Kotoni Staggs set to sign $2 million Brisbane Broncos extension

Brisbane’s 2024 Allan Langer Medallist is set to reject rival Sydney suitors to ink a multimillion-dollar contract extension - but the move could force his backline partner out of Red Hill.

Kotoni Staggs is in top nick ahead of the season. Picture: Steve Pohlner

Brisbane’s strike centre Kotoni Staggs is set to ink a multimillion-dollar contract extension in a major show of faith in Michael Maguire’s regime to bring premiership glory to the Broncos.

This masthead can reveal Staggs will reject interest from Sydney clubs and pledge his future to the Broncos in the first significant retention coup for new Brisbane coach Maguire.

Staggs is off-contract at season’s end and there were fears the former NSW Origin flyer was in danger of being squeezed out by salary-cap pressures as the Broncos also fight to retain his centre partner Selwyn Cobbo.

But it is understood Brisbane will successfully stave off a poaching raid, with Staggs on the verge of inking a multi-year extension in another step towards becoming a Bronco for life.

Staggs has not formally signed at this stage. But the parties are in advanced negotiations and Staggs has told Brisbane he has no desire to leave, with the Broncos hoping to formalise an extension before their round 1 opener against the Sydney Roosters on March 6.

Staggs was linked with several rival clubs, including the Roosters, who need outside backs to replace Joey Manu and Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii, but Maguire made it clear he has no intention of losing his blockbusting centre.

Staggs’ current four-year deal is worth $700,000 a season. It is understood his new Broncos contract will have a duration of at least three years, and possibly four, which would see ‘Special K’ remain at Red Hill until 2028 or 2029.

That is the timeframe Broncos recruitment-and-retention chiefs are targeting to establish a long-term premiership window, with Staggs’ backline cohorts Ezra Mam and Reece Walsh both inking new deals until 2029.

Just 12 months ago, Staggs appeared to be behind Cobbo in the retention pecking order, but the former finished the 2024 campaign in superb form at a time when the latter hit turbulence with some off-field struggles.

Underlining Staggs’ maturation at Red Hill, he was named by Maguire in a five-man leadership group a fortnight ago, alongside Pat Carrigan, Payne Haas, Ben Hunt and skipper Adam Reynolds.

Maguire is confident both Kotoni Staggs and Selwyn Cobbo will remain at the club. Picture: NRL PHOTOS

Staggs won the Allan Langer Award as Brisbane’s best back last season and Maguire says the 26-year-old is a key part of his premiership ambitions in the coming seasons.

“Kotoni has always been a handful of a player and I’d love to keep him here absolutely,” Maguire said.

“The one thing I’ve liked since coming here is Kotoni’s leadership qualities.

“He is an experienced squad member now and his leadership has really stood out.

“He has developed a lot as a person and over the last two or three months I’ve seen him step up as a leader.

“He is great in team meetings, he is vocal and is setting the standards of what we want to achieve here.”

Since tearing his ACL in 2021, Staggs has recovered to become one of Brisbane’s most consistent performers.

The Wellington whiz has played 70 games in the past three seasons, including 26 of a possible 27 matches in Brisbane’s fairytale surge to the 2023 grand final, which they lost to Penrith.

Staggs finished that season with the ultimate accolade, playing three Tests for Australia, including the 2023 Pacific Championships final against Maguire’s New Zealand outfit.

The impending retention of Staggs has direct ramifications for Cobbo - and whether the Broncos can afford to keep both Origin stars under the salary cap.

The Broncos have yet to table a new deal for Cobbo and Maguire wants to see the off-contract backline ace chart the same development curve as Staggs in the coming months to secure his future at Red Hill.

Brisbane are adamant they have the salary cap room to secure Staggs and Cobbo.

“I want to keep Selwyn because when he is at his best, he is one hell of a talent,” Maguire said.

“If Selwyn focuses on the training part, most of the contract stuff will sort itself out - it always does.

“His application is there and I have really enjoyed his company already, we’ve had some good chats and he’s a good kid.

“He just has to play consistently and if he gets super fit he will do that.”