NRL 2023: Brisbane Broncos slap monster transfer fee on Karl Oloapu, blocking Dolphins

The Broncos’ ugly spat with wantaway teen Karl Olaupu has gone up a gear, after slapping an unprecedented transfer fee on the young star to keep him at Red Hill.

Karl Oloapu is considered best school graduate in the country. Picture: John Gass

The Broncos’ explosive spat with disgruntled teen Karl Oloapu has gone up a gear after the club placed a $500,000 bounty on the rising star and blocked a proposed move to the Dolphins.

The Courier-Mail can confirm an unprecedented transfer fee has been placed on Oloapu – who the Broncos rate as the best school graduate in the country.

Oloapu, 18, has been locked in a six-month battle with the Broncos since signing a three-year contract tying him up at the club until 2025.

Shortly after inking the deal last year – which was negotiated by a previous manager – Oloapu and his new agent Matt Adamson sought a release from the Broncos.

The Broncos privately claim expansion club the Dolphins were willing to offer Oloapu up to double his Brisbane deal.

However the Broncos refused to release Oloapu and relations between the club, player, his family and management have deteriorated since.

Karl Oloapu is considered best school graduate in the country. Picture: John Gass

In contravention of his contract, Oloapu has refused to train with the Broncos and has instead been running around with the Norths Devils – a Brisbane feeder club.

The Broncos are willing to break bread with Oloapu and welcome him back to the club, believing the situation can be saved and Oloapu can have a long career at Red Hill.

However tensions are so high that may not be an option, with the Broncos playing hardball and Oloapu declaring last November: “I will never play for Brisbane as long as I live.”

With the situation showing no signs of being smoothed, Brisbane bosses have now placed a stunning $500,000 transfer fee on Oloapu if a rival club wants to sign him.

Karl Oloapu in action for QLD schoolboys. Picture: Zak Simmonds

Karl Oloapu has been training with Norths Devils. Picture: John Gass

That would mean a new club signs Oloapu to a contract under the NRL’s salary cap and then pays $500,000 to the Broncos on top.

Such a hefty transfer fee for an untested junior has never been seen before in the NRL.

But it will not be the Dolphins that land Oloapu – with the Broncos refusing to release the Queensland Schoolboys star to their new Brisbane rivals.

The Broncos reported the Dolphins to the NRL, believing the expansion club was attempting to coax Oloapu out of his Brisbane contract, which is not allowed under the game’s regulations.

The Warriors also blocked the Dolphins from signing Queensland Origin hopeful Reece Walsh, who was released to join the Broncos despite cashed-up Redcliffe being desperate to sign him.