Oates signs on for another year with Broncos; Sea Eagles lock down exciting trio: Transfer Centre

The Brisbane Broncos have rewarded Corey Oates for his strong form with a one-year extension that will keep the versatile winger at Red Hill for the 2024 season.

Oates, who only managed nine games last season after suffering a knee injury earlier in the year and then later breaking his jaw, will suit up for his 12th season with the club.

The form of Jesse Arthars though poses a roadblock of sorts to Oates forcing his way back into Brisbane’s first-choice side but he is prepared to fight for his spot.

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“I’ll be trying to prove to myself that I’ve still got it and to show the coaches that I’ve still got it as well,” Oates said.

“I’ve never felt so good in my career, the injuries last year were just pure bad luck and bad timing … I’m still very confident that I can come back this year and attack it and play some good footy.”

“Oatsey brings a heap of experience and he is one of the hardest wingers to stop in rugby league,” Broncos coach Kevin Walters added.

“He has been really good for us over recent years, and he has fought back from some tough places which I am really proud of Oatesy for doing.

“We are really happy that Oatsey is staying at the club and we can’t wait to see what we can do together as a team in 2024.”

SEA EAGLES RE-SIGN YOUNG TRIO

With an eye to the future, the Sea Eagles have announced they’ve secured the signatures of three up-and-coming players on new deals.

Hooker Jamie Humphreys (one-year deal, 2024) and outside backs Clayton Faulalo (two-year deal, 2025) and Lehi Hopoate (three-year deal, 2026) have extended their contracts with the club.

All three players have yet to make their first grade debut, but Sea Eagles coach says Humphreys can push for selection this season.

Humphreys transitioned from halfback to dummy-half during Manly’s NSW Cup side Blacktown Workers’ successful 2023 campaign, where he featured in nine games.

He mostly played Jersey Flegg though, winning the team’s Player’s Player for 2023.

“Jamie was a very consistent player in that grade and was rewarded with playing NSW Cup, sharing the hooking role with Gordon Chan Kum Tong,” Seibold said in a club-issued statement.

“We have got high hopes for Jamie. He has progressed well since he made the change.

“If Jamie can have a full pre-season now as a number nine and gets an opportunity in the trials, we feel he can continue to improve and challenge Lachlan Croker and ‘Gordie’ for our NRL number nine position in 2024.

“It was a good positional change for him and I feel like that is his best avenue to play first grade in the NRL.”

Faulalo, who won the Players’ Player award for Blacktown last season after scoring 29 tries, will continue to ply his trade in reserve grade in 2024 before joining the club’s top 30 list in 2025.

“For a player who hasn’t been in any full-time environment, we are really excited about his potential and how we can progress him over the next two seasons,” Seibold said.

“If you add that to his untapped talent, then we feel as though he can be a first grader of the future.”

Hopoate, son of former NRL player John, played for the Sea Eagles’ SB Ball and Jersey Flegg teams in 2023.

Like Faulalo, Hopoate is a versatile back who can play fullback, wing and centre.

Seibold said that the 18-year-old Hopoate will spend the pre-season with the NRL squad before playing 2024 in the “lower grades”.

“In 2025 and 2026, Lehi will come into the full-time squad, firstly as a development player, and then into our Top 30 for 2026,” the Manly coach said.

“It gives Lehi a great opportunity to develop over the next three years. He is still SG Ball age in 2024, so he is only at the very start of his career.

“We want to build him up physically and help with his game awareness. We feel like he will develop into a really good player for us.”

Read on for every NRL player transfer.