Meanwhile, Tristan Sailor is weighing up his future at the Broncos as Super League clubs wage a bidding war to poach Reece Walsh’s fullback understudy.
With Walsh away on Queensland Origin duty, Sailor will be a crucial backfield weapon for a Brisbane side under pressure to snap a five-game losing streak in Saturday night’s clash against the Dragons at Suncorp Stadium.
But how long Sailor remains in Broncos colours remains to be seen amid poaching raids from Super League clubs Hull FC and St Helens.
In an intriguing twist, Broncos coach Kevin Walters’ assistants, Lee Briers and John Cartwright, are in the thick of the fight and on a collision course for Sailor’s signature.
Briers will depart Brisbane at season’s end and is tipped to be an assistant at St Helens, while Cartwright will take theremins at Hull FC and is keen to make Sailor his marquee Australian recruit.
Sailor is contracted to the Broncos until the end of 2025, but could seek an early release from Walters if the terms of his English offers are palatable.
Sailor is happy at the Broncos, but having just turned 26, he is five years older than Walsh and realistic about his hopes of playing regular NRL at a club where ‘Reece Lightning’ is a fullback superstar.
The utility-back livewire managed just four games for the Broncos in his first year at the club last season and plays his eighth game this year against his former club the Dragons with Walsh in Camp Maroon for Origin III.
Compounding the frustration for Sailor, he has built a good friendship with Walsh, but the opportunity for regular game time in the English Super League could be too good to refuse.
Sailor, who wages a mouth-watering fullback showdown with Dragons ace Tyrell Sloan on Saturday night, said a fortnight ago the prospect of reluctantly quitting the Broncos was a consideration.
Now the interest from St Helens and Cartwright’s Hull FC makes it a live option.
“It’s definitely a hard one,” said Sailor of his Broncos future.
“I absolutely love the Broncos, but roster-wise it is very hard.
“That’s why, with the opportunities I get, I want to make the most of them.
“We have such a strong roster and the thing is everyone (in the playmaking spine) is younger than me … Jock (Madden), Ezra (Mam) and ‘Walshy’.
“As I always say, I have to take opportunities and where that comes, who knows where it might come.”
Walters has previously blocked a Sailor transfer. Last summer, the son of Broncos legend Wendell Sailor attracted a two-year deal from English club Leigh Leopards, but Walters stressed Tristan was a key part of his 2024 premiership plans.
But the ‘Reece Roadblock’ could eventually force the hand of Walters, who has explored ways to get Sailor into his top 17 on a weekly basis. He was named on Brisbane’s bench in rounds 6 and 7 but Walters aborted the strategy of having another backon interchange.
Sailor is likely to lean towards a move to Hull FC given that England Test star Jack Welsby is St Helens’ first-choice fullback.
Walters is keen to keep Sailor at Red Hill but says his sole focus is ensuring Walsh’s back-up custodian fires against the Red V to keep 13th-placed Brisbane (7-9) in the finals race.
Asked if he is worried Sailor may look elsewhere for an opportunity, Walters said: “No. That’s in the future. You are looking too far ahead. We are one week at a time here at the Broncos.
“We are focused on the Dragons and Tristan is playing for the Broncos.
“Tristan needs to play well for us.
“He brings great knowledge of the game to our spine and is a terrific player.
“We have seen that from him in the past and we need to see that again from him (against the Dragons).
“It is a wonderful opportunity for him to showcase his skills.
“I know he likes the big stage … well, there is the big stage young fella.”
