NRL market watch: Corey Oates fighting for Broncos and Maroons future
Broncos veteran Corey Oates has refused give up on his representative and club future despite radio silence from both parties. Latest NRL market watch.
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Corey Oates has appealed for Queensland coach Billy Slater to consider him for a Maroons recall as the rejuvenated winger fights to win a new deal at the Broncos.
The Queensland team for Origin II is picked on Sunday night, giving Oates one final chance to catch Slater’s eye in Friday night’s Broncos-Storm top-four blockbuster at Melbourne’s AAMI Park.
Slater is on the lookout for a new left winger after Storm flyer Xavier Coates injured his ankle in Origin I and while Cowboys duo Murray Taulagi and Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow have the inside running, Oates is making a late charge.
The off-contract Oates has produced career-best form this season, scoring 10 tries from 13 games and averaging 177 metres per game, headlined by his fearless kick returns.
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While Taulagi is uncapped in the Origin arena and ‘The Hammer’ has played just once, Oates is an experienced campaigner in Maroon, having played the last of his eight games for Queensland in 2019.
Slater will be watching the Storm-Broncos clash closely and Oates urged the rookie Queensland coach not to forget his name when Maroons selectors convene on Sunday night.
“I don’t know if Billy has moved on from me,” Oates said.
“Coaches have their preferences in players and how they want to play the game. I could be a chance for Origin and I would love to play for Queensland again, but if it doesn’t work out, it won’t affect my performances for the Broncos.
“I haven’t been in touch with anyone (in the Queensland camp).
“I didn’t receive a call from Billy (after he missed selection for Game One). I didn’t expect one to be honest. I didn’t make the team the year before so usually you get a call if you were in the team the year before.
“I had to get my belief back and I have. The last few years weren’t great for a lot of people here at the club but I wanted to show the Broncos I have a lot of footy in me and I feel great again.”
NSW coach Brad Fittler was concerned by the height of Queensland’s wing duo Coates and Selwyn Cobbo in the series opener.
At 192cm and 105kg, Oates is a big body with the size and strength to counter the aerial ability of Blues wing opposite Daniel Tupou.
Oates, who turns 28 in October, has been outstanding for the Broncos this season and is keen to extend his tenure at the club, although he faces the prospect of taking a hefty pay cut to remain at Red Hill.
Brisbane bosses have yet to table an offer for Oates, triggering fears he could reunite with Wayne Bennett at the Dolphins next season, but the veteran of 183 NRL games hopes to stay in Broncos colours.
“I’ve been here 10 years in first grade and been signed to the club since I was 15,” Oates said.
“I have given a lot to the Broncos and they have given a lot to me. I want to be a one-club player, I have supported the club since I was four years old.
“I just have to keep doing my stuff on the field and performing the way I am. If I do my job, then my manager can do his job.
“My 2021 season didn’t help my cause, so I just wanted to show them I have a lot of footy in me and keep producing performances on the field.”
Asked if the Dolphins are an option, Oates said: “I have to consider anything if the club doesn’t offer me a deal. But my preference is to stay here. If they don’t want me, they don’t want me, but hopefully my manager can sort things out.”
Dolphins poach another Bronco
Brisbane comeback kid Brenko Lee is set to quit the Broncos at season’s end with the premiership centre tipped to reunite with his Queensland Origin mentor Wayne Bennett at the Dolphins.
News Corp can reveal the off-contract Lee is in the advanced stages of talks with the Dolphins on the eve of his return to face former club Melbourne in Friday night’s top-four blockbuster at AAMI Park.
Bennett last month snared Edrick Lee from the Knights and now the Dolphins coach is closing in on his cousin Brenko, who forged ties with the 72-year-old during Queensland’s epic Origin series win two years ago.
Lee was one of 14 debutants blooded by then Queensland coach Bennett in the Maroons’ famous 2-1 series triumph. Bennett liked Lee’s positive attitude, versatility and team-first mentality and that has convinced him to target the 26-year-old for the Dolphins’ entry to the NRL in 2023.
Having failed to snare Broncos ace Herbie Farnworth last month, Bennett has turned his attention to Lee.
Ironically, Lee will replace the injured Farnworth at AAMI Park as the hulking centre attempts to help Brisbane to an eighth straight win this week against the Melbourne club with whom he won a premiership two years ago.
“I am looking to have Brenko on board,” Bennett said.
“He hasn’t had a lot of opportunities at the Broncos this season but he is getting his chance now and hopefully he finishes the season on a strong note.
“I am looking at him as a starting centre. I don’t want him playing Queensland Cup, Brenko at his best is a genuine NRL player, the try he set up against the Raiders last week was the perfect centre’s play.
“I worked with Brenko during the Origin series a couple of years ago and I like what he brought to the team. He was outstanding in Game Three, we needed him to perform that night and he did - we couldn’t have won the series without him.
“If he comes here, he would be an asset for the Dolphins.”
Lee would be the second Bronco to defect to their new expansion rivals, following the lead of Jamayne Isaako, who has embarked on a short-term transfer to the Titans en route to the Dolphins next season.
While the Dolphins have secured some premiership-winning quality in the forwards, they have struggled to land some experience in the outside backs and Lee, a centre or winger, ticks that box.
A veteran of 69 NRL games across five clubs, Lee played a key role at centre in Melbourne’s grand-final victory in 2020 before making his Origin debut for the Maroons six weeks later in a fairytale individual campaign.
Lee endured a nightmare 2021, failing to play a single game for the Storm due to a serious leg injury, prompting the strapping 104kg utility back to seek a fresh start at the Broncos.
Lee has struggled to break into the Broncos top squad this season, playing just one game off the bench in round four against the Warriors, but Brisbane’s recent injury crisis has opened the door for him to exit Red Hill on a high.
The former Titans, Canberra, Canterbury and Melbourne hulk filled in for the injured Kotoni Staggs in last week’s 24-18 defeat of the Raiders.
Staggs’ centre teammate Farnworth suffered a season-ending bicep tear in that match, prompting Broncos coach Kevin Walters to retain Lee for the top-four duel with the Storm.
While Lee went almost three months without a game at the Broncos, Walters has been rapt with his attitude.
“Brenko was good last week considering it was his first NRL game in a long time,” he said.
“He will be better for the run.
“It’s a good opportunity for him, there’s a position vacant for him until Herbie gets back so if he can make a good fist of it, he can stay in the team which is a great reward for Brenko.”
Wests Tigers star quits to join rival
Luciano Leilua has quit Wests Tigers immediately to join the Cowboys as North Queensland push ahead with their premiership tilt.
The Saturday Telegraph revealed the Cowboys were lining up to make another play for Leilua having kept salary cap space aside to bring him to the club before the August 1 trade deadline. Their latest attempt has worked.
He won’t play for either side this weekend but will play out the rest of the season with the Cowboys who wanted to move in on him again following the axing of Michael Maguire last week.
The Cowboys have consistently inquired about Leilua during the course of the season after he agreed to join the club on a three year deal from next year. His move will be fast-tracked with Leilua expected to play for the club in their round 16 clash against Brisbane on July 3.
The Tigers can now save six figures by moving him on early which will help their salary cap situation moving into next season with their finals hopes this year dashed.
Leilua was reluctant to quit on his teammates given their current predicament but he now has an opportunity to play finals football.
Leilua turned his career around after joining the Tigers from St George Illawarra in 2020. During his two and a half season stint at the club he was arguably their most consistent player, featuring in 56 matches for the club.
He will play his 100th NRL match when he lines up for North Queensland.
The high flying Cowboys will welcome Leilua’s signing after they were dealt a blow with young forward Heilum Luki suffering a season-ending knee injury during their last start win against St George Illawarra, while Tom Gilbert (eye) will miss Friday night’s game against Manly. Queensland Origin forward Jeremiah Nanai (ankle) has also been battling an injury.
Cowboys head of football Michael Luck said the club was hopeful of securing Leilua before the August 1 transfer deadline.
“We have asked the question of Luciano’s manager and the ball is in their court at the moment,” he said.
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“We have had three injuries to backrowers in the last couple of weeks. We were looking pretty good, but now we’re going to have our depth tested.
“There is a bit of water to go under the bridge. He would make us a better team.
“Our blokes have done terrific to this stage. Luciano is an out-and-out edge backrower who can do some good things.
“If we can get him earlier than next year he can make us a better side.”
Leilua won’t have to wait long to play his former club with the Tigers and Cowboys to clash in round 19.
Star Burton replacement re-signs
- Phil Rothfield
The Penrith Panthers have extended and upgraded the contract of gun centre Izack Tago until the end of the 2025 season, beating off intense interest from rival clubs.
The 20-year-old St Marys junior was not off contract until the end of next year but the Panthers wanted him secured before November because of the obvious attention elsewhere.
As Matt Burton’s replacement in Penrith’s premiership winning backline, Tago has emerged this year as one of the best young centres in the competition.
He has scored nine tries in 14 games, averages 140 metres a game and has made 39 tackle breaks.
He looks certain to play for Samoa at the World Cup at the end of the season.
Storm’s latest star retention
- Brent Read
The King of Papua New Guinea is staying in Melbourne.
The Storm are on the verge of announcing a contract extension for centre Justin Olam that will keep him at Melbourne Storm until the end of 2026.
The Storm are expected to confirm their latest signing coup on Monday.
Olam is regarded as one of the best centres in the game and his retention continues the signing momentum the club has built by extending the contracts of Harry Grant, Xavier Coates and Jahrome Hughes.
The one notable absence from that list is Queensland superstar Cameron Munster, who has a year left on his deal and is locked in negotiations with the club over an extension.
Melbourne remain hopeful they can convince Munster to stay but they are under siege from cashed-up rivals who are willing to pay the Maroons No. 6 millions.
Olam, meanwhile, shapes as a pivotal retention given he is one of the most devastating players in the game on his day.
He would have been in demand had he hit the open market given the dearth of quality centres in the game at the moment.
Yet Melbourne have ensured their rivals didn’t get a chance to steal him by locking him down to a long-term deal.
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