NRL 2024: Tristan Sailor reveals why he quit the Brisbane Broncos

As Tristan Sailor prepares to extend his Red Hill stay well into September, the Super League-bound fullback reveals why he walked away from his father’s former club.

Tristan Sailor. Picture: Matt Roberts/Getty Images

Reece Walsh’s understudy Tristan Sailor is determined to deliver a parting gift by helping embattled Brisbane to the finals before his move to the English Super League.

Sailor has signed a two-year deal with St Helens and underlined why he can be a Super League star in 2025 after producing an epic 60-metre solo try to keep Brisbane’s finals hopes alive against Parramatta last week.

Now, with Walsh sidelined for at least another week with a hand injury, the Broncos are banking on Sailor to unleash more magic in Saturday night’s Battle of Brisbane against the Dolphins at Suncorp Stadium.

It will be Riverfire night in Brisbane and Saints-bound Sailor would love nothing more than a man-of-the-match display to watch the Dolphins’ season go up in flames and edge the Broncos closer to the finals.

“100 per cent, I think that (getting Brisbane to the playoffs) is definitely our goal and for me, personally, I’d love to be able to help the boys do that,” Sailor said.

“To know that we’re still a chance ... if we win the last two games of the year and hope results fall our way, then I think we can be a real chance in the finals if we play like we did in that last 60 (minutes against the Eels).

“That was Broncos footy and we’ve just got to take that into this week.

“We want to get all the wins we can and to do that (end the Dolphins’ season) would be awesome.

“In the past, our style of footy has worked for us against Dolphins so hopefully we can duplicate that.”

Sailor was contracted to the Broncos for another 12 months but Brisbane coach Kevin Walters couldn’t stand in his way for a second time after rejecting an initial transfer bid from Leigh Leopards in pre-season.

Sailor’s 2024 campaign has mirrored that of Brisbane’s. He has been patchy in his 10 appearances this year and underwent ankle surgery in May, but rammed home his talent with a sublime display against the Eels that included 182 metres, four tackle busts, two line breaks and a try assist.

Tristan Sailor. Picture: Matt Roberts/Getty Images

The 26-year-old will forever be indebted to the Broncos for their lifeline last year after he was axed by the Dragons following an off-field drama, but Sailor was struggling to break through at Red Hill.

He accepted the reality. Reece Walsh is Brisbane’s superstar fullback. He will be for the next decade. The move to St Helens gives Sailor a chance to be his own man.

“I’m super excited for that,” Sailor said of his impending move to England.

“I sort of had that plan to go over there one day, it’s always been something I’ve wanted to do.

“I absolutely love the Broncos, but roster wise I think the best thing for me was to go over there and do my thing.

“I’ve got a couple of good mates there. (Former Dragons teammates) Adam Clune (Huddersfield) and Jai Field (Wigan) are loving it over there, so I’ll go live in Manchester, hang out with them and hopefully really enjoy my footy and enjoy living in another country.”

Sailor will wage a mouth-watering fullback battle with Dolphins speedster Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow this week and is enjoying the responsibility of calling attacking plays stepping up for Walsh.

He said the Broncos find extra motivation against the Dolphins, buoyed by the memory of Kotoni Staggs’ match-winner in the inaugural Battle of Brisbane last year before the centre roared: “This is our f***ing home”.

“I’m just doing what I’m good at and having ‘Reyno’ (halfback Adam Reynolds) steering the ship around really helps,” Sailor said.

“Obviously there’s even more added pressure with us being on the brink of sliding into that top eight, so we’ve got to play consistently good for the rest of the year and do everything we can to put ourselves in that good position.

“’Tones’ (Staggs) really laid the platform of what this rivalry is all about. I guess this week there’s that extra element of us both battling for the eight so I think it’s going to be an even bigger game.

“For Tones to cement that, it has set a good rivalry for this year and years to come.”