A chance to compete for the vacant No.7 jersey at the Raiders could be on the cards for Coby Black in 2026, but Ricky Stuart is unsure if his looming new recruit will be granted an early release by the Broncos to make that happen.
The 19-year-old halfback is Canberra-bound in 2027, but he is reportedly pushing to see his arrival date to join the squad moved almost 12 months earlier.
Black has been touted as one of the next stars of the game by several league greats, including Darren Lockyer. Not that long ago he looked perfectly positioned to succeed Adam Reynolds in the halves at the Brisbane Broncos.
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But the signing of Melbourne halfback Jonah Pezet pushed Black down the pecking order, leading him to ink a two-year deal with the Raiders.
Black is currently scheduled to stay put in Brisbane until the end of next season, although his future coach is not opposed to him making an early arrival to the nation’s capital.
“There’s a lot of talk about it and there has been some movement,” Stuart told SEN.
Coby Black in action for Brisbane. Â Broncos
“I haven’t got involved in it because it’s got nothing to do with me. Coby’s very keen to join the club in 2026, but it’s not a decision that comes down to me.”
It remains unknown if Black will be granted an early release from the Broncos, but if his request is blocked, Stuart has no complaints about the players he’ll be learning from.
In fact, the 2025 Coach of the Year is elated that his new recruit will be able to continue learning from the likes of veteran halves Adam Reynolds and Ben Hunt.
“I’m going to be fortunate either way,” Stuart, 58, continued.
“If he does join us, it’s going to be great for us and we get our opportunity to start coaching him a year early. If not, I’m very happy for him to be under the guidance of Adam Reynolds in the Broncos colours.
“He gets another 12 months under the guidance of Adam and Ben Hunt, who’s also a very experienced half. That’s the type of opportunity and experience that young halves can only gain from.
“There has been talk about it, but honestly, I just don’t know where it’s at.”
Ethan Strange and Hudson Young celebrate. Â Getty
With Jamal Fogarty making the move to the Sea Eagles in 2026, it is likely that Ethan Sanders will step up to partner Ethan Strange, who took his career to new heights last season.
The 21-year-old was named the 2025 Dally M five-eighth of the year and earned his first call-up into the Australian squad that toured England in the Ashes.
Although he did not get any game time during that series, Stuart knows that his young player would have gained valuable experience throughout the tour.
“I caught up with (Strange) at Wembley for the first Test, and I could just see his shoulders back, and he’s very proud to be a Kangaroo,” he said.
“He didn’t play a game, but I know he’s going to come back knowing a lot more, hanging around the likes of Cam Munster, Nathan Cleary and Reece Walsh – those players who are right there in the middle of their careers in regards to their representative honours.
“Ethan’s a guy who’s just starting, and I’m very confident that he’s got representative football in him next year.
“He’s about to start and establish his own representative career … he’s going to come back with so much more confidence and he’ll mature.
The youthful Raiders outfit finished as the minor premiers in 2025. Getty
“It’s common knowledge that we’ve struggled to buy marquee players here because they prefer the clubs they’re playing at, or they prefer, have bigger, brighter lights,” Stuart added, reflecting on the talent in his Raiders squad.
“But I’ve always said that I need representative footballers here. Now, we’re getting representative footballers – not just getting representative footballers, but footballers that are making a mark in their representative teams.
“That is a massive, massive gain for any football team. The boys who have been away representing, they’re not due back for another three weeks, but they’re gonna come back with experience.
“You’re hanging around the best players in the world. You’re playing against some of the best players in the world.
“They come back with more confidence, and there’s a bit of a sting in their tail.”