Brisbane moves to lock up free-scoring winger on three-year deal
COREY Oates will be rewarded for the best season of his career, with the veteran Broncos winger to be handed a $1.2m contract extension.
Oates remains off-contract at season’s end and is just eight weeks away from becoming a free agent, fuelling concerns the 27-year-old may be squeezed out by the Broncos due to salary-cap pressures.
But Brisbane coach Kevin Walters insists Oates will be in Broncos colours next season after a superb campaign in which he has scored 20 tries from 21 matches – the best haul of his 10-year NRL career.
Brisbane originally discussed a two-year deal, but such is Oates’ brilliant form that he will be given a three-year extension to keep him at Red Hill until the end of 2025.
“Corey has been outstanding for us this year,” Walters said on the eve of the Broncos-dragons clash in Sydney on Saturday.
“I don’t think it will be his last game this year or for the Broncos in general. We are confident we can come to an agreement with Oatesy. He has had his best season for a long time. We appreciate what he is doing for us and he is another one who we need at his best against the Dragons.”
Oates is on $500,000 at Brisbane and it is understood he faces a pay cut to continue his career at the Broncos. His revised deal will be worth about $400,000 annually, but Brisbane’s decision to table a three-year offer gives the Queensland Origin winger job security as he approaches his 30s.
Oates is the greatest tryscorer at Suncorp Stadium and is fourth on the Broncos’ alltime try-scoring list with 118 four-pointers from 191 games.