NRL 2023: Broncos respond to Dolphins’ $2m Norths Devils coup

Brisbane CEO Dave Donaghy has broken his silence in the wake of feeder-club the Devils’ bombshell defection to expansion rivals the Dolphins.

Broncos boss Dave Donaghy says the NRL glamour club remains committed to Brisbane’s northside in the wake of feeder-club the Devils’ bombshell defection to expansion rivals the Dolphins.

The Dolphins have pulled off a major coup by signing a four-year affiliate arrangement with the Devils, ending the Broncos’ successful 16-year partnership with the current Queensland Cup premiers.

The Devils have supplied a host of players to the Broncos in recent years, including Kobe Hetherington, Cory Paix, Brendan Piakura and Queensland Origin fullback star Reece Walsh.

But Donaghy insists Wayne Bennett’s Dolphins have not taken over Brisbane’s north, with the Broncos determined to maintain a strong presence in the region as Queensland’s flagship NRL club.

Donaghy, who was informed of the decision on Wednesday night, said there is no ill-feeling towards the Devils, who have won the past two Queensland Cup premierships thanks to their alliance with the Broncos.

“We wish Norths all the best in the future,” he said.

“Now that they have made their decision we will move forward with our own plans across the wider Brisbane region.

The Dolphins have landed a massive blow on their Brisbane rival.

“Being based on the northside of the river, we will continue to maintain a strong presence across this part of our city, through our home base and Academies at Red Hill, as well as our long-standing relationships with schools and our club’s game development partners in the north.

“The biggest change for us as a result of this change will see Broncos players, currently playing for Norths when not selected for the NRL, joining their teammates who are already with our other two affiliate clubs, Souths Logan Magpies and Wynnum Manly Seagulls.

“We remain fully committed to Brisbane’s north and are excited about continuing to develop our connections with the communities across the region in the years ahead.”

This masthead revealed on Thursday details of Norths Devils’ $2 million deal with the Dolphins.

Norths Devils played a key role in turning Billy Slater, Cameron Smith, Greg Inglis and Cooper Cronk into NRL and Origin stars in the early 2000s.

Norths Devils celebrate winning the 2022 QCup grand final. Picture: Bradley Kanaris/Getty

The champion quartet, including current Maroons Origin coach Slater, wore Devils colours as a feeder club to Craig Bellamy’s Storm before Norths severed ties with Melbourne to link with the Broncos.

But the Broncos’ successful 16-year partnership with the Devils is over, with Norths to join forces with the Dolphins from 2024 as the NRL’s 17th team ups the ante in the battle of Brisbane.

Dolphins boss Terry Reader, a former Broncos marketing chief who was Norths CEO in the lead-up to their 2021 title charge, confirmed the Devils coup.

“To have them join us an affiliate is going to be a great thing for our club and the game in the north Brisbane area,” he said.

“The Devils are a traditional club that have been playing in the Brisbane rugby league since its foundation year in 1933 and actually voted for the Dolphins to join the BRL back in 1960.

“This will allow the Dolphins to help build the game through junior clubs at grassroots level, and also give local players greater connection to our elite NRL and NRLW Dolphins Academy, where we are developing the NRL and NRLW players of the future.

Broncos CEO Dave Donaghy. Picture: Steve Pohlner

“We already have a number of Norths junior players in our Academy program and this is a big step for the Dolphins to provide greater links between our club and the local community.”

A number of existing Broncos have emerged from the Devils, including Jordan Riki, Kobe Hetherington, Corey Paix, Brendan Piakura and Queensland Origin young gun Walsh, who played for Norths just two years ago.

The Devils’ decision to link with the Dolphins leaves the Broncos with two feeder clubs in Wynnum Manly and Souths Logan.

Brisbane’s affiliate arrangement with the Devils was set to expire at the end of this season and Broncos chiefs were keen to extend the partnership.

But the Dolphins emerged victorious as the NRL’s newest club looks to take a stranglehold on Brisbane’s northside via the Devils, who represent the jewel in the crown of a catchment area boasting more than 5000 juniors.

The Devils are the current Hostplus Cup powerhouse - they have won back-to-back titles in a Penrith-style domination of Queensland rugby league - and have been a key grassroots plank in the Broncos’ revival under Kevin Walters.

Norths Devils premiership chairman Michael Crutcher stressed there is no bad blood with the Broncos, but geographical ties made a move to the Dolphins a natural fit.

The AFL is ruthlessly targeting Brisbane’s northside and the Dolphins-Devils alliance can help the NRL fight back against their national sporting arch-rival.

Cooper Cronk, Cameron Smith and Billy Slater formed a formidable combination at Norths Devils.

“Now is the right time for the Devils to begin a new partnership,” Crutcher said.

“We have valued our previous long-term affiliations with the Melbourne Storm (10 years) and the Brisbane Broncos (16 years) for the benefits they have brought to all parties.

“This is an important time for grassroots rugby league in Brisbane. We are delighted to begin this partnership with the Dolphins with our shared commitment to developing the strongest foundations for the game on the northside.

“We value the combined history of our clubs. We have been rivals for more than 60 years (in the Queensland Cup) but we have always shared the belief that the rivalry has made each club stronger.

“Our fans know that we will always be rivals in the Hostplus Cup – the huge crowd at last year’s grand final between Norths and Redcliffe proved that – but this partnership is about a shared vision for rugby league on the northside of Brisbane.”

Current Dolphins players Kodi Nikorima, Jarrod Wallace, Tom Gilbert and Sean O’Sullivan have played Queensland Cup or junior grades with the Norths Devils.

Originally published as NRL 2023: Broncos respond to Dolphins’ $2m Norths Devils coup