Corey Oates has played his last game for the Brisbane Broncos

Red Hill cult hero Corey Oates’ time with the Brisbane Broncos has come to an end with the Biloela product set to be formally honoured at the annual club ball on Thursday night.

Corey Oates’ career at the Broncos is over.

This masthead can reveal Oates has played his last game for Brisbane with the Broncos advising the club legend he will not be handed a new deal for the 2025 season.

Oates, who turns 30 on Sunday week, played in the final round against Melbourne last month at Suncorp Stadium, but there was no official presentation, suggesting the veteran winger could soldier on next year.

But Oates will not be seen again in action for the Broncos. His current Brisbane contract expires on November 1 and Oates has failed to secure a 12-month extension to suit up for a 13th consecutive campaign in the new Michael Maguire era in 2025.

The Biloela product is expected to be formally honoured at the annual Broncos ball on Thursday night.

Fan favourite Corey Oates taking selfies with fans after Brisbane Broncos training. Picture: Liam Kidston

Oates scored 121 tries for the Broncos. Picture: Mark Evans

It’s unknown if the former Queensland Origin winger has plans to sign with another NRL club but Oates is said to be weighing up retirement to possibly take up an ambassador’s role for the Broncos.

One of the club’s most popular players, Oates was the sole survivor of Brisbane’s 2015 grand-final team.

With his hulking frame, the rangy winger proved one of the NRL’s most accomplished finishers, scoring 121 tries from 216 appearances for the Broncos.

Oates finished third on Brisbane’s all-time tryscoring list behind only Steve Renouf (142) and Darren Lockyer (122), surpassing wing legends Michael Hancock (120) and Wendell Sailor (110) to underline his contribution to the Broncos.

At 29, Oates was hoping to secure a new deal, but he faced an uphill battle after an injury-plagued period that saw him play just 24 games in the past two seasons.

A well-built specimen at 192cm and 105kg, Oates featured in three Origin series for Queensland, playing nine games for the Maroons between 2016-22.

Oates crosses the line to score a try for the Queensland Maroons in 2017. (Picture: AAP Image/Dan Peled

Oates was handed his NRL debut by former coach Anthony Griffin in 2013 and proved an instant success, winning the club’s rookie of the year award.

In 2022, Oates scored 20 tries from 22 games, becoming just the sixth Bronco in history to post 20 four-pointers in a season, joining Darren Smith (23), Steve Renouf (23), Lote Tuqiri (21), Selwyn Cobbo (20) and Israel Folau (20).

On the eve of Brisbane’s last-round clash against the Storm, Oates appealed for the Broncos to give him another deal for next season.

“I’m still hopeful I can change peoples’ minds pretty easily,” he said.

“I’ve got to go out there and perform the way I know I can, and hopefully give me that…one more roll of the dice left and see what they can do.

Corey Oates training with the Broncos in 2012. Picture: Nathan Richter

“I’d love to do as much as I can for that club and be part of it.

“There are really good players there and it’s a really good culture in the playing group.

“There’s a lot of positive things ahead. It would be nice to be offered one more year with the club.”

Oates was linked with a move to the English Super League, but the fan favourite was reluctant to move his young family overseas.

“It’s about the family and kids,” he said.

“When you’re young it’s always about you, then you get older and get married and have kids and life changes.

“The people in your life change the reason why you make your decisions. It’s not just me I’m playing for any more.”

Super coach Wayne Bennett considered offering Oates a deal with the Dolphins for their 2023 foundation year, but Redcliffe won’t be making a fresh play for the son-in-law of Queensland legend Gene Miles.

Originally published as Corey Oates has played his last game for the Brisbane Broncos