Broncos have a cap crisis. A $600k dilemma and Bears bidding frenzy could force these stars out

With the Broncos unlikely to sign Adam Reynolds for much less than $600,000 next season, they’re set for an almighty salary cap squeeze, with a stunning $5.78 million tied up in just seven players in 2025.

Star fullback Reece Walsh has already signed a four-year, $5 million extension with the Broncos, keeping him at the club until the end of the 2029 season.

Five-eighth Ezra Mam is on a $750,000-a-year contract until the end of 2029.

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And with superstar prop Payne Haas already on a reported $1.1 million salary until the end of 2026, he may become the richest paid forward in the game’s history on his next contract, and the Perth Bears, who conveniently enter the competition in 2027, may already be preparing a bid for the 25-year-old.

As for Reynolds, it’s hard to see the Broncos being allowed to pay him only a $300,000 salary next season, as has been reported.

As The Daily Telegraph’s David Riccio explained on NRL360 this week, that would only be the case if no other clubs put in a bid for him.

“He will only be allowed to stay at the Broncos, let’s call it for around $300,000, if there is no other suitor in the game,” Riccio said.

Fox League’s James Hooper added that the NRL won’t stomach a $300,000 salary for Reynolds if other clubs come knocking on the door.

“If somebody else like a Wests Tigers comes in and offers $800,000 a season, which is probably about what Adam Reynolds is worth, that then is going to make it hard for the Broncos, because the NRL won’t cop a $300,000 contract for Adam Reynolds,” Hooper said.

Hooper later said he believes the Broncos may have to pay double that to satisfy the NRL.

“I reckon it’ll land at about $550,000 to $600,000 on the cap, I think everybody would accept that,” Hooper said.

HOW WILL THE BRONCOS FIT ALL THEIR STARS IN?

Should the Broncos be made to up their offer to Reynolds, then the club will be under serious salary cap pressure and may need to shed other stars or accept losing at least one big name free agent.

Kotoni Staggs, on a reported $700,000 this season, and Selwyn Cobbo, on a reported $625,000, are among those who come off contract at the end of 2025.

Riccio declared that Staggs is a done deal to stay, but wasn’t so sure about Cobbo.

“Staggs is all but done, the ink is just about to dry on the paper. But it’s Cobbo, Cobbo is the worry,” Riccio said.

Then there’s Payne Haas, who is off contract at the end of 2026, and is free to negotiate with rival clubs from November 1 this year.

“They don’t want him (Haas) moving anywhere,” Hooper said.

But Riccio pointed out that the Broncos will have trouble keeping Haas on their books, especially with the Perth Bears to entering the fold in 2027.

“But his price is only going up. So it’s only going to become harder to keep him,” Riccio said of Haas.

“You throw in Perth, new franchise.”

Adding to the salary cap headaches for the Broncos, are Pat Carrigan, who is on $800,000 a year until the end of 2028, and Ben Hunt on $550,000 a year until the end of 2026.

Riccio and Hooper agreed the Broncos can’t possibly keep all their star players.

“I just can’t see how they don’t lose a player. Cobbo, (Ezra) Mam, Reynolds, (Pat) Carrigan, Payne Haas, Kotoni Staggs, Ben Hunt,” Riccio said.

Hooper agreed with Riccio’s assessment.

“It’ll be more than one player. I’d suggest it could be up to as many as three,” Hooper said.

Former coach Kevin Walters felt the club simply had to hold onto Reynolds.

“Certainly Adam Reynolds will be hard one to let go,” Walters told news.com.au.

“I mean, he’s probably been in their top two or three players every week this season to date. I know that Adam’s keen to stay on. I’m sure they could come to some sort of agreement there with Adam.”

$5.78M TIED UP IN JUST SEVEN PLAYERS