The Brisbane Broncos have pulled off a contract coup to land star forward Mitch Barnett.

As first reported by Code Sports, the Warriors prop has made a call to join the Queensland club, ending a contract fight that has stretched on for weeks.

Barnett will leave the Warriors at the end of this season after being granted a release from his contract on compassionate grounds to return home for family reasons.

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The 31-year-old, who played State of Origin for NSW in 2024 and is returning from an ACL injury, had several clubs hunting his signature for 2027 onwards.

Newcastle was the club closest to Barnett’s home town of Taree, but it is the Broncos, who have won the war.

The Broncos had been seen as the favourite to sign Barnett given his close relationship with Michael Maguire, who coached him to his Origin debut.

According to Code Sports, the deal with Brisbane is worth $800,000 per season, with two years guaranteed.

Barnett has a clause in his favour for a third season, taking the value of the contract to $2.4 million.

While the Broncos have found the perfect replacement for Payne Haas, who is jumping ship to join the Rabbitohs from 2027, the Eels and Dragons and other clubs have been left at the altar.

The Warriors communicated earlier this month the club will demand compensation for letting Barnett leave with a year remaining on his deal.

It emerged on Wednesday Barnett was reportedly offered $900,000 per season by the Eels, but the club’s late, upgraded offer was rejected.

NRL 360 host Braith Anasta on Wednesday described the Eels’ late play as a “monster offer”.

The club was still unable to convince Barnett to make the move to CommBank Stadium.

“Mitch Barnett is the hottest commodity on the open market,” the Daily Telegraph’s Michael Carayannis told NRL 360 on Wednesday.

“At the moment there’s three clubs with offers in — Brisbane, Manly and Parramatta. The Dragons have spoken to Mitch Barnett and indicated they’re keen, but they haven’t put anything formal to him.

“In the next 72 hours I think we might see a decision for Mitch Barnett. He won’t be at the Warriors next year, leaving for family reasons.

“We’ve seen a lot of movement in the middle stocks with Keaon Koloamatangi, Tino re-signing, Payne Haas leaving the Broncos. Mitch Barnett is arguably in that top tier.”

Anasta was surprised by the salary being tabled to Barnett by the Eels.

“Honestly it’s crazy,” he said.

“Mitch Barnett’s a very good player but you never would have thought that sort of money. It seems like a lot of money.”

Attention will now turn to negotiations between the Warriors and Broncos regarding a potential player swap.

Originally published as Broncos’ huge Mitch Barnett coup as rival NRL club left at altar