The NRL has yet to approve Ben Hunt’s highly anticipated return to the Brisbane Broncos, as concerns arise over the club’s salary cap compliance. Hunt’s $600,000 annual deal, part of a two-year $1.2 million contract, comes after the star halfback walked away from a lucrative $950,000-per-year deal with the Dragons.
The Broncos must submit Hunt’s formal contract to the NRL by Tuesday for it to be registered, but league officials are carefully analyzing its legitimacy. Factors like Hunt’s age and the terms of competing offers will influence the final decision.
Questions are being raised across the league about how the Broncos can afford Hunt without offloading players. Several high-profile Broncos, including Payne Haas ($1M), Ezra Mam ($1M), and Reece Walsh (set to earn $1.1M by 2026), already command significant portions of the salary cap. Additional concerns stem from big-money contracts for Kotoni Staggs ($700K), Selwyn Cobbo ($600K), and Adam Reynolds ($500K).
One NRL coach expressed doubts, saying, “With that roster, the Broncos should win every game next year.”
Rumors suggest Kotoni Staggs could be the player sacrificed to make room for Hunt, as his talent would attract rival clubs willing to match his salary on a multi-year deal.
The Broncos argue their cap situation has eased with the departures of Herbie Farnworth, Thomas Flegler, and Kurt Capewell from the 2023 squad. However, skepticism persists, with Hunt’s return sparking broader debates about the NRL’s salary cap system.
As the deadline looms, all eyes are on the Broncos and the league’s decision, which could redefine the 2025 NRL season landscape.
