NRL 2021: Kotoni Staggs tells Broncos teammates he plans to stay in Brisbane

Star centre Kotoni Staggs is set to spurn big offers from Sydney clubs and stay in Brisbane, with the Broncos and Titans battling for his signature.

Kotoni Staggs celebrates scoring a try for the Broncos. Picture: Albert Perez/Getty Images

Kotoni Staggs has told teammates he plans to stay at Brisbane as the multimillion-dollar battle for his signature becomes a race in two between the Broncos and Titans.

As revealed by News Corp last month, the Broncos tabled an upgrade in excess of $2 million to stave off poaching threats from the Titans and Sydney-based NRL rivals Parramatta and the Bulldogs.

It is understood Staggs is reluctant to move to Sydney for family reasons, leaving Brisbane’s derby rivals the Titans as the greatest threat to retaining the NSW Origin hopeful.

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Staggs has yet to formally ink his Broncos extension, but Brisbane chiefs believe they have got their man, with the lethal strike weapon advising his closest colleagues in recent days of his intention to stay.

However, the Broncos are taking nothing for granted until Staggs officially signs a three or four-year deal.

Kotoni Staggs has privately informed the Broncos dressing-room he will not quit the club. Picture: Bradley Kanaris/Getty Images

Titans culture boss Mal Meninga has held talks with Staggs and Gold Coast remain hopeful they can pull off another David Fifita-style heist on the Broncos, who are closing in on the utility back’s signature.

Brisbane bosses are thrashing out the final terms of the deal to keep Staggs at Red Hill until the end of 2024 or 2025.

Staggs has also privately indicated he plans to move from centre to five-eighth next season following talks with coach Kevin Walters, a revelation that leaves underfire pivot Anthony Milford on death row at Red Hill.

Milford is off-contract at season’s end and severing ties with the embattled pivot would free up $1 million for the Broncos to retain Staggs, who is sidelined until June following a knee reconstruction.

Walters is confident the Broncos will seal the Staggs deal and indicated as much when asked if Brisbane are close to announcing his retention.

“Yes, that’s the plan,” he said.

“Kotoni is a big part of our future and we want him to be here at the Broncos.

“He could have been extremely helpful for us (against the Rabbitohs on Thursday night) in any position that he played.

“That’s the key for us, to get his signature ... I know it would be a big boost to everyone at the club.”

Kevin Walters is confident the Broncos will re-sign Kotoni Staggs. Picture: Annette Dew

There were fears Staggs would walk out on the Broncos after he fielded $800,000-a-season offers from Sydney.

But Staggs is keen to remain close to his mother in Brisbane and is prepared to accept less, around $700,000 annually, to remain at the Broncos.

The explosive Staggs has scored 23 tries from 47 games for the Broncos since his NRL debut in 2018 and has developed into Brisbane’s most dangerous attacking back.

Broncos skipper Alex Glenn said Staggs is a key plank in helping Brisbane offload the wooden spoon.

“It would be huge for us if Kotoni signs a new deal,” he said.

“I am hoping he stays loyal.

“We all know what he can do on the field and we know what he brings to our team when he is on the field.

“When we get him back from injury he will be a huge strike weapon for us.”

Originally published as NRL 2021: Kotoni Staggs tells Broncos teammates he plans to stay in Brisbane