NRL transfer news: Broncos star Tom Flegler signs with Dolphins for 2024

Dolphins coach Wayne Bennett’s pillaging of the Broncos continues with a second star leaving for Redcliffe just days after Herbie Farnworth confirmed his exit.

Tom Flegler is weighing up interest from the Dolphins.

Dolphins coach Wayne Bennett has pulled off another stunning poaching raid by snaring Broncos enforcer Tom Flegler on a $3 million deal as expansion tensions exploded in the battle for Brisbane’s elite talent.

After a 25-year monopoly, the Broncos are under siege like never before after losing Flegler and Herbie Farnworth to the Dolphins in a disastrous 48 hours for Queensland’s flagship NRL club.

Bennett was the foundation coach who made Brisbane great and now the master mentor is ruthlessly targeting Red Hill, headhunting Broncos talent in his quest to turn the fledgling Dolphins into an NRL force.

Just days after it was announced Farnworth would quit the Broncos for the Dolphins in 2024, his teammate Flegler told Brisbane officials on Sunday that he was also leaving at the end of the season.

The dual loss of Farnworth and Queensland Origin prop Flegler is a crushing body blow for the Broncos on the eve of their season opener against the Panthers on Friday night.

Like Farnworth, Flegler is contracted to the Broncos for the rest of this season and while he promised to “rip in” for coach Kevin Walters, the 110kg firebrand will be part of the Dolphins’ revolution when he arrives at Redcliffe next year on a four-year deal.

“The Broncos have played a huge role in my path to becoming an NRL player and I will always be thankful for that,’’ Flegler said.

“This was a tough thing to decide but I still have the whole of 2023 with the boys and I plan to give my all every time I run out with the Broncos.”

Tom Flegler was expected to stay in Red Hill.

The Dolphins have edged the Sydney Roosters and Manly to secure his services – it is understood Flegler also informed Sydney clubs of his plans on Sunday afternoon.

The departure of Farnworth and Flegler will ring alarm bells for Walters, who is under pressure to steer the Broncos to the finals this season and entrench the $53 million glamour club as the destination of choice for NRL players in south-east Queensland.

“Tom has made his decision and I respect that - he has spoken to me and has assured that he will be ripping in for us for the rest of the season,’’ Walters said.

“Our priority now is on the season opener against the Panthers in Penrith on Friday night.”

The Broncos were hopeful of keeping the Queensland Origin bookend, but were simply blown out of the water by the Dolphins, who are building a more promising roster with the acquisition of Flegler and Farnworth.

“The Dolphins have always said that our recruitment strategy was about building a club with a strong future, rather than just for season 2023,” said Dolphins chief executive Terry Reader.

“The signatures of Tom and Herbie Farnworth are great examples of that strategy at work.

“We are very excited about what these two players can add to the squad we have already assembled.

“It is also a huge boost for us as we get ready to play our first ever NRL match next weekend – this truly is an exhilarating time for all of the Dolphins’ members and our fans.”

Four clubs had expressed interest in the off-contract Flegler, including the Roosters, who are planning for life after front-row hardman Jared Waerea-Hargreaves.

Fellow Sydney-based club Manly last year tabled a six-year, $675,000 offer worth $4 million for Flegler, but the Broncos bookend would prefer to remain in Queensland.

That made the Dolphins the primary threat to the Broncos and Bennett has struck again, landing a one-two poaching punch on Brisbane coach Kevin Walters.

The Broncos, whose offer was less attractive financially, refused to get into a bidding war. Over a three-year term, it is understood Flegler stands to make $150,000 more annually with his defection to the Dolphins.

The Dolphins trumped Brisbane with a deal for Farnworth that was in excess of $700,000 a season and they had the cash reserves under the salary cap to do the same with Flegler.

Thomas Flegler at Broncos training.

As part of their roster management and succession planning, the Broncos have classified Payne Haas and Pat Carrigan as their two top dogs in the middle and accepted they could be outbid by the Dolphins for Flegler.

The 23-year-old Flegler has played 74 games for the Broncos since his NRL debut in 2019 and Dolphins recruitment chief Peter O’Sullivan is a massive fan of the Tully tearaway.

Once likened in style to Broncos prop Shane Webcke, Flegler has battled suspension and form issues at Brisbane and a move to the Dolphins represents a fresh start for the promising front-rower.

The Dolphins have an ageing pack – props Jesse Bromwich (33), Mark Nicholls (33) and Jarrod Wallace (31) are in their 30s – and Flegler is viewed as the young firebrand who can spearhead the 17th team’s engine room for a decade.

Flegler’s impending departure will see Brisbane turn to the likes of Corey Jensen, Xavier Willison and towering rookie prop Ben Te Kura to support big guns Haas and Carrigan in the midfield.

Originally published as NRL transfer news: Broncos star Tom Flegler signs with Dolphins for 2024