Newcastle target Broncos duo Tautau Moga and Herman Ese’ese in $2 million poaching raid

THE Broncos have been rocked by a $2 million poaching raid from NRL rivals Newcastle with Tautau Moga quitting Brisbane and boom prop Herman Ese’ese set to join him at the Knights.

BRISBANE, AUSTRALIA — MAY 19: Tautau Moga of the Broncos celebrates scoring a try during the round 11 NRL match between the Brisbane Broncos and the Wests Tigers at Suncorp Stadium on May 19, 2017 in Brisbane, Australia (Photo by Bradley Kanaris/Getty Images)

THE Broncos have been rocked by a $2 million poaching raid from NRL rivals Newcastle with Tautau Moga quitting Brisbane and boom prop Herman Ese’ese set to join him at the Knights.

The Courier-Mail can reveal the Broncos are $500,000 short of Newcastle’s three-year, $1.4 million offer for Ese’ese, rated by teammate Benji Marshall among the best young props in the code.

Ese’ese had privately decided to leave Brisbane on Saturday morning, but the Broncos appealed for more time.

A selection sweetener arrived just hours later when the 110kg prop was named in Brisbane’s starting side after the late withdrawal of Korbin Sims (groin) in their 30-20 defeat of Canberra.

Moga has overcome his injury troubles at Brisbane this season.

Brisbane coach Wayne Bennett accepts he has lost hulking centre Moga, with the Broncos unable to compete with Newcastle’s multi-year package.

While they were hopeful of retaining Moga, the Broncos have a classy left-centre replacement in NSW Origin sensation Jack Bird, who arrives next season on a four-year deal.

But of greater concern to Bennett is the prospect of losing Ese’ese, who has fielded the most lucrative deal of his career from the Knights after just 23 NRL games.

The 22-year-old underlined his potential by charging for 126 metres against the Raiders. Bennett is fighting hard to retain Ese’ese, but Newcastle coach Nathan Brown is confident he has stolen Brisbane’s most dynamic rising prop.

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“We want to keep him,” Bennett said.

“He wants to stay so hopefully we can sort it out.”

Ese’ese is on $170,000 this season. Brisbane have increased their offer to $275,000 next year, but unless they match Newcastle’s deal, the Kiwi Test hopeful will follow Moga to the Knights in 2018.

Broncos five-eighth Marshall said losing Ese’ese, who has amassed 1468 metres from 14 matches this season at 104m per game, would be a major blow.

“I have roomed with Herman and he is one of the best young front-rowers in the game,” he said.

“His ability and the way he carries the ball, his footwork ... he is the full package. Herman has a massive future.”

Ese’ese has found a home at Brisbane this season.

Moga has enjoyed the best season of his NRL career this year, playing 15 consecutive games for the Broncos and bouncing back from the trauma of three knee reconstructions.

The 23-year-old has an option in his favour for next season, but with Moga on a basic second-tier deal worth around $70,000, Brisbane are hampered by salary-cap constraints.

Bennett conceded he wouldn’t be surprised if the 104kg flyer chases a more financially-secure future at the Knights.

“I am hearing those whispers (that Moga is leaving for Newcastle),” Bennett said.

“If that’s the case, so be it ... until someone tells me officially, we will do our best to keep him.”