Sad Departure: Two more players revealed to be leaving as Brisbane Broncos make $3 million roster overhaul

Sad Departure: Two more players revealed to be leaving as Brisbane Broncos make $3 million roster overhaul

Two more players are set to depart the Brisbane Broncos at the end of the season as the massive shake-up continues for Michael Maguire’s fallen NRL premiers. Souths-bound prop Payne Haas and retiring skipper Adam Reynolds are the highest-profile stars who’ll finish up at the Broncos at the end of 2026, as the club embarks on a $3 million roster overhaul.

And ahead of Thursday’s night final game of the season against Canterbury, News Corp is reporting that forward Jaiyden Hunt is set to join Canberra next season, while back-rower Jack Gosiewski has not been offered an extension. That means nine of Maguire’s current 30-man squad will not be at the club in 2027, with the multi-million dollar shake-up leaving the premiership-winning coach with a huge task to rebuild his squad after missing the finals this year.

 

Origin centre Gehamat Shibasaki is set to join the Perth Bears next season, while winger Jesse Arthars is heading to the UK to play for the Catalans Dragons. The Warriors have snapped up Grant Anderson, while veteran forward Corey Jensen was forced to medically retire earlier this year. It was also confirmed recently that Delouise Hoeter would depart after failing to land a new deal.

Six-time club best-and-fairest Haas is undoubtedly the biggest loss, but the Broncos have signed Warriors and NSW Origin prop Mitch Barnett to fill the sizeable hole he leaves behind. And former Maroons coach Billy Slater reckons the signing of Barnett will be crucial to Brisbane’s revival in 2027.

 

Signing of Mitch Barnett crucial to Broncos rebuild

“Mitch Barnett is exactly what they (the Broncos) need,” Slater said. “James Fisher-Harris is a great leader and you can see the impact that he’s had on the Warriors — but Mitch Barnett is equally as good.

“I had question marks over when the Broncos signed him, (because) he only played a couple of games back from an ACL repair. There’s always a question mark on how they return, but he’s done a great job.

 

“To perform the way he does, you have a look at every kick chase for the Warriors, and he’s down there. He’s down there in the middle of the field. That’s not easy to do for a big man that gets through all that work in the middle.”

Barnett has also been brought in to drive standards and help fill the leadership void at the Broncos next season. But Maguire admits they’re still on the lookout for another middle forward to form part of their bench rotation, and alleviate the pressure on the likes of Barnett, Pat Carrigan and Xavier Willison in the absence of Haas.