSW stables said:
I think DD response is really well crafted. Selling the broncos, and the appeal to stay but also highlighting the significant risk he would be taking so he sign up with a new league, new concept and new operators. I hope the warming was not too subtle enough that it is missed by hass and his team.

Either decision i would rather see him in a union jersey rather than another nrl clubs.

With regards to replacements. If our back 5 metres keep up the way they finished the year, we would be less dependent upon big charges and metres from a prop forward, so it may impact us less than if this happened 1-2 years ago.
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I think the big thing Payne brought this year was his offloads.

Suddenly his late footwork and tackle busting was amped up with an offloading threat as well... He led the league in offloads this year.

His big runs also saved several poor yardage sets through the year... we'd be going nowhere for 3-4 tackles, but Payne puts his hand up to make 10m (at least) and get a decent play the ball to kick from.

If he leaves he's going to be a very difficult player to replace, because there just is no one else that brings what Payne brings.
 
Whilst we are on the shitty triple m whispers, they are saying Herbie is every chance to head off to R360.
If they somehow do land Herbie and Haas, the nrl will have to start worrying. That’s 2 of the top 10 or 15 players in the league. Then you can add papy to that (imo he’s overrated).
But then again, there’s every chance they don’t land any of them.
 
theshed said:
I’ve got a bit of a cooked idea, and I’m not sure if it’s been discussed before.

The NRL should reduce the salary cap for all teams, but introduce a new system where players are also paid directly by the NRL based on key performance and career metrics.

I haven’t figured out all the details yet, but the general idea is that each player would have 2 contracts. The first would be with the NRL, reflecting how much the league values them as a player and ambassador for the sport. The second would be with their club, negotiated under a reduced team salary cap.

This approach would allow the NRL to reward and retain its top talent while still keeping the competition fair, since clubs would continue to negotiate within the cap.

For instance, if the NRL values Payne Haas at $1m a year, he could then negotiate separately with clubs to determine what they can offer under the cap. If a club offers another $1m, his total income would be $2m for the season. If a rival code tries to poach him, the NRL could step in and bump up their contribution to keep him, maybe adding another $500k to his deal.

Reece Walsh is obviously worth more to the NRL than any one club could pay him without wrecking their team balance. But even if he had a $3m a year contract with the NRL, nothing’s stopping a team like the Tigers from offering him $2m a year and outbidding the Broncos, who might only be able to offer $1.2m.

I think it would actually help shittier teams keep the local talent because their decisions around signing with a particular team may be less money focused if the NRL already has them on a decent wicket
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The Storm beat you to the concept of 2 contracts to keep elite players. They just did it without the NRL.
 
I would be very skeptical about media claims that he is going to R360. What are the motivations behind leaking this information? Haas and his team have a vested interest in putting more pressure on the Broncos and R360 are trying to build hype and attention.

There is a huge amount of risk in this deal for Haas. At the Broncos he has the security of a $1.5 million (including third party deals) a year income in place for the next 8-10 years. He will likely have ongoing income from the club post football. He'll also have investment opportunities through contacts at the Broncos that could make him very wealthy.

In signing with R360 you are essentially leaving a high paying job to join a start up. Worse still it's a start up without a commercially viable model that is reliant on foreign investors to carry large losses. Investors you don't know whose motivations are unclear. The competition could fall down for any number of reasons and you have limited influence over its success.

If you are Haas you have to deal with that very real possibility the competition could collapse after 1 or 2 years. In that instance your first option is to come back to the NRL. That may involve a costly and lengthy court battle. Even if you win you still need to find a club that will sign you. Obviously every club would want you on their team but will they be willing to break ranks with the other clubs and the NRL to do that? Who knows how the NRL may retaliate against that club.

With the NRL potentially out of the picture and the longterm future of R360 uncertain, you really need to evaluate what a conventional rugby union career looks like. For instance if R360 didn't exist, would Haas take up an offer from French Rugby for $2million a season with the caveat he may not be allowed to play NRL again? Would he uproot his life and move overseas for the next 5-10 years and play a different code for $500k a year extra. My guess is he wouldn't do that. He's never talked about it previously. It seems it's taking $3million a year to get him out of league, with tax advantages.

You therefore need to be very sure you will get that $1-$2million a year premium. Despite media reports that the money is "tax free" that's only the case if you move your entire life to Dubai. That means selling all your assets in Australia, moving your family and spending limited time back in Australia. It's a lot to sacrifice.

There are also currency risks with the US dollar. Global markets are uncertain. While it may seem unlikely we have reached parity with their dollar in the past. If that happens your 3million is now 2million.

You can paint a positive scenario for all of these challenges. Maybe R360 investors are happy to sustain a league losing money for 5+ years and you keep getting paid. You might love rugby and become the world's best player. Your family might love living in Dubai. The NRL might allow you to walk straight back in if R360 falls over.

The issue is that all these issues represent cumulative risk. You have to be able to trust the advice around you because it's very easy to get screwed over in so many different ways. It's not as simple as "how could you say no to $3million"? It's a complex situation and you are risking a very large, steady income. This doesn't even consider what he may lose as a competitor. If he's driven by winning at the highest level, what personal void will it leave in him playing in a 16 week exhibition league.
 
Fozz said:
This whole R360 situation is stinking to high heaven.

I’ve had someone tell me the haas 3 million figure is not dollars but Euros. That’s sheer insanity. Even going back to dollars a roster of 20 players would look like $30-40 million if they want a decent team not just one overpaid star and team of second grade nuffiies.

It just screams its a scam. Even with oil money, it’s a spectacular amount of money to plunge into a league that will have no established teams. They’ll bleed hundreds and hundreds of millions.
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Would be hilarious if it was just some giant catfish that gets tracked back to Trent Merrins ice bath business.
 
_wwong said:
Would be hilarious if it was just some giant catfish that gets tracked back to Trent Merrins ice bath business.
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shocked mr bean GIF
 
Now there's chatter about Hunt extending another year. He'd be fighting it out with Billy for 14, I presume.
 
The NRL should give every player an extra 25% on top of their current contracts for the next 3 years to try and keep our players in the game
 
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