Off-contract Bronco Jake Turpin has quickly become one of the most sought-after players this season as six rival clubs are showing interest, according to The Daily Telegraph.ย
Not even seven months ago, Turpin was one of the lowest-paid players in the NRL, with a contract worth roughly $70,000, and not apart of Brisbaneโs 30-man full time squad. Fast forward to the present and the 22-year-old has emerged as Brisbaneโs solution to positional issues the side has suffered during the season.
Originally signed as a hooker, Turpin has filled the gaps where needed for the Broncos, lining up at dummy-half and across the halfback, filling in for teammates such as Anthony Milford and Sean OโSullivan. Turpin will line up in the Broncos halves during his 11th career game when his side faces the Bulldogs this Thursday.
The Broncos originally offered Turpin a one-year deal, however, it is speculated that rival clubs, such as the Bulldogs, have offered Turpin a three-year package, reports The Daily Telegraph. Turpinโs future at the Broncos is dependent on what opposition clubs are prepared to offer him as well as Brisbaneโs salary cap position.
โThere has been a bit of interest from a number of clubs,โ Seibold told The Daily Telegraph. โBut we have made Jake an offer and we are working towards retaining him.โ
While several teams are eyeing off Turpin, he hopes the Broncos put forward a palatable deal so he can remain with Brisbane.
โI donโt know what Iโm going to do yet,โ he said.
โI love playing for the Broncos. Itโs the club I grew up supporting, so itโs a dream come true to even play for them.
โWith my contract, I donโt know yet when it will be finalised. Iโll focus on my footy and if Iโm doing well there it will sort itself out.
โMy preference is to stay. I like it here, mum and dad live an hour-and-a-half away from Brisbane so my family are close enough.
โI will sit down with the Broncos and my manager and sort out what I want to do in the next few weeks.โ
If the Broncos wish to hold on to the reliable Turpin, as well as keep their finals hopes alive, they must defeat Canterbury this Thursday night.
They wont offer him decent dough. They will never drop McCulloch and they already have some young halves. So once their finished using him they will offer him a pittance contract.
Perhaps Turpin is in the Bronco’s long term plans… Darius Boyd seems like his head is on the chopper block… Milford will be the fullback……whilst McCulloch is not getting any younger.
Broncoes need to shop Andrew McCullogh to the Titans who can then shop Nathan Peats to the Bulldogs. Then they can keep Turpin. The titans take McCullogh for his defence and leadership plus the fact heโs a QLD player and the broncos offer to help pay his 1 year left on his contract. The Bulldogs take Peats for obvious reasons