Sport Confidential: Corey Oates fighting to save his Broncos career
It wasn’t long ago that critics questioned Queensland’s depth in the forwards, but the emergence of two players has tipped that on its head. Find out all the details in SPORT CONFIDENTIAL.
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He has reinvigorated his NRL career this year but Broncos winger Corey Oates is facing a huge fight to remain at Red Hill.
After a tough couple of years, Oates has fought his way back into Brisbane’s top team and featured in the opening month of the season.
Despite clearly losing a yard of pace, the former Queensland Origin winger has made solid performances and will play his 174th NRL game against the Warriors on Saturday.
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But he must do more to convince the Broncos he is worthy of a contract extension.
Oates has Jordan Pereira nipping at his heels and he will be facing a big pay cut to stay at the Broncos.
At 27, Oates should have at least a couple more solid NRL campaigns left in him, but his body has taken a battering over the years.
He may have to seek a career lifeline elsewhere if the Broncos don’t come to the party with a new deal.
THE REAL REASON BRONCOS CUT ISSAKO LOOSE
Brisbane’s decision to sever ties with Jamayne Isaako was a strategic salary-cap move to free-up funds to keep off-contract Herbie Farnworth in Broncos colours.
Sport Confidential can reveal the Broncos have secured more than $100,000 in the salary cap by releasing Isaako and those funds will be used to stave off a bidding war for in-form centre Farnworth.
On Thursday night at Cbus Super Stadium, Isaako will make his Titans debut against the Tigers, a team he met last year while contracted to the Broncos as Michael Maguire looked to lure the goalkicking ace to the club.
Just up the road at Red Hill, Broncos chiefs are ready to kick-off extension talks with Farnworth armed with extra dollars.
Farnworth’s management advised Brisbane they would wait until round four to begin negotiations and the Broncos will ramp-up talks after Saturday’s clash against the Warriors at Redcliffe.
There was a view the Broncos were not too concerned about losing Farnworth because they have teenage whiz-kid Deine Mariner coming through, opening the door for the Dolphins to launch a poaching raid on the British flyer.
But Brisbane are prepared to fight so hard they have jettisoned Isaako to ensure they upgrade Farnworth, who has been the Broncos’ best player in the opening three rounds of the new season.
Named Brisbane’s best back last year, the 22-year-old could command upwards of $400,000 a season on the open market. But privately, Broncos bosses are confident Farnworth will not quit, believing Isaako’s exit has given them the cap space to table a decisive offer.
The Dolphins are among five clubs who have expressed interest in Farnworth, but Broncos head of football Ben Ikin wants the England World Cup hopeful at Red Hill in 2023.
“It depends how much the other clubs will be prepared to bid for Herbie, but he’s a guy we want to keep,” Ikin said.
“We have a number of good young players coming off-contract and ideally you want to keep all the players you feel are an important part of what you are trying to build.
“We understand there are market forces out there that impact on what you are trying to do. That’s what happens in an industry governed by the salary cap.
“Herbie is a very good NRL player. He is a terrific ball runner, every week and every season he continues to play, he keeps learning and growing.
“He is right at the start of his journey and he is showing us a lot of good stuff. I have no doubt there will be a whole host of clubs looking to have a crack at him.”
QUEENSLANDER! MAROONS WIN BATTLE FOR NANAI
Queensland have scored another major coup with Cowboys sensation Jeremiah Nanai officially rejecting the Kiwis as he sets his sights on playing State of Origin.
Sport Confidential can reveal New Zealand Test coach Michael Maguire recently made inquiries with Nanai with a view to picking the 19-year-old back-rower for the Kiwis’ end-of-year World Cup campaign.
But Nanai politely said no thanks, informing Maguire of his passion for the Queensland jumper and his ambition to eventually represent the Maroons in the code’s toughest arena.
Based on his three-try magic against the Broncos last Sunday, Nanai could be playing Origin sooner rather than later.
It wasn’t long ago that critics questioned Queensland’s depth in the forwards but the Cowboys’ back-row young guns, Nanai and Heilum Luki, are both eligible for the Maroons.
While Nanai was born in New Zealand, he moved to Cairns with his parents aged 12. Under Origin eligibility rules, NSW or Queensland players must have resided in either state before their 13th birthday, giving Nanai the green light to be picked for the Maroons.
The news will go down like a lead balloon with the Kiwis, who have lost Kalyn Ponga and Jaydn Su’A to Queensland in recent years.
Cowboys coach Todd Payten said Queensland fans should get excited at the thought of Nanai and Luki pulling on the Maroons jumper.
“They are different types of players,” Payten said. “Heilum is taller and more powerful, he runs a beautiful line and is a brilliant athlete, whereas Jeremiah tries to use his skill and has great game sense.
“Jeremiah can pull numbers apart, he can ball-play and kick, he has good late feet at the line and understands where to be and how to make people around him better.
“I have to remind myself sometimes just how young Heilum and Jeremiah are because they are so good.”
THE CURIOUS CASE OF J-WAL
Former Queensland Origin prop Jarrod Wallace is the Gold Coast Titans’ Forgotten Man.
A six-game Maroons representative, Wallace missed the first three games of the NRL season after being left out of the Titans’ top team.
Wallace played all 25 games of the Gold Coast’s drought-breaking finals season last year, but now cannot make Justin Holbrook’s top 17.
He was set to make his first appearance of the season against the Tigers on Thursday night after Isaac Liu was ruled out with Covid.
It is a remarkable fall from grace for Wallace, who was playing State of Origin in 2017-19.
It’s not as if Wallace had a bad season for the Titans last year. He was one of their more consistent players and started every game.
Now he has found himself unable to make the Titans’ bench at the expense of Jaimin Jolliffe and Sam Lisone.
The Titans weren’t impressed with the shape Wallace turned up in when pre-season training started last November. That sparked concerns about his off-field attitude.
But his work post-Christmas was solid and it is a surprise to not see him in the Gold Coast’s best 17 given his 178 games of NRL experience.
Off-contract at season’s end, Wallace will depart the Gold Coast Titans and has been in talks with the Dolphins, who baulked at his initial $600,000-a-season asking price.
DOLPHINS TALE FOR TITANS STAR
The Dolphins have come under fire for struggling to sign players, but there is one rep star keen to play for the NRL’s 17th team – Gold Coast veteran Kevin Proctor.
Proctor is off-contract at season’s end at the Titans and has made overtures to the Dolphins in a bid to reunite with his best mate, Storm enforcer Jesse Bromwich.
Proctor won a premiership at Melbourne with Bromwich, who will join the Dolphins for their foundation season in 2023.
The Kiwi Test stars are so close they were best men at each other’s weddings and Proctor believes his 278 games of NRL experience would be an asset for the Dolphins.
Proctor turns 34 next February but is adamant his body could handle a 16th season of NRL if the Dolphins are prepared to consider a 12-month deal.
Asked if he will retire this year, Proctor said: “I’m not sure to be honest. I’ve had a great pre-season without niggles and I’m mentally fresh.
“The body is feeling good. I will give 100 per cent until I can’t give my all anymore. If I’m letting my teammates down I will give it up, but if I feel I am doing my job and doing my part for the team, I will keep kicking on.”
ONCE WERE WARRIORS FOR LODGE
There are fears controversial prop Matt Lodge is on the verge of quitting the Warriors after knocking back a mega $2.1 million extension.
As he prepares to face former club the Broncos for the first time on Saturday at Redcliffe, Lodge is tipped to sever ties with the Warriors at season’s end and potentially return to Sydney.
The 26-year-old left the Broncos to link with the Warriors last June and the Kiwi club has been so pleased with Lodge’s contribution, they recently tabled a three-year deal worth around $700,000 a season. But Lodge rejected the deal, fuelling the belief he is on the lookout for a new club next season.
After being based in Australia for the past 18 months during the Covid ordeal, the Warriors plan to return to New Zealand at season’s end, but Lodge is reluctant to head across the ditch with his young family.
Lodge is contracted to the Warriors until the end of 2023, but the final year is an option in his favour, meaning he can source rival offers immediately.
Lodge owns a home on Sydney’s northern beaches, suggesting he could seek a move to Manly. The Sea Eagles are aware of his contract situation and it is believed there is some interest in luring Lodge to Brookvale.
Lodge has also been linked with NRL expansion newcomers the Dolphins, whose recruitment chief Peter O’Sullivan is his father-in-law, but it is understood coach Wayne Bennett has not held talks with the former Bronco at this stage.
MAM O MAM, THIS IS LOVE
Is there a bromance brewing between Brisbane’s potential next playmaking partnership?
Our cameras captured Broncos captain Adam Reynolds and young five-eighth Ezra Mam in a deep embrace at Red Hill recently.
Mam, 19, is considered to be the Broncos’ next long-term playmaker and is being groomed to wear the famous No.6 jersey.
And he is getting close to Reynolds, the Broncos’ big-name halfback recruit for at least the next few years. Mam couldn’t have a better mentor to learn the tricks of the trade than the experienced Reynolds and it may not be long before they play in the NRL together.
NRL RIVALS CIRCLE FALLEN COWBOY
Three NRL clubs are eyeing off Scott Drinkwater as he fights to revive his NRL career at the Cowboys.
Drinkwater is currently the odd-man out in the three-way battle for scrumbase spots at the Cowboys, with Tom Dearden winning the coveted No.6 jumper to partner senior halfback Chad Townsend to start the 2022 premiership.
While Dearden was carving up former club the Broncos in last Sunday’s derby demolition, Drinkwater was playing for Cowboys feeder club Mackay in the Hostplus Cup.
Drinkwater was impressive for Mackay, scoring a first-half try playing fullback in the 52-12 thrashing of the Jets at North Ipswich Reserve in a performance that piqued the interest of NRL rivals.
The 24-year-old only last year signed a new deal with the Cowboys, securing him until the end of 2023, but Drinkwater sees himself as an NRL-quality playmaker and is reluctant to languish in the Hostplus Cup for the long haul.
If the Dearden-Townsend alliance keeps flourishing, the Cowboys may have to make a tough call on Drinkwater.
FORMER BRONCO CROWING AT ROOSTERS
Monster Queensland young gun Xavier Va’a is going places at the Roosters.
The former Broncos Academy star is set to train with the Roosters’ NRL squad during the State of Origin period as the Bondi club prepares the teenager for his planned baptism in first-grade next season.
The Roosters poached Va’a from the Broncos last year and the Toowoomba product has impressed coach Trent Robinson with his attitude. At 193cm and 116kg, the hulking front-rower featured in a pre-season trial and the next step is to enter the Roosters’ ranks during the representative period.
The Chooks believe Va’a, also a champion state boxer, has the size the handle himself in the NRL next season and the rookie is relishing learning from Roosters enforcer Jared Waerea-Hargreaves.
BRONCOS MAKE QUICK DASH
The Broncos made a hasty exit from Suncorp Stadium after Sunday’s 38-12 loss to the Cowboys.
After being comprehensively outplayed by North Queensland, the Broncos wasted no time in getting stuck into preparations for this Saturday’s game against the Warriors.
By the time post-match media conferences with the coaches were finished, the entire Broncos team had already departed Suncorp and headed back to Red Hill for recovery.
You could hear a pin drop in their usually noisy dressing room.
The Cowboys weren’t so quick to get out. They took their time and enjoyed a cold beer after the club’s best win under coach Todd Payten.
A CLEARY FAVOURITE
He has given rivals a three-week headstart but Penrith halfback Nathan Cleary’s return from shoulder surgery has seen a plunge on him finishing as the NRL’s top point scorer with TAB.
Since Tuesday’s team announcement the Panthers star has received significant support and is now the best backed in the market ahead of favourites Reuben Garrick, Ryan Papenhuyzen and Latrell Mitchell.
At odds of $8.50, Cleary will take over goalkicking duties from Stephen Crichton, who currently heads the NRL point scoring tally.
The Panthers are the only unbeaten team after three rounds and punters are betting on them scoring plenty of tries in 2022.
WOMEN’S DALLY M TREAT
Queensland hosted last year’s NRL grand final and now the Sunshine State will be home to the NRL women’s gala awards night.
To be held next Thursday night at Sandstone Point, a highlight of the evening will be the presentation of the 2021 Dally M female player of the year.
The women’s top honour was not awarded during the NRL’s 2021 Dally M Awards last year due to the rescheduling of the 2021 NRLW premiership
The awards night will also include Captain of the Year, Coach of the Year, Try of the Year and Tackle of the Year awards. The awards night will be held ahead of the NRLW grand final on Sunday, April 10, at Moreton Daily Stadium.
Tickets for the NRLW Grand Final are still available via nrl.com/tickets.
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