NRL 2022: Keenan Palasia requests release from Brisbane Broncos
Fresh on the heel of Tesi Niu being told he’s welcome to negotiate with rival clubs comes the bombshell request by one of the Broncos best young forwards.
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Keenan Palasia has shocked Brisbane by informing coach Kevin Walters of his plans to quit the Broncos as several NRL rivals, including the Titans, circle the Samoa Test forward.
News Corp can reveal Palasia is the second NRL top-liner looking to leave the Broncos, following in the footsteps of fullback Tesi Niu, who has been given permission to negotiate with rival clubs.
But while Niu is free to leave, Broncos bosses are standing firm on Palasia, with Walters telling the promising utility forward he is a key part of Brisbane’s plans for the 2023 season.
The contract bombshell comes just 12 months after Palasia showed extraordinary loyalty to the Broncos, knocking back a four-year, $1 million offer from Manly to ink a one-year extension with Brisbane for 2023.
The decision cost Palasia around $800,000 and while Brisbane have discussed an extension for 2024 and beyond, the 25-year-old wants a fresh start.
A free agent since November 1, the off-contract Palasia is in talks with the Titans and views himself as a starting player after making his Test debut for Samoa this year.
Palasia confirmed he has asked about a potential early release, believing he is stuck behind a number of middle-forwards headlined by Payne Haas, Tom Flegler and Pat Carrigan.
“I have let ‘Kevvie’ know I would prefer to head home,” said Palasia, who grew up on the Gold Coast and is a product of Palm Beach Currumbin.
“I spoke to Kevvie about it.
“He said he wants to keep me and there is a role for me within the squad.
“The Broncos have been good to me, which is why I stayed loyal last time, and Kev has been great in how straight he is with his decisions and communication.
“But I feel I can be a starting player.
“My best years are ahead of me and I want to play at a club which I feel better suits my style of play.”
Should Walters continue to play hardball, Palasia will honour his Broncos contract, but the one certainty is he will not be at Red Hill in 2024.
The hard-running prop or back-rower has attracted interest from a number of clubs, led by the Dragons and Titans, who have some salary-cap space given that $1 million man David Fifita is off-contract and has yet to sign a new deal.
It is understood the Titans are armed with a two-year deal for 2024-25 – and could possibly accommodate Palasia for next season if Brisbane brokered an immediate transfer.
The Queensland under-20s young gun enjoyed a breakthrough campaign at the Broncos in 2022.
Having fought back from five operations, including two knee reconstructions, Palasia became an established member of Brisbane’s top 17 this year, playing 22 games and making his Test debut against Cook Islands in June.
But after starting in the first six rounds, Palasia was relegated to the bench and struggled to break into the starting side as Carrigan surged into the Queensland Origin team.
Palasia’s manager Tas Bartlett said the 33-game NRL forward is reluctant to languish on the bench at the Broncos.
“Keenan has plenty of interest from other clubs since November 1 rolled over,” he said.
“He now sees himself as a starting player in the NRL and he is seeking an opportunity to do that elsewhere as the Broncos have plenty of depth in his position with Flegler, Haas and Carrigan.
“Keenan had a very good 2022 season. He is a quality forward in that he can play big minutes in multiple positions, so he has some variation to his game if required.
“The fact that he grew up on the Gold Coast and went to Palm Beach Currumbin would lean in favour of the Titans but the Dragons are a very good club as well.”
Originally published as NRL 2022: Keenan Palasia requests release from Brisbane Broncos
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