Brisbane are facing a fight to keep Staggs and Flegler

The Brisbane Broncos are facing a fight to keep Kotoni Staggs and Thomas Flegler as rival clubs circle the pair.

Kotoni Staggs is tipped to play a utility role for the NSW in the upcoming Origin series Picture: NRL

Rival clubs have begun actively circling Brisbane centre Kotoni Staggs and young prop Thomas Flegler’s value is being tested across the NRL as the Broncos face mounting pressure to keep key members of their squad together in preparation for the arrival of a new coach.

Staggs, who is about to enter the final year of his contract, is on the radar of at least two interstate clubs and the number is likely to grow rapidly should he hit the open market on November 1.

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His value could also be affected should he play State of Origin later this year. Staggs is believed to be a player of immense interest to NSW coach Brad Fittler and is considered a near certainty to be included in an expanded 27-man Blues squad for the series.

Jack Wighton and Tom Trbojevic are likely to be the starting centres pending fitness but Trbojevic in particular will enter the Origin series under a cloud given the hamstring problems that have sidelined him for much of the season.

As a result, Fittler will need to take at least one and possible two back-up centres into camp. Staggs is at the front of the queue, having been outstanding for the battered Broncos this year.

Brisbane officials have made Staggs’ retention a priority but The Australian understands that he is prepared to go to market on November 1 to test his value – he comes off contract at the end of next season and is therefore free to receive formal offers once he enters the final year of his deal.

Canberra back Nick Cotric recently signed a three-year-deal with Canterbury believed to be worth $1.95m, that agreement giving Staggs an indication of his potential value at rival clubs.

Origin would no doubt help his cause when it comes to dollars and NSW assistant coach Greg Alexander confirmed Staggs was well and truly in the mix.

“It is not just this year that Kotoni has come on the radar,” Alexander said. “He was part of our emerging Blues squad last year. Freddie (Fittler) and Bedsy (Danny Buderus) know him better than I do.

“They saw him come through the pathways. He has been on the radar for a long time now. A lot of these kids that I am seeing now, Freddie and Bedsy have had a lot to do with them since they came through under 16s and 18s.

“I have been listening to them talk to me about these kids. Some handle first grade, some don’t. Kotoni certainly has.

“He is a beauty. There are a number of blokes that don’t just specialise in one position. With Kotoni, it wouldn’t be a stretch to put him at No 14 and he could come on at edge back row.

“You could throw him in the middle with his power. He would be dynamite for short periods. Even though has only played centre, he could do a job for you because he is so powerful and so quick.”

The Broncos are expected to make some significant roster changes once a new coach is in place. Brisbane won’t stand in Jack Bird’s way if he finds a club in Sydney while St George Illawarra are weighing up a move for Joe Ofahengaue.

Regardless, the Broncos have Bird and Anthony Milford coming off contract at the end of 2021 and combined the pair are on deals worth close to $2 million.

The Broncos will have the money to retain Staggs, although they also need to extend the deals of young half Thomas Dearden and flying winger Xavier Coates.

Flegler is a priority as well, although his future at Brisbane could depend on the sort of interest he attracts elsewhere. Like Staggs, he is likely to be part of the Origin series as a member of the extended Queensland squad and the Broncos have no plans to let him go.