Dolphins centre Herbie Farnworth has lit the fuse for the Battle of Brisbane with a subtle dig at his former club the Broncos, as he revealed his desire to ink a new deal at the Redcliffe club.

Farnworth scored 34 tries in 79 games for the Broncos from his NRL debut in 2019 to 2023, which culminated in Brisbane’s Grand Final defeat to the Panthers that season.

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The English international then moved to the Dolphins in 2024, where he has gone on to score 21 tries in 42 games for the expansion club, while he has also scored six tries in eight Tests for England since his debut in 2022.

Farnworth was a star of the Broncos’ backline during his time there, but has blossomed into arguably the best centre in the world at the Dolphins.

The 26-year-old told Channel 9 that he believes he needed to move away from the Broncos to grow as a player and a person.

“Obviously coming to the Dolphins, I feel like I’ve grown as a person,” Farnworth told 9NEWS Queensland.

“Not too sure if that would’ve happened if I had stayed at the Broncos.”

Farnworth is signed with the Dolphins until the end of the 2027 season, meaning he is free to negotiate with rival clubs from November 1 this year.

However, the versatile back, who can also play fullback is keen to extend his stay at the Dolphins and is hopeful of inking an extension under Kristian Woolf, as the club hunts a maiden finals appearance and a first title in the coming seasons.

“I’ve been here for two years now,” Farnworth said of the Dolphins.

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BRISBANE, AUSTRALIA – MARCH 28: Herbie Farnworth of the Dolphins is tackled during the round four NRL match between Dolphins and Brisbane Broncos at Suncorp Stadium, on March 28, 2025, in Brisbane, Australia. (Photo by Bradley Kanaris/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images

“I’m sure that’ll (contract talks) will come naturally through Woolfie (Kristian Woolf) and people so we’ll see what happens.

“But yeah I’m definitely happy at the club so we’ll just see where I end up.”

Farnworth comes up against Broncos centre and former teammate Kotoni Staggs in Friday night’s sold out clash at Suncorp Stadium.

Gorden Tallis labelled it the battle of the two best centres on the planet.

“It’s the battle of the two best centres in the world because he’s up against Kotoni Staggs,” Tallis said on NRL 360.

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However, The Daily Telegraph’s Dave Riccio believes Farnworth has got him covered and the Bulldogs’ skipper might be up there on par or ahead of them.

“With great respect to Kotoni, I don’t think Kotoni’s number one,” Riccio said.

“Herbie’s right up there and so is Stephen Crichton. Herbie’s always in great form. It’s only injury that stops him.”

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Dolphins coach Kristian Woolf is also adamant Farnworth is the best and shared that even he thinks he is the world’s premier centre.

“Well, I think he is (the best centre in the world) and he thinks he is as well,” Woolf told NCA Newswire.

“He’s great to have in the team because he comes up with things. He came up with plenty of things (against the Sharks).”