Selwyn Cobbo could be forced out of Broncos as Kotoni Staggs set to sign $2 million deal

The Broncos appear set to lose a star player in the wake of several blockbusters deals which have left little space in the cap.

Broncos centre Kotoni Staggs is reportedly close to agreeing a new $2 million deal to stay at Red Hill, but it is a move that could push fellow strike centre Selwyn Cobbo out of the club.

Staggs and Brisbane are understood to be about to agree a three-year deal worth around $2 million, with the announcement to come as early as before Round 1.

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It comes after the centre was elevated to the club’s leadership group in the off-season after impressing new coach Michael Maguire.

Staggs addressed his future at the Deadly Choices season launch in Brisbane on Thursday, where he revealed he had no intention of joining a rival club.

“As a young kid this is where I wanted to be and I couldn’t see myself anywhere else,” Staggs said, according to AAP.

Kotoni Staggs is set to sign a new deal to remain at the Broncos.

“I have just got to play good footy this year and perform well.

“My footy will do the talking and I have good people behind me who will do the talking as well. I will leave it in their hands.

“I love the club and have been signed at the club for 11 years. I’ve played first grade for eight. It means a lot to me. I am comfortable here.”

But Staggs’ signing will only add to Brisbane’s salary cap squeeze, with Cobbo likely the man to be pushed out.

Kotoni Staggs’ deal could mean Selwyn Cobbo (right) is pushed out. (Photo by Matt King/Getty Images)

At the end of last year, the Broncos rewarded superstar fullback Reece Walsh with a staggering $4.4 million extension.

They also signed Ben Hunt to a $550,000-a-year deal and Staggs is reportedly set to earn a pay increase to around $700,000 a season.

In recent years the club has also handed out several multimillion-dollar contract upgrades to the likes of Ezra Mam, Payne Haas and vice-captain Pat Carrigan.

And it means something has to give at Red Hill sooner rather than later.

Brisbane Broncos player Selwyn Cobbo has been putting in the hard yards ahead of the 2025 season.

Brisbane’s salary cap had very little wiggle room last year, with the club reportedly having just $150,000 left before the June 30 transfer cut-off, according to The Courier Mail. 

And while the Broncos are understood to be under the salary cap for this year due to Walsh’s new salary increase not coming into effect until 2026, next year they will likely need to let several players go.

Away from even the likes of Walsh, Hunt, Haas and Carrigan, Brisbane skipper Adam Reynolds is also on $550,000 a year, Mam commands $750,000 a season, hooker Billy Walters collects $300,000 a year and even the likes of backup hooker Cory Paix ($300,000) and Kobe Hetherington ($400,000) don’t come cheap.

Michael Maguire has a lot of decisions to make. Picture: David Martinelli

While Cobbo - who is off contract at the end of this year - is on around $650,000 a season and is expected to be able to command at least $200,000 more a year at another club.

But even if he was willing to remain on his current salary to stay at Red Hill, the Broncos would need to free up more than $1 million of cap space to make it happen.

It is also understood Cobbo would ideally want to play fullback, something unlikely to happen anytime at the Broncos with Walsh at the club, which is another carrot a rival club can dangle in front of the Queenslander.

Selwyn Cobbo returned to pre-season training in December. Photo Steve Pohlner

The most likely outcome is that Cobbo leaves at the end of 2025, but even if that happens more space will still need to be freed up.

It means the Broncos will look vastly different come 2026, with their premiership window potentially just a single season.

Of Brisbane’s top 30, who are all on full-time deals, half of them are off-contract at the end of 2025.

And many of those under contract will likely demand improved offers to stay at Red Hill.

So come the end of this season, Maguire will have several tough calls to make.

Originally published as Selwyn Cobbo could be forced out of Broncos as Kotoni Staggs set to sign $2 million deal