Broncos Roster, Signings and Rumours Discussion 2026

Warriors want a player swap.

Not willing to give up a player on top of paying him, especially since I have no doubt they would demand someone like X.

where did you see a report about a player swap.

I haven't seen anything like that reported. in fact the multiple reports i've seen say the release is a done deal
 
Warriors want a player swap.

Not willing to give up a player on top of paying him, especially since I have no doubt they would demand someone like X.
I don’t think it’s a swap, they've approved the release which means he can go anywhere he likes in ‘27.
 
Link to the player swap article


But yeah, asking for a player swap AFTER the fact is weird as hell.
 
where did you see a report about a player swap.

I haven't seen anything like that reported. in fact the multiple reports i've seen say the release is a done deal

“Mitch and his agent know very clearly that whilst we’ve been completely considerate and understanding of this situation in agreeing to release him, there is a business component to it,” Warriors CEO Cameron George said.

“And that is we expect to be compensated in the form of a player or two for allowing Mitch to go home, from the club that shows interest. We will work through that process.

“There’s probably only 12 clubs that would fit his bill … There’s no point sitting here and guessing who or what that [compensation is until Gav [Barnett’s agent Gavin Orr] rings us and says ‘Club A is interested in Mitch and this is what they can offer up. Or is there something else you prefer?’ That’s how that conversation starts. Until that happens, you don’t know.”

George made it clear that a transfer fee - which doesn’t provide any salary cap advantage to the Warriors - will not be considered. “It gives you no relief at all,” he said.

“We want to be compensated in the form of a player. What that position and who that player is, each club could have a different alternative for us.”

 
Honestly we have that much salary cap sitting around next year that I'd be completely fine to overpay the shit out of him front loaded next year to get him. Absolutely nobody on the market you'd really be after. Absolutely nobody on the market to spend any sort of cash on either, nobody up for a big upgrade next year... As long as come 28 he is on a healthy reasonable salary, I'd overspend a lot to get him for next. We are in a premiership window. Carrigan and Willison don't quite cut it when your second row is nothing special I'm afraid. Barnett is a big MUST to get here.
It's potentially not a bad idea to front load him.

From memory Barney is a bit of a flight risk and this would be yet another contract he doesn't see the end of... similar to AFB.

Get him to Brisbane with the thinking that he's basically just a bridging player for 1yr in 2027... you still offer him 2-3yr or whatever, but lower salary at the back end so the cap doesn't look tight to make other signings or re-signings.

If he wants a release it doesn't create this big 'war chest' with no one to spend the money on.
 
Is he any good? I've never really paid much attention to him so I have no idea what type of player/playstyle he has. I know wahs fans love him though.
He plays physical and also gets through a fair bit of work... but he's not necessarily a guy that skittles defenders all over the place for a 15m run from nothing, but he'd be there as a tip on get between guys and find a quick ptb i.e. his stock run is like 6-8m, but he can find a bust supporting through the middle.

He's one of those guys that's a natural footy player.

He'll take a hit up like Fisher-Harris' style, but unlike Fish he'll take 15+ hitups a game and make his tackles... Fish could get to the end of a game and have only run 10 times or something.

Barney also used to be able to cover edge backrow really well as well... I think he was playing some 80mins games for Wahs in 2024 if they had injuries... he was an attacking outlet for knights, running great lines and has an offload in his game.

Actually for Wahs I think they used to start him in the middle and then shift him to the edge later on... he's very versatile for a forward in that sense.

The only downside to him is that he's getting older and coming off an ACL.
 
I would rather go for someone like loko pacific tonga
Is he the giant guy for dargs?

I'd be a little concerned about the longevity of those really big middles. We've got BTK, Semu and Allen who are big guys, but if they can't keep up with the game then they're not getting picked.

Barney is probably your prototypical middle at the moment... big enough (bigger than Hopgood), plays physical, mobile, huge workrate, but it's also effective work.

If you had a Barney coming through that was 23 you'd be absolutely stoked.
 
Warriors want a player swap.

Not willing to give up a player on top of paying him, especially since I have no doubt they would demand someone like X.
Player swaps never work... is he dropping out 1yr early on his deal?

Only way I could see player swaps working is if it's more like a loan.

Here you can have this young guy to cover the year you've lost Barney for, but he's coming back... otherwise you have to get agreement on the traded player to go to wahs and the wahs also need to want that player.

It hardly ever works in that situation.

For a loan at least the player knows they're going there for game time, but they'll also come back to the club they actually want to be at
 
He was only contracted through to the end of 2027... they're releasing him a year early and they want a starting calibre player in return... tell your story walking.

If he was being released immediately I could understand a player swap, because they don't have time in the market to find a new player.

I think they're just saying that to make it look like hardball (that's a common theme with their CEO), but they've got the 2027 market to look for new players... same way we've got this year to look for Haas replacements.
 
Probably end up releasing the Harris-Tevita kid if Barnett chooses us.
Isn't he like 16/17 and we only just picked him up?

I'm not sure he's the one on Wahs radar for a player swap... and if he's young then that's a big move to push on a young guy who thought his development pathway was sorted.
 
He plays physical and also gets through a fair bit of work... but he's not necessarily a guy that skittles defenders all over the place for a 15m run from nothing, but he'd be there as a tip on get between guys and find a quick ptb i.e. his stock run is like 6-8m, but he can find a bust supporting through the middle.

He's one of those guys that's a natural footy player.

He'll take a hit up like Fisher-Harris' style, but unlike Fish he'll take 15+ hitups a game and make his tackles... Fish could get to the end of a game and have only run 10 times or something.

Barney also used to be able to cover edge backrow really well as well... I think he was playing some 80mins games for Wahs in 2024 if they had injuries... he was an attacking outlet for knights, running great lines and has an offload in his game.

Actually for Wahs I think they used to start him in the middle and then shift him to the edge later on... he's very versatile for a forward in that sense.

The only downside to him is that he's getting older and coming off an ACL.
He's played more games as a backrower and lock than a front rower.
79 backrow
52 lock
36 front row

Used to kick a couple goals to from memory
 
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