Phillip Coates, the younger brother of Melbourne Storm and Queensland Maroons winger Xavier Coates, has made a decision on his short-term future, inking a new contract.
The spitting image of his older brother, Phillip has decided to remain at the Brisbane Broncos for at least one more season after agreeing to a contract extension.
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Currently on a development deal with the club, the decision by Coates leaves the door open for him to join the PNG Chiefs for their inaugural season in 2028.
“It’s been fantastic to watch Phil grow, both as a player and as a person since joining our Academy program,” Broncos GM of Recruitment and Pathways Simon Scanlan said.
“He’s worked closely with our staff and has taken great strides in his development, which has earned him this opportunity in the NRL squad.
“Phil’s put in a lot of hard work over a number of years, and this extension is a great reward for the commitment and progress he’s shown.”
An Under-19s Queensland and Junior Kumuls representative, Coates is edging closer to an NRL debut and is currently impressing in the QLD Cup with the Burleigh Bears.
In three appearances this season, he has made two line-breaks, scored two tries and averaged 93 running meters per match.
Phillip Coates.Source: Getty Images
DRAGONS HAND YOUNG FORWARD UPGRADE
The St George Illawarra Dragons have rewarded a young forward with a contract upgrade as he continues to impress club officials, as he rises up the pathways ranks.
A former Under-19s Queensland Maroons squad member, Ryan Hutchinson, has been handed a new deal from the Red V, which will not only see him extended but also upgraded to the club’s developmental list.
Able to play a variety of roles in the forwards, the 20-year-old has most recently cemented the lock position in the NSW Cup, where he has made five appearances this season, adding to his career tally of 14.
Averaging 91 running metres a game to go with 130 tackles, eight tackle busts and 177.3 post-contact metres, don’t be surprised if he makes the jump to first-grade sooner than expected.
Ryan Hutchinson.Source: News Corp Australia
UNDER-19S NSW BLUES CENTRE RETURNS TO FIELD
A former teenage prodigy who represented the Under-19s NSW Blues, Ethan Ferguson is set to make his return to the rugby league field this weekend via the QLD Cup with the Tweed Seagulls.
Listed as a replacement for last week’s match, Ferguson has been named on the interchange bench for the Seagulls’ match against the Central Queensland Capras and is set to play alongside the likes of Luke Sommerton, Jensen Taumoepeau and NRL veteran Shaquai Mitchell.
The cousin of Latrell and Shaquai Mitchell, Ferguson decided to have a two-year hiatus from rugby league after departing the South Sydney Rabbitohs in 2023 to prioritse his mental health.
“First I want to give all glory to God because without his guidance I wouldn’t have been able to make it through everything I’ve gone through,” Ferguson posted on social media at the end of last year.
“Secondly, I want to give a massive thank you to my beautiful fiancée, Chloe Puliuvea and our amazing son for helping me get through my mental health journey and really making my life such an amazing journey.
“I honestly didn’t know if I’d ever make this post or if I’ll ever step onto a field again but I’m glad to announce that I’M BACK.
“Thankyou to all my support team/family for giving me endless amounts of support and encouragement. Your support throughout my mental health journey really helped save my life and turned it around and for that I’m forever grateful.
Ethan Ferguson.Source: News Corp Australia
“I went from being 130kg, depressed, feeling along and if my life was over, to being back at my playing weight range of 105-108 and having everything I could ever need.
“Also, a massive thankyou to Tweed Seagulls for giving me the opportunity to make my comeback to professional rugby league.
“You guys gave me a chance when everyone else said I was a risk and not worth it. And another thankyou to everyone who said that I’m a wasted talents and that I’m a has been.
“You’ve really helped fuel the fire in me even more to get back to the player I was, so again thankyou. But also, this isn’t it. This isn’t the end of the story. This is just the start of the next chapter and I can’t wait to see what’s coming next.
“But for now, it’s time to let the whole world know…I’M BACK.”