It looks like Kobe Hetherington and Corey Oates may not be at Red Hill next year, with Hetherington granted permission to talk to rival clubs while Oates is yet to be offered a new deal.
Hetherington’s manager Chris Haddad confirmed to AAP that five NRL teams have shown interest in the 25-year-old, with the Wests Tigers revealed to be one of the clubs.
Haddad clarified Hetherington’s desire to leave has nothing to do with Brisbane’s struggles on the field or coach Kevin Walters, instead stressing it is instead a case of believing he deserves a starting spot.
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“The Broncos don’t want to lose him and if they had a starting spot for him he would stay,” Haddad said, describing Hetherington as an “80-minute player” and “potential Origin player”.
Haddad said that while the Broncos have given Hetherington permission to speak with rival clubs, they also want a “suitable replacement” for him.
Hetherington is contracted at Red Hill until the end of 2025. Elsewhere, Oates also looks set to leave the Broncos after revealing he is yet to receive a contract extension.
“The club’s sort of, they haven’t come forward with an offer yet and they’ve said they probably won’t,” Oates, who is off-contract at the end of this year, told Robin & Kip on KIIS 97.3 on Tuesday morning.
“I’m still hopeful. I can change peoples’ minds pretty easily.
“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 and see what they can do.
“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 said his dream scenario is to stay put with the Broncos but added he would be open to a move.
“I’ve always said no, but you can never say no, depending on what the offer is,” he added.
“It’s about the family and kids. When you’re young it’s always about you, then you get older and get married and have kids and life changes.”
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STICKING POINT IN DOLPHINS’ BID FOR KNIGHTS FORWARD
Talks between the Dolphins and unwanted Knights forward Daniel Saifiti have stalled over his asking price with the Queensland club unwilling to match his Newcastle salary.
Newscorp reported the Dolphins have baulked at Saifiti’s price tag and the former Origin forward is unwilling to take a pay cut to leave the Knights early.
Saifiti is contracted to the Knights until the end of 2026 on a deal worth a reported $800,000 a season.
The Knights are keen to offload Saifiti in a bid to balance their books amid salary cap pressure.
As it stands Newcastle would be required to chip in a chunk of Saifiti’s salary over the next two seasons, with the Dolphins unable to match his current deal.
It is understood that if the Dolphins don’t up their offer, Saifiti will opt to remain at Newcastle and see out his deal.
Saifiti was previously linked to the Dragons, before talks stalled there over his hefty salary demands.
The 28-year-old has scored 19 tries in 181 games for the Knights since his debut in 2016, but has been benched in favour of his brother Jacob in recent times.
The former Blues big man played the last of his seven Origins for NSW back in 2021.
Speaking about his future last week Saifiti was adamant he would not take a pay cut to leave for another team and his preference is to remain at the Knights.
“If the club think I am taking a pay cut to go somewhere else, it’s not happening,” Saifiti told AAP.
“At the end of the day, the ball is in my court, and I can do what I want.”
Dogs remain confident despite Manly loss | 03:03
ROOSTERS SET TO HONOUR WALKER EXTENSION OFFER
The Roosters will reportedly honour their two year extension offer to star halfback Sam Walker, despite his long-term recovery from an ACL injury that cut short his 2024 season.
The Daily Telegraph reported the Roosters are set to stand by their $1.8 million two year extension offer, despite the fact Walker will miss a large chunk of the 2025 campaign.
Walker is already signed until the end of the 2025 campaign, but is free to negotiate with NRL rivals for 2026 and beyond.
Walker is yet to accept the extension offer, but the club has no plans to take it off the table despite his lengthy injury lay-off.
The halfback has been a key reason for the Roosters stunning season in attack, which is the best in the NRL, contributing 21 try assists and 16 line break assists in 21 games this season.
The Roosters confirmed on Monday afternoon that Walker had ruptured his left ACL and would undergo reconstructive surgery later this week, meaning he will be sidelined for the opening months of next season.
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Walker has been previously linked with a return home to Brisbane to play for the Broncos, but has repeatedly stated his desire to remain with the Roosters long-term.
The 22-year-old has scored 25 tries and 222 goals for a total of 550 points in 77 NRL games for the Roosters since his debut in 2021.
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ELLIOTT ONE OF FOUR KNIGHTS SHOWN THE DOOR
Knights lock Adam Elliott is reportedly one of four Knights players who have been tapped on the shoulder after the 2024 season.
The Sydney Morning Herald’s Adrian Proszenko reported on SEN radio that Elliott has been linked with an early exit from the Knights joining three other stars.
“A stack of players have been tapped on the shoulder and they include the likes of Daniel Saifiti, Jayden Brailey, Adam Elliott and Jack Hetherington,” the Herald’s Adrian Proszenko said on SEN 1170 Crunch Time.
“Daniel Saifiti’s been on the market for six weeks or something, and no one’s picked him up as yet, and at the same time, there are other props that are available as well.”
Elliott is signed until the end of the 2025 season, but the Knights are willing to let him go early if he can secure a deal elsewhere next season.
Elliott joined the Knights from the Raiders in 2023 and has scored three tries in 39 games for the club.
The 29-year-old has scored 16 tries in 164 NRL games since his debut for the Bulldogs back in 2016.
His wife, NRLW star Millie Boyle won a premiership for the Knights before switching to the Sydney Roosters.
It remains to be seen which clubs would be interested in Elliott if a return to Sydney is in his sights, but a reunion with the Bulldogs could be an option to bolster their forward depth.
Broncos players deny rumoured rift | 01:32
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