The Broncos were the toast of the NRL in 2025, winning their first title in 19 years. Yet that doesn’t mean there aren’t any question marks or uncertainty around the make-up of their roster.
Brisbane are well placed to go on a run, given they’re well stocked at key positions and possess genuine game breakers all over the park.
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However, much like the Panthers had to constantly deal with during their four-year reign, the Broncos will be forced to let plenty of talent go in the next two to three years.
Winning a premiership naturally puts a strain on the salary cap as the value of several players rise.
In addition, the club is sweating on the decision of a star prop, while 2026 could be the last dance for a veteran playmaker ahead of the arrival of a gun halfback.
Read on for the Broncos’ roster state of play!
RE-SIGNING PAYNE HAAS
Brisbane’s most important task this off-season is retaining Payne Haas.
We’ve known for a while just how good he is, but even though it didn’t seem possible, he took his game to another level in 2025.
Reece Walsh had one of the best finals series of all time, but Haas wasn’t far behind the fullback as the Broncos’ best during their magical finals run.
He’s such a force and given the amount of work he gets through, his stamina is unbelievable.
Unsurprisingly, Haas’ name was one of the first linked with R360.
Last week, reports suggested that R360 were leading the race to sign Haas and that the superstar middle would rebuff the Broncos to ink a life-changing $6 million contract ($3 million per season) with the breakaway rugby union league.
It led to Peter V’landys flying up to Brisbane to meet with Haas and discuss his future, and likely warn the prop of the risks associated with signing with an unsanctioned competition.
However, the announcement of a postponed start to R360 puts the Broncos in pole position to retain Haas even though there are other NRL teams interested.
Reports suggest Payne Haas is expected to re-sign with the Broncos in the coming weeks.Source: Supplied
WHO COULD BE FORCED TO EXIT?
The answer to this question will depend greatly on whether Haas leaves or signs a rich extension with the club.
If he does, it’s inevitable that Brisbane will have to let at least a handful of premiership stars exit at the end of next season.
CEO Dave Donaghy has admitted as much although there is no indication which players the club are preferencing to keep and which ones are already halfway out the door.
The Broncos have been dealing with a salary cap crunch for the past couple of seasons.
They’ve handed expensive deals to Pat Carrigan, Reece Walsh, Ezra Mam and Kotoni Staggs to name a few with Haas odds on to re-up with the club on a deal that could be worth north of $1.2 million a season.
That leaves players like Gehamat Shibasaki, Jesse Arthars, Billy Walters and Cory Paix unsigned beyond next season with a very real chance all three are wearing different colours in 2027.
Shibasaki and Arthars have already been linked to the Perth Bears.
The Broncos had the benefit of having Shibasaki on an incredibly cheap contract in 2025 after the centre took advantage of a pre-season train-and-trial deal and parlayed it into a Maroons jersey, a Kangaroos jersey and a premiership.
Shibasaki will no doubt feel like he owes Brisbane for reviving his career and is every chance of taking a little less money to stay, but given the salary cap pressures at the Broncos, a rival club’s offer will likely blow Brisbane’s out of the water.
It’s unfortunate for the Broncos, but it’s the reality of the salary cap and given his stellar 2025, Shibasaki deserves to be paid handsomely.
Arthars played the majority of the season on the wing but was dropped late in the year for powerhouse Josiah Karapani.
Due to the emergence of Karapani and the arrival of former Storm outside back Grant Anderson, Arthars will be up against it to play regular first grade minutes next year and in turn, will likely angle for an early release or play out his deal in reserve grade before heading elsewhere.
With Blake Mozer considered the club’s future No. 9, Paix and Walters may likely be forced out the door.
Unfortunately for Walters, he’ll only have a handful of games to play for a new contract, with a knee injury to keep him out for the majority of the 2026 season.
Staggs reacts to new Broncos logo | 06:33
IS THERE A DUMMY-HALF DILEMMA?
Short answer to that question is no, but Maguire does have a crucial decision to make around his dummy-half stocks.
While there are several clubs who have issues around depth at hooker, the Broncos don’t fall into that category.
Even with Tyson Smoothy heading to the Super League and Billy Walters set to miss at least half of the season with a knee injury, the Broncos have options at No. 9.
With Ezra Mam set to start the season in the halves alongside Adam Reynolds, Ben Hunt will move into hooker with either Cory Paix or Blake Mozer to come off the bench.
Maguire is strong on loyalty, so given he was the team’s hooker for the majority of their 2025 premiership campaign, Paix is the favourite to start next year as the team’s No. 14.
Paix was on the outer before Maguire’s arrival, but impressed in the pre-season to emerge as a key piece of Brisbane’s premiership success.
Paix played in 23 games, most of those starting at rake (including the grand final) as the Broncos had to play Hunt in the halves with Mam injured or suspended for a huge chunk of the year.
With that said, there is a rising star who is waiting in the wings and bound to put plenty of pressure on Paix.
That’s Blake Mozer, who is highly regarded at Red Hill.
Mozer has a stack of upside and is too good to be playing reserve grade.
He flashed brilliance in eight games at NRL level in 2024 but didn’t feature in the top grade this year due to injury.
If Mozer’s form in reserve grade to start 2026 is too hard to ignore, he’s every chance of earning a promotion at the expense of Paix.
Blake Mozer is set to add to his nine NRL appearances in 2026.Source: News Corp Australia
FAREWELLING TWO CHAMPIONS IN 2026?
Will 2026 be the last season in Adam Reynolds’ legendary career?
It looks that way, unless the veteran half wishes to continue his career at another club given Reynolds’ current Broncos deal runs until the end of next season and Jonah Pezet arrives at the club for 2027.
Reynolds doesn’t boast the representative appearances some of the big guns have had, only representing the Blues twice, but his longevity and consistency has to be marvelled at.
Winning the Dally M Rookie of the Year in 2012, Reynolds has been among the game’s best halfbacks since 2014, which was when he led the Bunnies to premiership glory.
11 years between drinks, Reynolds was a huge reason why the Broncos were able to hoist the trophy two months ago, giving the halfback his second premi
His game-winning kick to knock the Panthers out in the prelim and book Brisbane’s grand final ticket will be discussed among Broncos fans for quite some time.
While Reynolds played in 22 games this season, injuries are taking its toll.
He didn’t finish the decider after suffering a calf injury.
Reynolds is set to captain and lead the side out in Round 1 next year but there has to be some doubts internally over whether he’ll be able to play the full season.
Even at 35, when he’s on the park and unencumbered by injury niggles, Reynolds is a must start but given the Broncos have the versatile Ben Hunt and depth at hooker, the club could take a cautious approach and rest Reynolds sporadically throughout the year.
Speaking with Code Sports, Reynolds isn’t worried about his recent injury history and will approach 2026 with the same mindset he has in his previous 14 seasons.
“There’s no point holding back,” Reynolds said of his injury risk in 2026.“I am there for a reason – to try and get the job done.
“Touch wood I can have a good run, but if they (injuries) do come about, there’s plenty of quality players in our squad to fill the void.”
In one of the moments of the 2025 season, Adam Reynolds turns to the raucous Suncorp Stadium crowd after nailing his game winning conversion from the sideline to end the Panthers’ four-year premiership reign.Source: Getty Images
In addition to Reynolds, Ben Hunt is also under contract until the end of 2026.
For whatever reason, there hasn’t been as much buzz around a potential retirement for Hunt when next season ends.
It has been reported that the 35-year-old is leaning towards signing an extension for 2027, with Maguire open to Hunt returning for another year.
“A lot depends on ‘Reyno’s’ path next year, but it’s quite handy having a player like ‘Hunty’ around,” Maguire told Code Sports.
“The reason we brought him back to the club was because of what he could offer our group with his experience, and he was so important for us at different stages of the season when we had injuries.”
Of course, there’s a lot of water to go under the bridge, but at this stage it appears that Hunt is the more likely than Reynolds to play beyond next year.
THE SECRET WEAPON
Michael Maguire was never going to rest on his laurels after leading Brisbane to the title in his first year at the helm.
Fresh off premiership success, it’s not like the Broncos have to change much, but when a club gets the chance to add a rugby league legend to the mix, it’s hard to say no.
Storm, Maroons and Kangaroos great Cameron Smith will join the Broncos staff as a mentor.
It’s a move that Reynolds labelled “wonderful”, with the Broncos captain believing it’ll only help the club.
“He knows the game better than most and to get some advice and hear what Cam is thinking, it’s going to be great for not only myself, but the club,” Reynolds told Code Sports.
“I still don’t know exactly what sort of position he will be in, but hopefully we can pick his brains both on and off the field. That’s a wonderful thing to have as he has been there and done it.
“He has seen it all, he has lived every experience in rugby league and to get someone who has been in that position, it means a bit extra… No doubt us as a club and individuals will benefit from that.”
One of the greatest to ever lace up the boots, Cameron Smith has joined the Broncos staff in a mentoring role.Source: Getty Images
BRONCOS 2026 SQUAD
Top 30: Adam Reynolds (2026), Aublix Tawha (2027), Ben Hunt (2026), Ben Talty (2027), Ben Te Kura (2026), Billy Walters (2026), Blake Mozer (2027), Brendan Piakura (2027), Coby Black (2026), Corey Jensen (2026), Cory Paix (2026), Deine Mariner (2027), Delouise Hoeter (2026), Ezra Mam (2029), Gehamat Shibasaki (2026), Grant Anderson (2027), Jack Gosiewski (2026), Jaiyden Hunt (2026), Josiah Karapani (2027), Jesse Arthars (2026), Jordan Riki (2027), Josh Rogers (2026), Kotoni Staggs (2028), Patrick Carrigan (2028), Payne Haas (2026), Reece Walsh (2029), Xavier Willison (2027)
Development players: Va’a Semu, Phillip Coates, Cameron Bukowski, Hayze Perham
2026 gains: Grant Anderson (Storm), Tom Duffy (Cowboys), Aublix Tawha (Dolphins)
2026 losses: Tyson Smoothy (Trinity Wakefield), Selwyn Cobbo (Dolphins), Jock Madden (Wests Tigers), Fletcher Baker (Bulldogs), Israel Leota (Super Rugby), Kobe Hetherington (Manly)
OFF-CONTRACT IN 2026 BY POSITION
FULLBACK
Tom Chester, Kade Dykes, Sione Fonua, Trai Fuller, Jamayne Isaako, William Kennedy, Luke Laulilii, Heath Mason, Nick Meaney, Sean Russell, Tyrell Sloan, Connor Tracey, Taine Tuaupiki
WING
Michael Asomua, Selwyn Cobbo, Mathew Feagai, Moala Graham-Taufa, Sione Katoa, Greg Marzhew, Marcelo Montoya, Mark Nawaqanitawase, Jaxson Paulo, Richard Penisini, Phillip Sami, Sam Stonestreet, Jed Stuart, Jonathan Sua, Jake Tago, Murray Taulagi, Christian Tuipulotu, Daniel Tupou, Will Warbrick
CENTRE
Jesse Arthars, Jake Averillo, Rocco Berry, Jack Bird, Braidon Burns, Wilson De Courcey, Dane Gagai, Mawene Hiroti, Delouise Hoeter, Thomas Jenkins, Brian Kelly, Nathan Lawson, Will Penisini, Jesse Ramien, Solomone Saukuru, Aaron Schoupp, Jeral Skelton, Enari Tuala, Roger Tuivasa-Sheck, Chris Vea’ila
FIVE-EIGHTH
Jack Cole, Tyson Gamble, Te Maire Martin, Josh Rogers, Trent Toelau, Manaia Waitere, Cody Walker
HALFBACK
Coby Black, Tanah Boyd, Daly Cherry-Evans, Jake Clifford, Tom Duffy, Chanel Harris-Tavita, Zac Herdegen, Kodi Nikorima, Joseph O’Neill, Jaxon Purdue, Niwhai Puru, Adam Reynolds, Brad Schneider, Ronald Volkman, Tyran Wishart
PROP
Tom Ale, Jake Clydsdale, Harrison Edwards, Sione Fainu, Emre Guler, Payne Haas, Braden Hamlin-Uele, Tuku Hau Tapuha, Liam Henry, Samuel Hughes, Jaiyden Hunt, Jaimin Jolliffe, Tui Kamikamica, Sean Keppie, Kaiden Lahrs, Simione Laiafi, Blake Lawrie, Matthew Lodge, Ata Mariota, Sam McIntyre, Francis Molo, Michael Molo, Josh Papalii, Junior Paulo, Toby Rudolf, Lindsay Smith, Daniel Suluka-Fifita, Siosiua Taukeiaho, Xavier Va’a
HOOKER
Jayden Berrell, Damien Cook, Lachlan Croker, Zach Dockar-Clay, Tristan Hope, Jamie Humphreys, Cameron McInnes, Zaidas Muagututia, Cory Paix, Jake Turpin, Sam Verrills, Billy Walters, Patrick Young
SECOND ROW
John Bateman, Shawn Blore, Billy Burns, Thomas Cant, Kurt Capewell, Angus Crichton, Tyson Frizell, Luke Garner, Mavrik Geyer, Jack Gosiewski, Charlie Guymer, Eddie Ieremia-Toeava, Brodie Jones, Oryn Keeley, Viliame Kikau, Mason Kira, Keaon Koloamatangi, Karl Lawton, Luciano Leilua, Connelly Lemuelu, Zyon Maiu’u, Toni Mataele, Ryan Matterson, Max McCarthy, Marata Niukore, Kai O’Donnell, Joe Roddy, Scott Sorensen, Tony Sukkar, Lewis Symonds, Siosifa Talakai, Kelma Tuilagi, Siua Wong
LOCK
Nathan Brown, Josh Curran, Matthew Eisenhuth, Kalani Going, Lipoi Hopoi, Blake Hosking, Kit Laulilii, Liam Le Blanc, Jesse Colquhoun, Kurt Mann, Hohepa Puru, Hame Sele, Morgan Smithies, Ray Stone, Jack Todd, Jake Trbojevic, Dylan Walker