Contract wars no biggie for Kevvie

KEVIN Walters has defended the Broncos’ decision to dob in the Dolphins to the NRL as the expansion club remains under investigation over Brisbane’s contract wars saga.

The Dolphins are reportedly still being investigated by the NRL’s Integrity Unit following complaints from the Broncos.

While the NRL is no longer probing the situation around former Broncos rising star Karl Oloapu, who has joined Canterbury, it is yet to finalise its investigation around boom centre-winger Deine Mariner.

The Broncos believed the Dolphins were attempting to coax two of their best young players in Oloapu and Mariner out of contracts – a practice prohibited under the NRL’s recruitment rules.

Oloapu and Mariner formally requested releases last year, which were denied, after being tempted by moves to the cashed-up Dolphins.

Clubs are not allowed to coax a player out of a contract unless the player is given permission to negotiate.

The Broncos believed the Dolphins had breached the rules and formally complained to the NRL. Mariner remains contracted to the Broncos until the end of 2024, however Oloapu was released to the Bulldogs in January. The NRL has not taken action regarding Oloapu, but a spokesman said the Mariner matter had not been finalised.

The Broncos eventually gave in to Oloapu’s request for a release after Canterbury paid an exorbitant transfer fee for the schoolboys sensation.

The terms of release, decided by the Broncos, prohibited Oloapu from signing with the Dolphins, a clear sign of tensions between the clubs.

Broncos coach Walters said he had moved on. “I’m not bothered by it,” he said. “We’ll try to look after them (the Broncos players) and manage them and do the best things we can for our players.”