Brisbane Broncos signings, Adam Reynolds, Blake Mozer, Kotoni Staggs; Selwyn Cobbo contract; Michael Maguire

On Thursday afternoon, the Brisbane Broncos dropped some all-important signing news, confirming that Adam Reynolds, Kotoni Staggs and Blake Mozer would all be staying at the club, providing a look into the short-term and long-term future at Red Hill.

But alas it leaves plenty of question marks around the roster and perhaps the biggest of those is what happens with Selwyn Cobbo?

There's no doubt a salary cap squeeze will come for the Broncos, but working in their favour appears to be the lack of interest in Cobbo.

Advertisement

READ MORE: Three players facing axe in changes Blues must consider

READ MORE: 'It's a concern': Push for ref to be axed for Origin decider

READ MORE: Detail on Maroons sleeve hints at perfect motivational ploy

According to reports, Cobbo's current deal at Red Hill is worth $650,000 per year.

Selwyn Cobbo of the Broncos in action. Getty

The 23-year-old has not had a good season under Michael Maguire, and is currently plying his trade in Queensland Cup.

As a result, his value has lowered despite the enormous talent he possesses.

Maguire's comments after Cobbo was dropped suggested the outside back isn't meeting the standards required.

How the representative winger can be a player Maguire relies on is up to him.

As his value decreases, there's more chance he could fit into Brisbane's roster.

It'll be intriguing to see how the Broncos juggle the salaries of their players. There's over 10 players off contract by the end of the season.

Cobbo is one of them, but do they need him?

Watch the 2025 NRL premiership live and free on Nine and 9Now.

How Brisbane's roster looks in the backs

Cobbo can cover wing and fullback, and centre at a pinch but he didn't have much success there last season.

Contracted in the backs beyond this season, Brisbane have Jesse Arthars, Deine Mariner, Staggs, Gehamat Shibasaki and Reece Walsh.

Reece Walsh celebrates scoring a try against the Titans. Getty

Among the out of contract players is Josiah Karapani who has broken into the first team at the expense of Cobbo. Israel Leota is a youngster on the rise while Hayze Perham is on a development deal but injured his ACL at the start of the year. Delouise Hoeter hasn't played a game since 2023, although he spent last year out with injury.

From that you'd suggest depth is an issue for the Broncos and they can ill afford for a player of Cobbo's talents to be under performing as a result.

But where's the attention going in Brisbane's roster?

The hooker and halves problem

Brisbane have created problems for themselves in this area.

On the list is Ben Hunt, Billy Walters, Cory Paix, Blake Mozer and Tyson Smoothy.

They have five potential hookers for a starting and bench spot.

Ben Hunt. Getty

Walters and Hunt are of value though, considering their versatility, but now you have two utilities.

Smoothy will leave for Super League next season, and attention will turn to who they sign to fill that roster spot.

Then there's the halves.

Walters and Hunt feature here. Adam Reynolds and Ezra Mam are the obvious starters, while Josh Rogers and Jock Madden take up the depth spots.

Rogers and Madden are both contracted until the end of 2026. Brisbane have tried to move on Madden to balance out the roster, but it's been to little avail.

Then there's Coby Black, who is the future. Reynolds' extension gives Black another year in Queensland Cup.

Or will the Broncos try to ease him through next season by putting him on the bench?

It wouldn't make sense with Walters and Hunt around. Then you have Mozer who will be ready to come off the bench next season too. Paix is off contract but considering his consistent first grade role this season, he's earned himself a new deal.

Brisbane's love affair with utilities, halves and hookers is costing them in other areas. That brings us to the forwards.

Who's the next man up?

The Broncos would've no doubt been hoping Brendan Piakura was an 80-minute second-rower by now.

Brendan Piakura Getty

He's always been of extreme talent and featured in the Queensland squad last year.

But Piakura, who debuted in 2021, hasn't quite hit the mark yet. Although his performance against the Titans last week was a breakthrough show.

When it comes to the starting forward pack, Corey Jensen, Payne Haas, Piakura, Jordan Riki and Patrick Carrigan are all stars.

Kobe Hetherington has always had big wraps and pushed Carrigan to prop this season. It didn't work out and he's back on the bench.

Xavier Willison is starting to come good while Jack Gosiweski and Jaiyden Hunt provide depth.

However, it's clear Brisbane aren't willing to use their depth options during Origin period and give the likes of Haas and Carrigan a break.

Ben Talty has also been recently signed from NSW Cup. Ben Te Kura is the future but hasn't nailed down a spot. Fletcher Baker was solid at the Roosters but isn't hitting the mark with Brisbane.

Fletcher Baker. Twitter

Jensen and Baker are out of contract and it seems unlikely the latter will be re-signed.

Jensen offers the perfect ying and yang combination with Haas. It'd be surprising if he wasn't extended.

Hetherington, Gosiewski and Hunt are all off contract too. Is there a roster overhaul ahead?

The recruitment guru Brisbane should never have lost

When Ben Ikin swapped the NRL 360 desk for the football and performance position at the Broncos in June 2021, it promised great things.

Ben Ikin during his time at the Broncos. Getty

In 2022, Brisbane improved from 14th to 9th.

When it appeared his work was reaping great rewards, Ikin then left in mid-2023 after a falling out with coach Kevin Walters.

That year, Brisbane made the grand final and lost.

During Ikin's time, some of his best signings were the underrated ones, like Zac Hosking, Corey Jensen and Te Maire Martin.

Since then, there's been poor results and some interesting recruitment calls.

Speaking on Kenty Blitz, a month ago, Ikin explained his process with recruitment.

"Traditionally when you're building a roster is that you've always gone into the market mainly looking for two things. Capability, can they play? And character, are they a good person?," he said.

"But what I learned is the third, more important category, is compatibility. Do they fit? And do they fit with the head coach you've got? Because that's the multiply effect, that gives you the compounding effect that makes great teams.

"Because ultimately you get alignment because you've got a coach who knows how he wants to play, who knows what standards he wants around the organisation and has the courage to show everybody. And over time you get everyone in your roster to have a look at those values, those standards and how that team's going to play and they either buy in or you've got to move them out ... what you're left with is a whole lot of people, staff included, who want to go after the same thing in the same way."

And that is now what faces Maguire.

Is this group compatible with him? Clearly Reynolds, Mozer and Staggs must be.

Cobbo? Well when he first burst on to the scene, you would've thought at this stage it's a million-dollar question. Now it's just a question.

Click here to read article