Storm flyer Grant Anderson is set to leave Melbourne at the end of next season to link up with the Brisbane Broncos it has been reported.
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Anderson enjoyed a breakout season in 2024 impressing when filling in for the injured Xavier Coates, scoring eight tries in 14 appearances.
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Other clubs noticed, including the Broncos, who has reportedly offered Anderson a deal from 2026 according to Code Sports.
It’s understood that the Storm won’t allow Anderson to leave his contract early to join the Broncos next season.
This news doesn’t bode particularly well for Selwyn Cobbo’s future at the Broncos.
Brisbane have two star outside backs in Kotoni Staggs and Cobbo off contract at the end of 2025, with it more likely that the Broncos keep Staggs.
Given the acquisition of Anderson, it’s hard to see the Broncos retain both Staggs and Cobbo, despite new coach Michael Maguire’s belief that they can.
Cobbo has reportedly garnered interest from at least three rival clubs.
TIGERS’ BID TO LOCK UP STAR PLAYMAKER
The Wests Tigers are reportedly in talks with boom playmaker Lachlan Galvin over a contract extension to tie him to the club long-term.
Galvin is contracted until the end of 2026 and is not eligible to negotiate with rivals until November 1 next year for 2027 and beyond.
But the Tigers don’t want to risk losing their star five-eighth, who has the potential to be a 10-year plus player for the Concord club.
Tigers CEO Shane Richardson revealed on Behind the Roar, that the club are currently in talks with Galvin to lock him up with a long-term contract extension.
“We’re working closely with Galvin, his family and his agent about extending him in the new year,” Richardson said on Behind The Roar.
The 19-year-old is set to earn $600,000 a season over the next two years, but given his development, he could command $800,000 plus on the open market from 2027 onwards.
Galvin scored four tries in 21 games for the Tigers in his rookie season after bursting onto the NRL scene in Round 1.
The skillful five-eighth finished 2024 as a member of the Prime Minsters team that beat Papua New Guinea prior to the Pacific Championships and is considered a rep player of the future for NSW and Australia.
The extension talks come six months after reports Galvin asked the club from a release, as the Tigers moved towards a third straight wooden spoon in 2024.
But Benji Marshall allayed fears Galvin wanted out of the Tigers and it now appears he could sign a long-term extension in the new year.
“(Galvin’s parents) made it clear that he wants to stay and he wants to be here and he’s with us, with our vision moving forward,” Marshall said at the time.
“That’s all that needs to be said. He’s going nowhere.”
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ROOSTERS RAKE’S FUTURE UP IN THE AIR
The future of Brandon Smith is up in air amid reports the Roosters will not re-sign him — and one rival club has already declared they won’t make a play for the star hooker.
Smith’s current contract will expire at the end of next season, meaning he has been a free agent since November 1 and can negotiate with rivals for 2026 and beyond.
The Roosters have indicated that they will not table an extension to the 28-year-old and according to multiple reports would even be open to him leaving before his contract ends if he can find a deal elsewhere.
One club who will not make a play for the Kiwi international though is the Canberra Raiders with CEO Don Furner telling The Canberra Times “no, we won’t be. No, we’re not interested,” when asked if he’ll respond to the email Smith’s manager sent to clubs to gauge interest.
The Raiders were looking to add another hooker to their top squad given they made a play for Warrington Wolves No.9 Danny Walker, according to The Canberra Times, but Smith isn’t what they’re looking for.
Smith is one of the most accomplished hookers in the game with 148 NRL games and 13 appearances for New Zealand. He also won the 2020 premiership with the Storm.
However he hasn’t played up to expectations since joining the Roosters in 2023 and is currently recovering from a knee reconstruction. He isn’t due back onto the field until the second half of next season, which means he’ll only have a few months to prove his worth if he hasn’t secured a new contract beforehand.
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COWBOYS STAR NOT GOING ANYWHERE
The Cowboys are doing all that they can to retain Reece Robson, tabling an extension to the hooker amid heavy interest from the Sydney Roosters in the North Queensland star.
Robson, who became a free agent on November 1, is on the record saying he wants to stay in Townsville and the Cowboys are just as keen to keep the Blues representative, with Code Sports reporting that North Queensland have offered Robson a new deal.
However, the Roosters are putting the pressure on, with the Tricolours reportedly keen to lure Robson back to his state of birth.
The Roosters have question marks at dummy-half, with the club reportedly ready to move on from Brandon Smith.
Smith is under contract for 2025, but the Roosters could allow him to leave a season early if another club is willing to take him on.
While the smart money says Robson is likely to stay put, if the Roosters do sign him for 2026, could the Cowboys look at Smith?
Smith spent a few of his teenage years in Townsville, playing 44 games in under 20’s for the Cowboys before signing a three-year deal with Melbourne.
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Robson, a Murwillumbah product, debuted for the Dragons in 2018, playing nine games for the Red V before making the move north.
He’s proved to be a revelation for North Queensland, improving with each season since joining the Cowboys in 2020 while establishing himself as one of the game’s best hookers.
His play earned him a maiden Blues jersey in 2023 with Robson starting at nine in all three games of New South Wales’ 2024 series win.
“I’d love to extend my time here. I love it up here in North Queensland and never want to leave the place,” Robson said to News Corp back in May.
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