Broncos young gun Xavier Coates reportedly set to sign with Melbourne Storm

Xavier Coates is arguably the Broncos’ most exciting young talent, but the star winger’s future is up in the air, although the pen hasn’t touched paper.

Xavier Coates of the Broncos.

Brisbane young gun Xavier Coates will reportedly join the Melbourne Storm on a two-year deal in another significant blow for the Broncos.

As first revealed by The Daily Telegraph, Coates will reject advances from the NRL’s three Queensland teams to join the defending premiers.

Watch The 2021 NRL Telstra Premiership Live & On-Demand with No Ad-Breaks During Play. New to Kayo? Try 14-Days Free Now >

The 20-year-old was the biggest fish left on the Broncos’ retention list, behind only centre Kotoni Staggs.

Coates will presumably replace Origin winger Josh Addo-Carr, who has signed with the Canterbury Bulldogs from next season.

BREAKING: HUGE news at Broncos... Xavier Coates has signed with the @storm rejecting Brisbane

Coates is the biggest loss for the club so far.

Full story tonight @7NewsBrisbane
@7michellebishophttps://t.co/hF9gU08MeJ

— Chris Garry (@ChrisGarry7) May 5, 2021

On Monday, rugby league reporter Phil Rothfield told Sky Sports Radio that Coates flew to Melbourne following Brisbane’s win over the Gold Coast Titans to tour the powerhouse club’s headquarters.

“They tell me he’s on the verge of signing with the Storm,” Rothfield said.

He also questioned the Broncos’ recruitment committee after “really, really poor recruitment” in recent years.

But the plot thickened as Coates’s manager Nash Dawson told NRL.com that the youngster hasn’t “signed or agreed anywhere, or even made a decision yet”.

Melbourne offivials also denied the agreement had been signed.

But Telegraph journo Dean Ritchie said he believed it was a “done deal” even though it was yet to be signed but had been agreed upon.

Brisbane is still licking its wounds from seeing gun teenager Reece Walsh walk to the Warriors and Tom Dearden sign with North Queensland.

Between star forward David Fifita, Walker and Walsh — Coates is another indictment on the club’s recruitment group, made up of recruitment boss Peter Nolan, club legend Darren Lockyer and new chief executive Dave Donaghy.

Xavier Coates of the Broncos.

READ MORE: Jarryd Hayne’s final days of freedom

On the weekend, new Brisbane chief executive Dave Donaghy hit out at “vultures” stealing the club’s best young talent.

“My intent is to come in and work with the recruitment and retention team, I do have experience in that space,” Donaghy said on Monday.

“I’ve got a firm grasp on the salary cap, I understand how roster management works.

“There are also some challenges, and it’s not an excuse, some challenges in terms of our regulation and our governance among the game. There’s no reward for development.

“There’s the ability for vultures to swoop in and throw ridiculous amounts of money and steal your best talent.

Coates has played 23 games for the Broncos since making his NRL debut in 2019, and featured for Queensland in two matches of last year’s State of Origin triumph over the New South Wales Blues.