NRL 2022: Brisbane Broncos plan to stay out of NRL player market circus

The Broncos snared two prized signings last year with Adam Reynolds and Kurt Capewell, but the club has made a huge call on its plans in the NRL player market for next season.

The Broncos have made the remarkable decision to not enter the NRL’s player market circus this year, instead putting faith in their current roster and emerging stars to snap the longest premiership-drought in Brisbane history.

The Courier-Mail can reveal the Broncos will not be chasing another Adam Reynolds or Kurt Capewell-style signing for 2023 and beyond following a significant roster overhaul since coach Kevin Walters took over 18 months ago.

The Anthony Seibold era at Red Hill is long gone, with Walters farewelling the likes of Anthony Milford, Tevita Pangai Jr, Matt Lodge, Brodie Croft and Jamayne Isaako as part of his roster revolution.

Stream every game of every round of the 2022 NRL Telstra Premiership Season Live & Ad-Break Free In Play on Kayo. New to Kayo? Try 14-days free now.

The Broncos made one of the biggest signings in their 34-year history by snaring premiership-winning halfback Reynolds from South Sydney and beefed up their leadership with Penrith’s Capewell, whose last game for the Panthers was the 2021 grand final win.

And while the nature of the fluid player market may yet see them add some fresh faces for 2023, the Broncos have no plans to actively pursue new talent this year and want to back their development pathways to create sustained success.

Adam Reynolds could be the last big-name player arriving at Red Hill for a while. Picture: David Clark

“I would say to you right now – ideally, we won’t have to go to market at all. That is the goal,” Broncos football chief Ben Ikin said.

“Between the top 30 and development list, we’ve got a core group of players here that we can build our future around. We would only want to go to market in an extraordinary situation.”

After starting as head coach in late 2020, on the back of Brisbane’s maiden wooden spoon, Walters has been slowly piecing together a squad he thinks is capable of clinching the Broncos’ first title since 2006.

He made bold calls releasing Pangai Jr and Lodge along with opting not to offer Milford a contract extension last year.

Walters used a stunning 36 players in the NRL last year as he searched for a successful formula, but he is much clearer about his squad this season.

Kurt Capewell was another big signing this year. Picture: Mark Kolbe/Getty Images

The Broncos have started the year with back-to-back wins heading into Sunday’s blockbuster derby against the Cowboys at Suncorp Stadium, which will be Reynolds’ first home game for his new club.

Walters has solid five-eighth options in Albert Kelly, Billy Walters and the emerging Ezra Mam, who has been tipped to have a big future at Red Hill.

The Broncos have a potentially excellent middle forwards starting combination with Payne Haas, Tom Flegler (suspended) and Pat Carrigan while emerging players like Kobe Hetherington, Keenan Palasia, Xavier Willison and Logan Bayliss have plenty of upside.

The Broncos’ back row stocks are solid with Capewell, Jordan Riki, TC Robati and Brendan Piakura, who has huge raps but has so far been stifled by persistent injuries.

Centres Kotoni Staggs and Herbie Farnworth can strike from anywhere on the field and then there is Selwyn Cobbo, the teenage indigenous sensation who has the rugby league world at his feet.

Broncos football boss Ben Ikin is backing the team’s list to keep improving. Picture: John Gass

Fullback and hooker are the two positions with some doubt around them, but the Broncos want to give the likes of Jake Turpin, Cory Paix and Tesi Niu an opportunity to prove they can own the spots.

“We want to invest in the guys we’ve got, who we think are very capable and have got stacks of improvement in front of them,” Ikin said.

“We’ve had a stack of churn through staff in key roles and a stack of churn in the roster. That churn, no matter how well you try and manage it, creates instability and uncertainty which undermines performance.

“We are trying to move away from that.”

The Broncos still have a number of notable players off-contract this year.

Veteran winger Corey Oates, Turpin and Farnworth are yet to decide their futures but could be headed for the exits the longer things drag on, especially with the Redcliffe-based Dolphins entering the NRL next year.