The Brisbane Broncos head into the new recruitment period for the 2026 NRL season and beyond with a new coach, and new hopes after a dreadful 2024 campaign.
Michael Maguire will bring fresh ideas to the club after their capitulation down the table from the dizzying heights of the 2023 season, and they certainly need it after their rather horrific 2024 season, which also turned into the final for head coach Kevin Walters.
Money could well be tight for the Broncos though given some big contracts already locked up into 2026 and beyond, and some other big potential ones to come.
We will run the rule over all 17 clubs on Zero Tackle in the lead up to November 1 to determine who their top targets are for November 1.
This will take into account not just the needs roster wise of each team, but also aim to pick apart what might be a realistic move under the salary cap.
Current 2026 squad
Jesse Arthars, Coby Black, Patrick Carrigan, Payne Haas, Jock Madden, Ezra Mam, Deine Mariner, Brendan Piakura, Jordan Riki, Benjamin Te Kura, Billy Walters
Off-contract at end of 2025
Fletcher Baker, Selwyn Cobbo, Jack Gosiewski, Kobe Hetherington, Jaiyden Hunt, Corey Jensen, Israel Leota, Blake Mozer, Adam Reynolds, Tyson Smoothy, Reece Walsh, Xavier Willison
Current 2026 Best 17
1. No player signed
2. Jesse Arthars
3. No player signed
4. No player signed
5. Deine Mariner
6. Ezra Mam
7. Coby Black
8. Payne Haas
9. Billy Walters
10. Benjamin Te Kura
11. Brendan Piakura
12. Jordan Riki
13. Patrick Carrigan
Interchange
14. Jock Madden
15. No player signed
16. No player signed
17. No player signed
The Broncos are very, very skinny for 2026 at this stage and have plenty of players to sign and moves to make on the open market.
Given their poor 2023 campaign though, that is hardly a bad thing as Michael Maguire gets his feet under the desk at Red Hill in his new coaching role.
It's fairly clear they will look to re-sign some key talent in the coming weeks, with Reece Walsh, who reportedly already has an offer on the table the priority along with Kotoni Staggs and Selwyn Cobbo, but that doesn't mean they won't be looking to add players to their roster.
The decisions they make over a handful of fringe players will also be intriguing, and will ultimately pave the way for them to select a recruitment strategy from outside the club.
There is also little to no doubt that Brisbane's salary cap is stretched to breaking point, meaning they will have to be shrewd in the business they complete in the potential search for halves, outside backs and props.
Here are five players from outside the club they should target.
It's a fair argument to make that the Broncos are going to lose at least one of the outside backs they are attempting to retain given salary cap constraints.
That ultimately means they will be out for a replacement - a first-grade standard one, but not on the money that Staggs and Cobbo are commanding.
While a centre may not eventually be the need, it's hard to suggest they won't have, at the very least, a discussion with Will Penisini over his appetite for a move to the Sunshine State.
The Eels centre has quickly become one of that club's best players and will earn a sizeable upgrade if he enters free agency.
The Broncos do certainly have options in the halves amongst their current crop once Adam Reynolds retired, and Coby Black has been touted as the long-term prospect.
But whether they are 100% confident going down that line the moment Reynolds hangs up the boots or not remains to be seen.
If they arent quite ready to go down that line, they could well chase a player like Toby Sexton who would come cheaply but based on his form at the Bulldogs over the second half of 2023, still be a very strong option.
The Broncos may yet re-sign some of their own middle forwards, but given money is going to be tight and they will be looking to promote others - like Benjamin Te Kura - from within, they will likely be looking for a cheap front row target.
There may be few better in that class floating around the competition than Josiah Pahulu.
He had a fantastic first full NRL campaign during 2024, becoming an almost permanent part of Des Hasler's side during the year.
Thompson has given every indication he will test the open market from November 1 as he weighs up his future.
It has been reported that the forward will head to the open market from November 1, and it'd be quite the surprise if the Broncos aren't one of the clubs in pursuit.
That's not to say they will throw the kitchen sink at him, but 2024 recruits Fletcher Baker and Jaiyden Hunt didn't really replace Thomas Flegler - who left for the Dolphins out of their 2023 grand final side - all that effectively.
That means, particularly with uncertainty around whether Corey Jensen will re-sign, that it could be time for an increase in the middle third stocks, and with the ability to play either prop or lock, Thompson would be a super addition.
As highlighted earlier, it seems a fair shout that the Broncos are likely to lose at least one of Staggs or Cobbo come the 2026 campaign.
Albert Hopoate could bring versatility at a cut price to the club, while also bringing a power game that has been on display in Canberra during his so far short NRL career.
2024 marked his calling as a player, and that will only continue into the 2025 campaign as he continues to develop his game.
He can play any of fullback, centre or wing in what only serves as an added bonus.