Axed Oates feeling the pinch at Broncos
Out-of-favour Brisbane star Corey Oates is in limbo at the Broncos as tensions escalate over the veteran winger’s controversial axing to reserve grade.
The former Queensland Origin ace has been overlooked for the second consecutive week in favour of Deine Mariner for the clash against South Sydney at Suncorp Stadium on Thursday night.
A shock omission for Brisbane’s clash in Vegas in round 1 despite a bumper pre-season, Oates was expected to play for new feeder club Burleigh in the Hostplus Cup season opener against Norths Devils last Saturday.
However, Oates was a late scratching for the Bears and it is understood the 201-game Broncos stalwart is unlikely to play for Burleigh in its home clash against Townsville on Saturday at Pizzey Park.
Oates is privately frustrated at not only his NRL omission but his subsequent allocation to Queensland Cup affiliate
Burleigh, which is more than 110km from his Brisbane home.
It is understood Oates has concerns over the tyranny of distance and travel required to play for the Gold Coast-based Bears when the Broncos’ two other feeder clubs, Wynnum Manly and Souths Logan, are in Brisbane.
The Broncos insist Oates is not boycotting Burleigh as a form of protest at his omission from the NRL.
Oates has sought feedback from Kevin Walters over his relegation to the second tier but the Broncos coach said he had not closed the door on the 29-year-old.
“Corey didn’t play on the weekend (for Burleigh) and I don’t think he will play this weekend, either,” Walters said. “We are just keeping him fresh.
“I just feel at the moment I want to go with our other two wingers in Deine and Jesse (Arthars).
“It’s hard for Corey, he’s not playing at the moment, but that’s not to say he won’t be back for us at some stage this season.”
Oates is walking a tightrope at the Broncos.
The sole survivor of Brisbane’s 2015 grand final team, Oates is one of the club’s greatest finishers and ranked fourth on its alltime tryscoring list with 118 tries behind Steve Renouf, Darren Lockyer and Michael Hancock.
But the veteran of nine Origin matches is offcontract at season’s end and faces an uncertain future at the Broncos if he can’t unseat Mariner and Arthars from the starting side.
It’s been a tumultuous past 12 months for Oates, who played just nine matches last year due to a knee injury and broken jaw, and was dropped on the eve of the 2023 finals in favour of Arthars.
“Corey is doing everything right,” Walters said. “The reality is I can only put 17 out there on the field each week.”