Broncos give Tesi Niu permission to negotiate with rival clubs as Dolphins circle

Tesi Niu’s move down the fullback pecking order has him weighing up his options at the Broncos but could he be on the move to a brand new rival?

Adam Reynolds will captain the Broncos on his own next year. (Photo by Brendon Thorne/Getty Images)

Tesi Niu’s Broncos career is all but over after being given permission by Brisbane bosses to negotiate with rival NRL clubs.

News Corp can reveal Niu may have played his last game for the Broncos after his management sought permission to explore the open market immediately — a request authorised by Brisbane hierarchy.

The Tongan Test star was locked in a three-way battle for Brisbane’s fullback spot with Herbie Farnworth and marquee recruit Reece Walsh, who is tipped to win the Broncos’ No. 1 jumper next season.

Broncos coach Kevin Walters has told Walsh, Niu and Farnworth there is no standout, with the trio expected to audition for the fullback spot in pre-season.

Broncos fullback contender Tesi Niu playing for Tonga at the recent World Cup in England.

But the reality is the Broncos haven’t bought Warriors whizkid Walsh to languish in the Queensland Cup and with Niu seemingly facing an uphill battle, his management has contacted Brisbane asking for permission to explore their options.

The Broncos have granted that wish, ostensibly meaning Niu is the first domino to fall in the fierce battle for the Broncos’ No. 1 jumper.

Niu is contracted for another 12 months and the Broncos are happy to honour his deal for the 2023 season, but if the 21-year-old can secure a palatable move, he will be free to exit Red Hill immediately.

The development has opened the door for the Dolphins and Knights. Both clubs have been linked with Niu and Dolphins coach Wayne Bennett confirmed his interest in luring the speedy outside back to Redcliffe for their foundation season in the NRL in 2023.

“I didn’t realise Tesi had been given permission to negotiate with other clubs, but if he is available, yes we’re interested in him,” Bennett said.

Dolphins coach Wayne Bennett is interesting in signing Tesi Niu if he leaves the Broncos.

“I haven’t seen a lot of Tesi but what I have seen of him, I have liked.

“I didn’t know Brisbane were prepared to let him go but we’ll have a talk internally and make a decision on whether to sign him.

“There’s no deal done with Tesi, but he has something to offer and he is one guy we will look to talk to when the time is right.”

Niu entered last season as Brisbane’s first-choice fullback, only to miss the start of the 2022 premiership after breaking down at training with a hamstring injury.

And while he fought back to play 10 games, he lost the No. 1 jumper on a consistent basis to Te Maire Martin, who ignited Brisbane’s seven-game winning streak mid-year and finished the season in the backfield.

In 32 NRL games since his debut in 2020, Niu has shown he can be a matchwinner. He has scored a number of 70-metre runaway tries and just four months ago, Niu told News Corp he was ready to challenge Walsh for the No. 1 spot.

“I can’t wait for the competition,” he said in July.

“Reece is a good player, but if I have a good pre-season under my belt, hopefully I can stay at fullback.”

Broncos marquee recruit Reece Walsh is the frontrunner for the No. 1 jumper.

But Niu has had a change of heart. Just prior to his departure to England with Tonga’s World Cup squad, the Broncos fielded a request from Niu’s management to explore other opportunities.

The Dolphins still have five vacancies on their maiden 30-man full-time roster, while Newcastle could be on the lookout for a fullback if Queensland Origin ace Kalyn Ponga moves into the halves.

The nuggety Niu could also be a handy centre option for the Dolphins, who have signed Brenko Lee, Oliver Gildart, Valynce Te Whare and Euan Aitken as possible three quarters.

Broncos coach Kevin Walters insists Niu will be given every opportunity if he wants to remain at Red Hill to fight for the fullback spot.

“It’s always good to have competition for spots but I know they all can’t play first grade,” Walters said.

“Tesi has finished with the World Cup, he is having a break now and we will sit down when he comes back in the New Year and have a chat and see where he is at.

“Tesi certainly has talent. He can play in the halves as well as fullback and centre, so if he is prepared to work hard and wants to keep playing here, there will be opportunities for him.”

Walsh urged Niu not to quit the Broncos.

“I hope Tesi sticks around because he’s an awesome player and one of my good mates. I love being around him,” Walsh said.

“We haven’t played too much footy together yet but he’s an awesome player. I hope he doesn’t go.

“We’re going in the right direction. All of us young boys are pushing each other and trying to make each other better.

“I hope Tesi stays around long-term because we’ve got an awesome club here.

“We can do something special.”

THE DEAL WHICH KEEPS HIGH-FLYING BRONCO LOOKING OVER SHOULDER

Kobe Hetherington has turned up the heat on Origin and Test star Pat Carrigan in the battle for Brisbane’s No. 13 jumper after inking a new deal with the Broncos.

As revealed by News Corp, Hetherington has finalised a two-year extension and is locked into Brisbane until the end of 2025, sweet reward for a no-nonsense toiler who was named the Broncos’ rookie of the year in 2021.

But Hetherington is not resting on his laurels, with the son of Bulldogs great Jason setting a lofty goal over the new pre-season — dislodging Carrigan from the Broncos’ starting side.

It will be an onerous task.

Carrigan has enjoyed a dream 2022 season, winning the Wally Lewis Medal in his debut Queensland Origin campaign before claiming an Australian jumper that will see him play in Sunday morning’s World Cup final against Samoa.

Hetherington, however, does not want to spend his Broncos career on the bench and while he admires Carrigan’s rise to Origin and Test stardom, he believes he has the skill set to be Brisbane’s No. 1 lock.

“It’s a good challenge for the 13 jumper,” said Hetherington, who kicked off his 2023 pre-season this week.

Kobe Hetherington during Brisbane Broncos training from Red Hill. Picture: Zak Simmonds

“With every position, if you have someone in front of you, you want to get better, so I’m going to keep bettering myself and hopefully I can get that 13 role.

“Watching Patty at the moment, everyone wants to be where he is, that’s the pinnacle, playing for your country.

“No-one wants to sit on the bench in the NRL, so my goal is to get the 13 jersey, but if not I will keep working hard and do what I can for the team.”

Hetherington had interest from a number of NRL rivals, led by the Bulldogs, who have his twin brother Zac on their books, but the 23-year-old is determined to be a Bronco for life.

“I have been with the Broncos straight out of school so I couldn’t see myself going anywhere else,” Hetherington said of his new deal.

Pat Carrigan had a cracking opening game of the series for Queensland. Picture: NRL Imagery

“It is such a good club here. ‘Kevvie’ (coach Kevin Walters) looks after me and all the boys.

“I feel we are going in the right direction as a club, we just have to finish the season a bit better. There’s a great bunch of blokes here and we are going in the right direction.

“Dad is all about loyalty, but he wants me to pave my own path and make my own decisions. There was no peer pressure from dad (to sign with the Bulldogs).

“I love this club, I want to win a premiership here, so I will stay here until I do that.”

Hetherington has played 36 NRL games since his Broncos debut, impressing with his workrate, toughness and hitting power in defence.

Walters said the Queensland Origin hopeful had become a critical member of Brisbane’s top 17.

“It’s really good news Kobe is staying,” he said.

“I really love his attitude and his character around the place. He has made some big improvements to his game. He is still learning but he is a great team player.

“I see him as a 13. The lock position is changing from what it was a few years back, but Kobe has the right skills to play in that position.

“His technique and tackling is very good and he is really popular among the players, so he was an easy guy to re-sign.”

Walters makes call on Broncos captaincy

- Travis Meyn

Adam Reynolds has retained the Broncos’ sole captaincy for 2023 as coach Kevin Walters tipped Brisbane’s main man to have an even better season in his second year at Red Hill.

Walters will resist appointing Kangaroos star Pat Carrigan as a co-captain to Reynolds following the Maroons forward’s breakout 2022 campaign.

Carrigan has been tipped as a future skipper of the Broncos and took huge strides forward in his blossoming career this year.

The Brisbane product was awarded the Wally Lewis Medal as the best player in the State of Origin series after helping Queensland clinch a remarkable victory in his debut campaign.

Carrigan’s Origin efforts, and 14 NRL games for the Broncos, secured him a spot in Mal Meninga’s Kangaroos squad for the current World Cup in England, where he has played four Tests.

The only Broncos player in the Kangaroos squad, Carrigan is expected to come off the bench for Australia in Sunday morning’s final against Samoa at Old Trafford.

Adam Reynolds will captain the Broncos on his own next year. (Photo by Brendon Thorne/Getty Images)

A World Cup victory would cap off a remarkable season for the 24-year-old after playing just eight games in 2021 due to a serious knee injury.

Carrigan will then return to Brisbane for a break before reporting for pre-season training with the Broncos, who are looking to put last season’s disappointing finish behind them.

The emergence of Carrigan this year prompted speculation he could be promoted to a senior leadership role at the Broncos, with Kurt Capewell another potential co-captain.

But that will not be the case in the short-term, with Walters preferring a sole captaincy model as opposed to co-captains like some other clubs.

Reynolds, 32, produced a strong maiden season at the Broncos this year following his move from South Sydney, the club he played 231 games for and won the 2014 NRL premiership with.

Despite a limited pre-season due to injuries and Covid – which ruled him out of the round 1 blockbuster against his former club – Reynolds discovered some of the best form of his career to help Brisbane into top four contention.

Patrick Carrigan is rated a future Broncos captain, but will not be a co-captain in 2023. (Photo by Oli SCARFF / AFP)

The Broncos faded badly, losing five of their last six matches, to finish ninth and miss the finals.

But Walters believes Reynolds is shaping up to have an even better campaign next year after reporting for pre-season training this week.

Reynolds excelled in fitness testing on Monday and was given extra days off before he ramps up his training load from next week.

When he joined the club last year, Reynolds was coming off a grand final loss with Souths and didn’t begin training with the Broncos until later in the pre-season. He also missed all of Brisbane’s trial matches due to injury.

With more time under his belt this pre-season, Walters is tipping Reynolds to play an even bigger role when the Broncos chase their first finals appearance since 2019 next year.

Kevin Walters is tipping Adam Reynolds to have a big 2023. Picture: Jerad Williams

“Adam will be the captain – I am a fan of the single captain,” he said.

“It was all new for him last year moving up to the Broncos with his family. He didn’t start training with the group on a weekly basis until January.

“We get him back early this time which is a good treat for us heading into Christmas.

“We’ve got some good young halves here for him to help develop.”

While Reynolds will don Brisbane’s No. 7 jersey next year, Walters has options up his sleeve at five-eighth.

Ezra Mam showed promising signs in 13 games last year and is the frontrunner for the No. 6 while Tigers recruit Jock Madden is also keen on the role.

Originally published as Broncos give Tesi Niu permission to negotiate with rival clubs as Dolphins circle