The deadline for players off-contract at the end of 2024 to negotiate with rival clubs is approaching, and every team in the competition will have their eye on players to make a switch in 2025.
In this series, Zero Tackle will go through every club's current roster for 2025, and the players they desperately need from outside their own borders.
The Broncos may be one of the clubs in a better position than most, and have plenty already locked up on long-term deals.
That said, there will be in-house issues, with the key ones being the extensions of Ezra Mam and Delouise Hoter, as well as questions over the futures of Brendan Piakura, Jordan Riki and veteran half Adam Reynolds.
Current 2025 squad
Jesse Arthars, Fletcher Baker, Patrick Carrigan, Selwyn Cobbo, Payne Haas, Kobe Hetherington, Corey Jensen, Deine Mariner, Blake Mozer, Cory Paix, Tristan Sailor, Kotoni Staggs, Reece Walsh, Xavier Willison
Current 2025 best 17
1. Reece Walsh
2. Selwyn Cobbo
3. Deine Mariner
4. Kotoni Staggs
5. Jesse Arthars
6. No player signed
7. No player signed
8. Payne Haas
9. Blake Mozer
10. Fletcher Baker
11. No player signed
12. No player signed
13. Patrick Carrigan
14. Cory Paix
15. Kobe Hetherington
16. No player signed
17. No player signed
Other players: Tristan Sailor
Players off-contract at end of 2024
Kurt Capewell, Delouise Hoeter, Jock Madden, Ezra Mam, Brendan Piakura, Adam Reynolds, Jordan Riki, Martin Taupau, Billy Walters
EVERY PLAYER OFF-CONTRACT AT THE END OF 2024
Here are five players from outside the club they should target.
3. Niwhai Puru
Whether the Broncos need an experienced or young halfback ahead of 2025 remains to be seen, and will be solely dependant on whether Adam Reynolds elects to go around again.
But for now, we are assuming he will add a year to his career. Jock Madden is earmarked as the long-term successor to his number seven jersey, and with good reason, but the Broncos could do with an insurance policy.
Puru, who came out of the Penrith system to join the Sharks, is off-contract at the end of 2024 and rated as one of the best young halves in the game.
He is a player who can wear either the number six or seven as required, and could well serve as a handy option, particularly with the Broncos still having questions about the future of Ezra Mam, although every indication is that he will re-sign.
Still, if Madden doesn't re-sign, Puru would be a super option to learn from Reynolds for a year before potentially taking over on next to no money out of the salary cap.
Maybe the most unlikely on this list to be signed, but also potentially the most exciting if it were to happen.
