NRL 2025: Brisbane Broncos unearth rising star Phillip Coates, brother of Storm winger Xavier

The Broncos Academy has produced a generation of current NRL stars, and if the acrobatics of his brother are anything to go by, they may have just found another star of the future.

The Broncos Academy has unearthed young flyer, the brother of Storm star Xavier Coates, Philip. Picture: Regi Varghese

The Broncos Academy has unearthed another young gun with Brisbane grooming the brother of Queensland Origin star Xavier Coates for an NRL career at Red Hill.

Phillip Coates is a member of Brisbane’s much-vaunted talent factory and it appears only a matter of time before the teenage sensation emulates his brother by making waves in the NRL.

The well-oiled Broncos Academy has produced a generation of NRL stars, including Payne Haas, Pat Carrigan, Kotoni Staggs, Ezra Mam, Selwyn Cobbo, Herbie Farnworth and fullback golden boy Reece Walsh.

Now Broncos scouts have high hopes for Coates, who has spent recent weeks doing Academy drills alongside the senior squad at Red Hill with a view to being promoted to NRL training next year.

The Broncos Academy has unearthed young flyer, the brother of Storm star Xavier Coates, Philip. Picture: Regi Varghese

Xavier, 23, made his top-grade debut for the Broncos in 2019, playing 32 games for the club before moving in 2022 to the Storm, where he has been a revelation, scoring 42 tries from 54 matches.

Philip has proved a damaging finisher for Souths Logan and Burleigh in the Mal Meninga Cup and Broncos recruitment chief Simon Scanlan says the 18-year-old has a promising NRL future.

“Phil has a naturally big athletic frame like his brother,” Scanlan said.

“He is a really good person and who is at the start of his rugby league journey.

“He can play both centre and wing.

“He’s had a couple of injuries in recent times so he has been working hard with our staff to rehabilitate them.

“We are preparing Phil through the Academy to get him ready for the rigours of NRL training in the near future.”

If the acrobatics of Xavier are anything to go by, Philip Coates could be a star of teh future. Picture: Getty Images

Xavier made his senior representative debut for Papua New Guinea in 2019 and Philip is following the same path, turning out for the Junior Kumuls against Australia last month.

For the younger Coates, the clash in Port Moresby was a moving experience, giving the backline ace the chance to reunite with his mother’s family members.

“Coming back home after 13 years and seeing my family welcoming me at the airport was pretty emotional,” he told PNG media in October.

“I last saw them back in 2011 when I was five years old. To get the call-up and finally getting back to my home country and most importantly to play for the national junior side is a great opportunity for me.”

Scanlan said the Currumbin Eagles flyer is on track to be promoted to train with Brisbane’s NRL squad if he has a bumper season next year.

“Phil gained some valuable experience playing for the Junior PNG side recently against Australia,” he said.

“We knew of him coming through because he was Xavier’s younger brother.

“Like every young kid, he has things he has to work on and improve and it’s a big jump from junior football to senior football.

“NRL training is another level again.

“We are helping Phil work through those levels to give him the best chance to train with the NRL squad at the end of 2025.”

Originally published as NRL 2025: Brisbane Broncos unearth rising star Phillip Coates, brother of Storm winger Xavier