NRL news: Axed star Corey Oates fronts Kevin Walters over Broncos, Hostplus Cup relegations

Tensions between out-of-favour Broncos star Corey Oates and coach Kevin Walters have escalated, after the latest perceived snub left the Red Hill favourite’s future in limbo.

Corey Oates is privately frustrated at not only his NRL omission, but his subsequent allocation to Queensland Cup affiliate Burleigh. Picture Lachie Millard

Out-of-favour Brisbane star Corey Oates is in limbo at the Broncos as tensions escalate at Red Hill over the veteran winger’s controversial axing to reserve grade.

Oates has been overlooked for the second consecutive week with the former Queensland Origin ace again losing out to Deine Mariner for Thursday night’s clash against South Sydney at Suncorp Stadium.

A shock omission for Brisbane’s round 1 clash in Vegas despite a bumper pre-season, Oates was expected to play for new feeder-club Burleigh in last Saturday’s Hostplus Cup season opener against Norths Devils.

But Oates was a late scratching for the Bears and it is understood the 201-game Broncos stalwart is unlikely to feature for Burleigh in their home clash against Townsville this Saturday at Pizzey Park.

Oates is privately frustrated at not only his NRL omission, but his subsequent allocation to Queensland Cup affiliate Burleigh, which is more than 110km from his Brisbane home.

It is understood Oates has concerns over the tyranny of distance and travel required to play for the Gold Coast-based Bears when the Broncos’ two other feeder clubs, Wynnum Manly and Souths Logan, are based in Brisbane.

Axed Corey Oates has been allocated to Brisbane’s feeder club on the Gold Coast. Picture: Bradley Kanaris/Getty Images

The Broncos insist Oates is not boycotting Burleigh as a form of protest at his omission from the NRL.

Oates has sought feedback from Kevin Walters over his relegation to the second tier, but the Broncos coach is adamant he has not closed the door on the 29-year-old.

“Corey didn’t play on the weekend (for Burleigh) and I don’t think he will play this weekend either,” Walters said.

“We are just keeping him fresh.

“I just feel at the moment I want to go with our other two wingers in Deine and Jesse (Arthars).

“It’s hard for Corey, he’s not playing at the moment, but that’s not to say he won’t be back for us at some stage this season.”

Oates is walking a delicate tightrope at the Broncos.

The sole survivor of Brisbane’s 2015 grand-final team, Oates is one of the club’s greatest ever finishers, ranked fourth on the Broncos’ all-time tryscoring list with 118 tries, behind only Steve Renouf, Darren Lockyer and Michael Hancock.

But the veteran of nine Origin matches is off-contract at season’s end and faces an uncertain future at the Broncos if he can’t unseat Mariner and Arthars from the starting side.

It’s been a tumultuous past 12 months for Oates, who played just nine matches last year due to knee and broken-jaw injuries and was dropped on the eve of the 2023 finals in favour of Arthars.

Kevin Walters reassures Corey Oates he will get a chance in first grade this year. Picture: Steve Pohlner

Despite his rollercoaster ride at Red Hill, Walters isn’t giving up on Oates and believes the long-time fan favourite can fight his way back to the NRL in Broncos colours.

“Corey is doing everything right,” Walters said.

“The reality is I can only put 17 out there on the field each week.

“We have good depth in our club, so someone has to miss out and wing is Corey’s position.

“I know it’s not easy for him but that’s the way it is at the moment.”

Asked when Oates will turn out for Burleigh, Walters said: “Corey has played a lot of NRL and eventually if he’s not playing NRL, we’ll have to play him somewhere and get him some game time, but we’ll play that card when we need to.

“He will get his opportunities, but he just has to be patient.

“He is too good a player to sit there parked (in the Hostplus Cup).”