Hot field in race for top Broncos job

THE battle for the Broncos CEO post is hotting up with Storm boss Dave Donaghy and former Reds chief Richard Barker emerging as serious threats to edging out high-profile contender Ben Ikin.

News Corp can reveal Donaghy and Barker have rocketed into contention for one of the most prestigious roles in Australian sport after impressing Broncos bosses in a series of interviews which concluded this week.

The Broncos will finalise Paul White’s successor next week after jettisoning 160 applicants to establish a shortlist of five, which included Donaghy, Barker and former Brisbane and Queensland Origin playmaker Ikin.

A fourth individual interviewed is a high-powered chief executive who runs one of Australia’s top 50 companies.

The Broncos will hold a board meeting on Monday night to rubberstamp their appointment and negotiate terms with a view to a public announcement within a fortnight.

Sources close to the hiring process say that of the five candidates interviewed, two were standouts.

Ikin officially declared his interest in the post in August and was widely regarded as the frontrunner because of his football intellect and history with the club as a member of Brisbane’s 2000 premiership team.

But Ikin’s appointment is far from a fait accompli following slick presentations from Barker and Donaghy.

Former radio executive Barker served as Queensland Reds CEO for two years, appointing Brad Thorn as coach in 2017, while the 37-year-old Donaghy has been the Storm’s chief executive for the past five years.