Broncos Face Tough Roster Calls to Extend Adam Reynolds’ Contract
The Brisbane Broncos are expected to offload several players from their top-30 squad to make room for veteran halfback and captain Adam Reynolds, who is now pushing to play on in 2026.
The club had originally been preparing for Reynolds to retire at the end of the 2025 season—a move that would have eased pressure on their salary cap. However, Reynolds has indicated he wants to continue playing, forcing the Broncos to find funds they had earmarked for other uses.
While Brisbane had hoped to re-sign the 34-year-old on a deal worth around $300,000, reports suggest the NRL is likely to set his value closer to $500,000 due to minimum salary benchmarks. Unlike club legends such as Darren Lockyer, Reynolds isn’t eligible for significant cap relief, since he hasn’t spent his entire career with the Broncos.
According to The Courier Mail, the club has already begun talks with Reynolds and is prepared to part ways with multiple off-contract players to secure his services for another year. Thirteen Broncos players are due to come off contract at the end of 2025, including stars Selwyn Cobbo and Kotoni Staggs. While a new deal for Staggs appears close, Cobbo’s future remains uncertain, with speculation he could sign a short-term extension before exploring options in Perth or Papua New Guinea.
It’s believed the club would prefer not to sacrifice emerging talents like Cobbo for an extra year of Reynolds, and instead may release depth players such as Kobe Hetherington, Cory Paix, and Delouise Hoeter to create the necessary cap space.
Despite the financial juggling act, head coach Michael Maguire expressed his desire to keep Reynolds in the squad. “I’d love to see Reyno go around again,” he said. “He’s a vital part of our culture and leadership, and I’m confident we’ll find a solution. The salary cap is always a factor, but so is what we’re building together.”
However, Broncos great Gorden Tallis warned against prioritizing a veteran over future stars. Speaking on NRL 360, Tallis emphasized the importance of retaining young guns like Cobbo. “You keep Cobbo every single day of the week,” he said. “With Ezra Mam and Ben Hunt already on board, the Broncos can cover Reynolds’ departure. But who replaces Reece Walsh if he doesn’t come back at his best?”
