NRL 2024: Corey Oates set to be forced into retirement after Broncos contract snub
One of the Broncos’ greatest tryscorers is set to play his final NRL game after the club indicated they would not be offering him a contract extension.
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Broncos fan favourite Corey Oates is set to be forced into retirement following Brisbane’s shocking NRL premiership failure.
Oates is expected to become collateral damage as the Broncos shake up Red Hill after missing this year’s finals series.
Oates, 29, has scored 121 tries in 215 games for the Broncos since debuting for the club in 2013 and become one of Brisbane’s most popular players.
But he is expected to reluctantly farewell the club after the Broncos indicated they would not be offering him a contract extension.
Oates had delayed contract talks until season’s end, but after falling down the pecking order it has become clear he is not in Brisbane’s future plans.
An injury to Selwyn Cobbo is set to deliver Oates a farewell game when the Broncos face Melbourne on Thursday night at Suncorp Stadium in their final match of the season.
Oates told Brisbane’s Robin & Kip on KIIS 97.3 on Tuesday morning that the Broncos had indicated they would not offer him a new deal.
“The club’s sort of, they haven’t come forward with an offer yet and they’ve said they probably won’t,” he said.
“I’m still hopeful I can change peoples’ minds pretty easily.
“I’ve got to go out there and perform the way I know I can, and hopefully give me that…one more roll of the dice left and see what they can do.
“I’d love to do as much as I can for that club and be part of it.
“There are really good players there and it’s a really good culture in the playing group. There’s a lot of positive things ahead.
“It would be nice to be offered one more year with the club.”
It has been a challenging end to Oates’ career, with numerous injuries hampering the former Queensland Origin flyer’s past two seasons.
He produced a career-best campaign in 2022, scoring 20 tries in 22 games, but didn’t score in just nine appearances in 2023.
Oates has fallen behind the likes of Deine Mariner, Jesse Arthars, Josiah Karapani and Cobbo in the wing pecking order this year, but was keen to play on at Red Hill in 2025.
However the decision is set to be taken out of his hands, with the Broncos unwilling to extend his career at this stage.
Oates, who will walk into an off-field job with the Broncos, said he was reluctant to switch NRL clubs but didn’t rule out a move.
“I’ve always said no, but you can never say no, depending on what the offer is,” he said.
“It’s about the family and kids. When you’re young it’s always about you, then you get older and get married and have kids and life changes.
“The reason why you do life changes. The people in your life change the reason why you make your decisions. It’s not just me I’m playing for any more.”
After reaching last year’s NRL grand final, the Broncos have imploded this season and could finish as low as 12th on the ladder.
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