England rugby star Ben Te’o an NRL target

Former England rugby union star Ben Te’o has emerged as a priority target for NRL clubs

Ben Te'o talks to coach Eddie Jones during an England rugby team training session

Brisbane Broncos have emerged as the early favourites to re-sign England rugby star Ben Te’o should the shutdown of Super Rugby prompt him to seek a return to the NRL.

Te’o spent four years at the Broncos before moving to South Sydney, where he capped his time at the Rabbitohs by helping the club to its first premiership in more than 40 years.

He subsequently departed for rugby union, enjoying a successful career overseas that reached its climax when he was selected in the England team under Eddie Jones.

After stints at Leinster, Worcester and Toulon, he linked with Japanese Super Rugby side the Sunwolves, but was restricted to only a handful of games after rugby union was shut down by COVID-19.

Te’o has been spending his time back in Brisbane and while there has been talk about Quade Cooper trying his hand at rugby league, The Australian understands that Te’o would consider a return to the NRL if the Sunwolves were forced to draw the curtain on their season due to coronavirus.

That has prompted interest from a number of NRL clubs. The Broncos were tight-lipped on whether Te’o had come on their radar but they seem a logical destination given his history with the club and the fact he owns a home in Brisbane.

There would be hurdles to jump. The Broncos, like most clubs, are currently operating under an NRL edict that new or revised contracts will not be registered for the foreseeable future.

Clubs can take up options they have with players — the prime example of that is South Sydney and the situation with Latrell Mitchell — but fresh deals will not be registered by the NRL given the uncertainty that surrounds the salary cap for next season.