Kotoni Staggs opens up on how he almost got sacked from Broncos
Brisbane star Kotoni Staggs has opened up on how he has gone from almost getting kicked out the door at the Broncos to being on the cusp of a new $2.4 million contract extension.
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Kotoni Staggs has opened up about his rise from wild child to Brisbane’s senior leader as the strike centre pledged to repay the Broncos for saving his career.
The off-contract Staggs is staying at Brisbane on a $2.4 million deal, verbally advising Brisbane bosses he has no plans to leave the club that stood by him in his darkest hours.
Staggs goes into Friday night’s clash against South Sydney at Accor Stadium as a free agent, but he is determined to be a Bronco for life to atone for the years he went off the rails.
In 2021, Staggs was on thin ice at the Broncos after two alcohol-fuelled off-field incidents.
Brisbane’s No.1 centre was hit with a $20,000 fine, a two-match ban and sent for a face-to-face meeting with NRL chief executive Andrew Abdo, who warned Staggs was one mistake away from the sack.
Now 26, Staggs has stayed out of trouble ever since and is keen to stay loyal to Brisbane in his quest to deliver the club’s first premiership since 2006.
“There were times where I didn’t do the right things outside of footy and it got me into some trouble,” he said ahead of the Souths clash in Sydney.
“I had a look at myself and I needed to take a good look at myself and see what I wanted to do, how I am looked at after footy is done and how I want people to judge me.
“I put everything aside to play good footy. I didn’t want to be in the media for the bad things but for the right things.
“I switched around, got into the leadership group here and I’ve wanted to show the younger boys what the right thing is to do and set the right example.”
This masthead can reveal the Broncos have tabled a three-year deal, worth around $800,000-a-season, that will make Staggs one of the highest paid centres in the code.
Staggs has not signed at this stage, but the Broncos are in the final stages of formalising a deal that will keep the NSW Origin hopeful at Red Hill until at least the end of 2028.
The parties have also discussed a four-year term, but Staggs will sign on for at least three seasons as he looks to repay Brisbane’s faith with a drought-breaking premiership.
The value of the new deal underscores Staggs’ career metamorphosis from one-time problem child to senior Bronco who is now a member of the club’s leadership group
A veteran of 127 games, Staggs has fielded interest from a number on NRL rivals, but the Broncos have prevailed in a bidding war.
Staggs’ upgrade will see him join Bulldogs captain Stephen Crichton ($850,000) and former Broncos teammate Herbie Farnworth, now at the Dolphins on $850,000 annually, as the code’s highest-paid centres.
The Kangaroos and Tongan Test representative will be approaching 30 when his Brisbane extension expires and says he hopes to finish his career at the Broncos.
“I have just left that (his new contract) in my management’s hands,” he said.
“They are sorting that out and I will continue playing footy with the Broncs.
“Hopefully it just gets sorted soon and we can get on with it. For now I have got to keep doing what I am doing.
“I’ve always wanted to be at this club as a young kid and I’ve been here for almost eight years now.
“I love the club and it has done a lot for me and helped me along my path and journey inside and outside of footy.
“I don’t see myself being anywhere else.”
Staggs played his one and only game for NSW in 2022 and is hoping to be in the Origin conversation after a strong start to the 2025 premiership.
“There are some good centres and I would love to be back in there,” he said.
“We will see what happens selections time.
“If I am not there for Game One I will try my hardest to get there for Game Two.
“I will stick to playing consistent footy and good footy for the club and you never know what happens.”
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