NRL 2021: Broncos CEO Dave Donaghy ends legal war with Storm

After solving his bitter legal dispute with the Storm, new Broncos CEO Dave Donaghy will face an even tougher fight when he lands at Red Hill.

New Broncos CEO Dave Donaghy has resolved his legal dispute with old club Melbourne Storm. Picture: AAP/Rob Prezioso

New Broncos boss Dave Donaghy will preside over Brisbane player contracts worth more than $5 million after finally ending his legal war with the Melbourne Storm.

The protracted saga is over with the Storm and Donaghy having smoked the peace-pipe yesterday, reaching a private resolution that has cleared the path for the former Melbourne CEO to take charge at the Broncos on May 1.

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The parties were locked in a bitter dispute last week when Melbourne launched legal action against Donaghy in the Victorian Supreme Court, arguing they would enforce a six-month, non-compete clause in his Storm contract.

That threatened to sideline Donaghy until August 1, but after a series of claims and counter-claims, Melbourne have relaxed their stance, allowing the 38-year-old to take the reins at Red Hill from May.

New Broncos CEO Dave Donaghy has resolved his legal dispute with old club Melbourne Storm. Picture: AAP/Rob Prezioso

And Donaghy will be under the pump from the outset, with Paul White’s successor to be a key stakeholder in contract talks and roster management that will shape Brisbane’s future beyond the 2021 season.

The Broncos have 12 players off-contract at season’s end - almost half their full-time roster - including big-name stars Anthony Milford, Kotoni Staggs and skipper Alex Glenn.

Meanwhile, off-contract boom halfback Tom Dearden has already flown to Townsville for talks with Cowboys coach Todd Payten, while Queensland Origin Xavier Coates, Tesi Niu and hulking back-rower Jordan Riki are free agents for 2022.

Donaghy will also be under pressure to chart a strategic direction to haul the last-placed Broncos out of the worst position in the club’s history, unfamiliar terrain for a chief executive accustomed to premierships and yearly finals campaigns at the Storm.

Revelations of the legal bunfight concluding will come as a relief for the Broncos, who had appointed an interim CEO in Neil Monahan to fill the void as Donaghy remained in limbo.

Donaghy confirmed the legal stoush had been resolved before the parties were due to lock horns again on March 17.

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“I’m pleased it’s been resolved,” he said.

“Storm was a significant part of my life for many years and I wish Matt (Tripp, Melbourne chairman) and everyone at the club all the best for this year and beyond.

“I’m going to enjoy some downtime now, refresh and I look forward to joining Brisbane in May.”

The Broncos announced Donaghy’s appointment as chief executive officer to the Australian Stock Exchange on February 3, without a start date as negotiations continued.

Dave Donaghy is set for a May 1 start. Picture: Adam Head

However, Storm chairman Tripp played hardball, threatening to block Donaghy from starting until August following revelations in court that the NRL premiers had paid the stamp duty on the executive’s $2.5 million Melbourne home.

Donaghy had given the Storm assurances he would not divulge Melbourne’s secrets or steal sponsors upon his employment at the Broncos.

Donaghy was formally stood down by Melbourne in late October and thus the six-month, non-compete period will be enacted from that period, clearing him to start at the Broncos on May 1.