Questions are being asked about why the Brisbane Broncos still haven't confirmed the signing of Grant Anderson from the Melbourne Storm, or a supposed contract extension for Kotoni Staggs. Reports emerged last November that Anderson had signed with the Broncos for 2026, and Storm coach Craig Bellamy confirmed the outside back's departure in April.
But the Broncos are still yet to formally announce Anderson's arrival. Coach Michael Maguire has stated on numerous occasions that he'd love to keep both Selwyn Cobbo and Kotoni Staggs, and a contract extension for Staggs is said to be all but signed.
Grant Anderson and Melbourne Storm players alongside Selwyn Cobbo and Kotoni Staggs. Grant Anderson's move to the Broncos is still yet to be formally announced. However that too is yet to be confirmed, and it's led to renewed speculation about what the future holds. With the Broncos under immense salary cap pressure, it's likely they'll eventually have to part ways with Staggs and Cobbo.
Cobbo has been linked to NRL expansion teams PNG and Perth, and could become a marquee signing for one of the new franchises. As for Staggs, rumours have been rife for months that he's agreed to a new deal to remain in Brisbane on $2.4 million over three seasons.
But the deal still hasn't been lodged with the NRL, and it's led to concerns that one of the parties (Staggs or the Broncos) might have gotten cold feet. With Anderson arriving in 2026 and Gehamat Shibasaki establishing himself as a first-grader, it opens up the possibility that the Broncos could look to save a heap of money by parting ways with both Staggs and Cobbo.
Neither of Anderson or Shibasaki (or Jesse Arthars or Deine Mariner for that matter) would be on big contracts, meaning the Broncos could upgrade their forward pack if Cobbo and Staggs departed. There's a serious need to improve the back-row in Brisbane, with the likes of Jordan Riki, Brendan Piakura and Kobe Hetherington struggling.
Kotoni Staggs and Selwyn Cobbo are both coming off contract. Speaking on Triple M radio on Sunday, journalist Michael Hooper said: "The funny thing with the Grant Anderson contract is it's never been formally announced. If you speak to anyone at Melbourne, they certainly believe it is going to happen, but the Broncos have never put out a formal announcement."
“Staggs must be sitting there thinking 'I carried this team last year. Why did I bust my arse?" Graham said. "And why would they go and sign Grant Anderson in November?' Grant Anderson's agent must have thought it was a prank phone call from the Broncos considering they're supposedly trying to re-sign Staggs and Cobbo."
Anton Posa also recently described it as 'weird' that Anderson's move to the Broncos hasn't been confirmed over six months later (DT)
