Bulldogs’ $500k move for 18yo rising Broncos star

The Bulldogs have signed yet another star, shelling out half a million dollars to sign a promising junior yet to play a first-grade match.

The Bulldogs have landed another one.

The Bulldogs have made another move to build towards the future, signing Karl Oloapu after the promising Brisbane Broncos junior was granted an early release from his contract.

The Bulldogs announced on Friday that Oloapu would be joining the club for the next four seasons, effective immediately, with the teen to relocate from Brisbane “shortly”.

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The Courier Mail reported the Bulldogs had to pay a $500,000 transfer free to secure Oloapu’s services.

The Dolphins were interested in the young five-eighth, although Bulldogs supremo Phil Gould reportedly met with the 18-year-old before he decided to make the move to Belmore.

BREAKING: Disgruntled @brisbanebroncos junior Karl Oloapu will be released to join @NRL_Bulldogs following MASSIVE $500,000 transfer fee. #NRL@cmail_sport@couriermailhttps://t.co/BwzixF2JJa

— Travis Meyn (@travismeyn) January 27, 2023

The Broncos also confirmed Oloapu’s early exit on Friday, with CEO Dave Donaghy wishing the 18-year-old the best at his new club.

“Whilst this was a unique situation, we are comfortable with the position we have reached with the Bulldogs and as a result, we have granted Karl an early release,” he said.

“I’m grateful for what I learnt at the Broncos Academy and to the staff that played a role in my development during my years in the program,” Oloapu added.

“I’m also grateful to the Broncos for providing an early release from my contract.”

Oloapu signed a three-year deal with the Broncos back in January but has been engaged in a tense disagreement with the club since, with the Bulldogs pouncing to snap up the 18-year-old.

Reports earlier in the year claimed Oloapu wanted a salary upgrade while the teen said he was promised he would be promoted to Brisbane’s top 30 and be playing in his preferred position at five-eighth.

Karl Oloapu is leaving Brisbane. Picture: Zak Simmonds

But speaking to Wide World of Sports last November, Oloapu claimed those promises were broken and declared he would “never play for Brisbane as long as I live”.

“My dream for as long as I can remember has been to play NRL and I have shed a lot of tears over how things have ended up,” he said at the time.

“I was in between managers when I signed with the Broncos and only went in to see them with my older brother Joe for advice. They gave me a document that was more than 60 pages long and told (me) to sign it.

“I tried to read it and understand it all in 30 minutes but without a manager or legal advice it was very hard.

“The club told me I would be in the top 30 full-time players next year and that I would be playing at my preferred position of five-eighth and that I would meet Kevin Walters.

“Since then I have been told I am not part of the full-time squad and they want me to play at lock or hooker and change the shape of my body.

“I’ve never met Kevin and barely heard from the club. When my new manager asked to see their letter of offer to me, the club told him they had lost it… how does that happen?”

The Broncos responded to the allegations in a statement, which claimed the club worked with Oloapu, his family and then-manager to come to an agreement on a contract extension.

“The day before the final contract was signed in late January this year, Karl and his family chose to part ways with that manager,” head of recruitment Simon Scanlan said at the time.

“It was not until June this year – shortly after Karl and his family engaged a new player manager – that we received a request for a substantial upgrade to his three-year contract which had not even begun.

“We denied that request but committed to reviewing it during the 2024 season. Subsequently, a player release was requested. Both the NRL & RLPA have reviewed the situation at the request of the player agent and no wrongdoing by the club was found.”

Scanlan added that the club had reached out to Oloapu and his agent “multiple” times in the months that followed to sort out the situation but had those approaches “rejected”.

Originally published as Bulldogs’ $500k move for 18yo rising Broncos star