Bulldogs ready to swoop on cap-strapped Broncos

The Bulldogs have reached out to the embattled Broncos and indicated they are willing to take some players off their hands.

Brisbane coach Anthony Seibold talks to his captain Alex Glenn. Picture: Annette Dew

Canterbury have tried and failed to sign some of Brisbane’s biggest names over the past 12 months and they aren’t ready to wave the white flag just yet, having emerged as a potential solution to the Broncos’ tight salary cap ahead of their crucial meeting at Suncorp Stadium on Saturday night.

The future of the respective coaches is likely to be the subject of most discussion this week, but behind the scenes the two clubs have been engaged in a tug of war over players for more than a year. The Bulldogs have tabled offers to Patrick Carrigan, Thomas Flegler and Jake Turpin in the past 12 months, only to watch the trio sign contract extensions to stay at the Broncos.

Their most significant move of all was to pursue boom backrower David Fifita, having made contact with the 20-year-old as recently as March in an attempt to prise him out of the Broncos. Much of the negotiation has had to be done by phone given the strict biosecurity protocols surrounding Fifita and his Brisbane teammates.

Anthony Milford arrives at Broncos HQ on Monday. Picture: Peter Wallis

That hasn’t stopped the Bulldogs chiming in with an offer that would make Fifita the highest-paid forward in the game. For all their digging around Brisbane, the Bulldogs are yet to strike gold.

Fifita has indicated he will stay in southeast Queensland, the most likely scenario that he will sign a one-year extension with the Broncos, although the Gold Coast haven’t given up hope of convincing him to accept their million-dollar offer.

If Fifita does remain at the Broncos, it will only intensify the pressure on Brisbane’s cap and the Bulldogs are lying in wait with a $3m war chest, having made subtle inquiries in recent days about the prospect of signing any players to help their own cause and aid Brisbane through their current plight.

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The likes of Corey Oates and Jamayne Isaako could be squeezed out of Brisbane as the club does their level best to hold onto young stars Tesi Niu and Herbie Farnworth, who are both off contract at the end of the year.

The Broncos also have Tom Dearden, Flegler, Kotoni Staggs, Turpin and Xavier Coates off contract in another 12 months. All will most likely demand healthy upgrades on their existing deals. Something has to give.

Factor in Anthony Milford and Jack Bird, who are both off contract at the end of 2021, and the Broncos have some decisions to make.

Brisbane’s Jack Bird could be cut loose at the end of next year. Picture: Liam Kidston

Milford and Bird could both be cut loose at the end of next year, it not sooner – Bird has already been shopped to rivals, although it is understood it has not been by Brisbane.

The Broncos are unlikely to stand in his way should he attract interest from Sydney, although any decision to allow him to leave is likely to be contingent on how much money Brisbane would be asked to contribute to his next deal.

The contact between officials at Brisbane and the Bulldogs adds a level of intrigue to Saturday night’s game, although the overriding focus is likely to fall on the two coaches.

The Bulldogs are getting ready to make a call on Dean Pay’s future and it would be a major shock if he was given a contract extension.

The more likely scenario will be that Pay is told his contract will not be renewed at the end of the year, the club finally willing to make a call amid pressure from supporters and powerful members of the leagues club.

Pay has been hampered by the Bulldogs’ own salary cap issues but his 34 per cent win record has left him vulnerable – the club has won only 19 games in his three years in charge and head into Saturday’s match in last spot.

England coach Shaun Wane is among the early contenders to replace Pay, although he has also put his hand up to take over at the Warriors. The Bulldogs are unlikely to pursue seven-time premiership winner Wayne Bennett despite a push from within.