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Broncos & Stoke City

Season snapshot as at Monday 26 October 2026 · v18 · The Kangaroos beat Fiji 36–22 at Suncorp with Kotoni Staggs scoring first and Reece Walsh rested, and are already through to the semi-finals; 1 November is six days away for Willison, Riki and now Blake Mozer; and Stoke drew 0–0 with Bristol City and slipped to 9th on goal difference

Editorial snapshot · 26 October 2026 · Manual updates
Australia v Cook Islands · Sat 31 Oct, 7:05pm AEST · Townsville — 5 days; the Kangaroos are already through
1 November · 6 days — Willison, Riki and Mozer can talk to rival clubs
World Cup semi-final · Sun 8 Nov, 7:05pm AEST · Allianz Stadium, Sydney — 13 days
World Cup final · Sun 15 Nov, 6:35pm AEST · Suncorp Stadium — 20 days
Stoke next · Sat 31 Oct · Preston (24th) at home, 12:30pm GMT (10:30pm AEST) — 5 days away
Clocks · UK clocks went back on Sun 25 Oct — Stoke kick-offs are now 10 hours behind Brisbane
Window shut · 11pm BST, Tue 1 Sep — summer business completed. Next is January

Brisbane Broncos

NRL 2026 · Men finished 14th · NRLW runners-up · Seven Broncos men and six Broncos women at the World Cup
Next up — the Kangaroos in Townsville, five days away
Australia v Cook Islands · World Cup, round 3

When: Saturday 31 October, 7:05pm AEST, Queensland Country Bank Stadium, Townsville — Queensland time, so no conversion needed
What is at stake: places in the side, mostly. Two wins from two mean Australia are already through, and NRL.com has their semi-final booked for Allianz Stadium on Sunday 8 November
The Brisbane interest: Kotoni Staggs and Pat Carrigan have played in both games; Reece Walsh was rested against Fiji, and Walters has not said who plays fullback next
Same afternoon: New Zealand play Fiji on the Gold Coast at 2:30pm AEST; Xavier Willison started for the Kiwis on Sunday

5
days to Townsville · Sat 31 Oct
Reece Walsh, in a maroon Brisbane Broncos jersey, at the pitch-side barrier as fans crowd round him and one holds up a phone, with the floodlit pitch and a camera operator behind
Archive photo · Reece Walsh meets fans after the World Club Challenge, MKM Stadium, Hull, 19 February 2026. Hull KR won it 30–24 (NRL.com). Almost eight months later he scored an 80-metre try in Australia's World Cup opener, and ten days after that he was rested for Fiji.
Photo: Hullian111 / Wikimedia Commons source · Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (CC BY-SA 4.0) · Resized; no crop.

Latest result with Broncos in it — Australia 36, Fiji 22, at Suncorp

World Cup round 2 · Sun 25 Oct · Suncorp Stadium · 12–10 at half-time · Crowd 41,108

Australia36 – 22Fiji

Closer than the score, and the first try belonged to a Bronco: Kotoni Staggs went through a hole from James Tedesco's short ball on 7', a try “at his home ground”, as NRL.com put it. Fiji had the better of the first hour by NRL.com's account, scored through Semi Valemei and Taane Milne, and led 16–12 three minutes into the second half. Tom Trbojevic's three tries in 15 minutes turned it, Valemei completed a hat-trick of his own, and Jacob Preston sealed it on 76'. Pat Carrigan came off the bench in the 28th minute and made 26 tackles in 45 minutes (NRL.com match statistics). Reece Walsh was a late withdrawal from the bench — “given the night off to rest ahead of the bigger games to come”, in NRL.com's team notes — and Tedesco, captaining Australia in his first Test since 2023, had three try assists. Fiji's Kurt Donoghoe was player of the match. Walters: "I think we need more from everyone. We know we can play better."

NRLW finals 2026 — a season that ended one game short

Knights 40–16W
Titans 20–8W
Roosters 6–30L

The grand final on 4 October went to the Roosters, 30–6 in front of 47,451 at Accor Stadium, completing a 13–0 season. Jesse Southwell scored Brisbane's try, Tarryn Aiken won the Karyn Murphy Medal, and it was Ali Brigginshaw's last game for the club. The full write-up is kept in index-v17.html.

The men's last six of 2026 — the historical record

KnightsL
DolphinsL
WarriorsL
RaidersW
StormL
BulldogsW

The Suncorp ledger — the whole men's season in one table

SplitPWLWin %
Home fixtures (all at Suncorp)1221016.7
Away fixtures126650.0
… of which, played at Suncorp2020.0
Total appearances at Suncorp1421214.3

Carried forward from the previous edition’s match-by-match review, because two true numbers were in circulation and looked contradictory. AAP's review coverage said Brisbane lost 12 of 14 at Suncorp; this page runs 2–10 at home. Both are right: Brisbane played two further games at Suncorp that were not home fixtures — the Warriors in Magic Round (Round 11) and the Dolphins in Round 23, which was Redcliffe's home game. They lost both. The club's own season review put it the same way as AAP — “lost 12 of 14 at Suncorp” — and made home form one of five stated priorities for 2027.

2026 by the numbers

14thFinal men's ladder position
8–16Win–loss, 22 comp points
28.2Points conceded a game — 677 all up
2–10Home record at Suncorp
4/5NRLW grand finals won from five
6Days to 1 November

The tile that belongs at the top of this list and has never been on this page: Brisbane went into 2026 as the reigning premiers. Michael Maguire won the 2025 title — only the second coach in the club's history to do it — and the following season the same club finished 14th and conceded 28.2 points a game. Every number above reads differently once that is in front of them.

Final 2026 ladder

#TeamPts+/−
1Panthers · out, prelim42+336
2Warriors · out, semi-final42+310
3Dolphins · out, prelim40+156
4Roosters · PREMIERS38+118
5Sharks · out, semi-final34+149
6Rabbitohs34+113
7Knights · runners-up34+42
8Cowboys32−84
· · · finals cut-off · · ·
9Sea Eagles28+99
10Storm28+18
11Raiders28−45
12Bulldogs28−60
13Eels24−181
14Broncos22−206
15Wests Tigers22−254
16Titans18−186
17Dragons16−325

Final ladder carried forward from the previous edition. Brisbane’s 14th place, 8–16 record and 471–677 points tally were checked against Rugby League Project; the other clubs’ full figures have not been independently re-audited in this review.

NRLW 2026 — how the ladder finished

#TeamW–LPts
1Roosters · PREMIERS11–022
2Titans · out, prelim10–120
3Broncos · runners-up8–316
4Wests Tigers · out, week 17–414
5Raiders · out, prelim6–512
6Knights · out, week 15–610

Top six only, from the NRL's own ladder (corrected in v15). Brisbane lost three in a row up to a 28–20 defeat by the Titans in round 8, then won their last three and both finals before the grand final; the one regular-season meeting with the Roosters was round 7, lost 34–20.

Worth knowing

  • 1 November now has three Broncos on it. On 21 October News Corp reported, via Zero Tackle, that hooker Blake Mozer — 22, contracted to the end of 2027, 16 NRL games — had been given permission to talk to other clubs. Two days later the club pushed back. Troy Thomson, to the Courier Mail: "There's a future for Blake at the Broncos, definitely… Blake is a free agent from November 1, but he is still contracted to us for next year and we are happy to honour that deal." Maguire: "I definitely do see a future for him here." That puts Mozer beside Xavier Willison, still unannounced after the conflicting reports of 13 and 18 October, and Jordan Riki, about whom this page found no new reporting this week. Six days to go, and no announcement for any of them.
  • Walsh: rested on the field, wanted off it. After an 80-metre try and more than 200 run metres in the opener, Walsh sat out the Fiji game. Off the field, The Daily Telegraph reports (via Zero Tackle, 24 October) that new recruitment boss Peter O'Sullivan — who helped bring Walsh to the Warriors in 2021 — has made a long-term deal for him his first priority. Walsh is contracted to the end of 2029, which NRL.com's signings tracker agrees with. Maguire: "We want 'Reecey' at the club for a long time." No offer has been reported; this is an intention, not a contract.
  • The other Broncos men at the World Cup. Xavier Willison started in the second row for New Zealand and played all 80 minutes of an 82–16 win over the Cook Islands in Christchurch: 157 run metres and 23 tackles without a miss (NRL.com). Deine Mariner is out with a hamstring injury — he scored on 2' against France, then lasted ten minutes. Tupou Francis came off Lebanon's bench and made 20 tackles in a 36–0 loss to Tonga. Ben Talty made England's final 23 but has not yet been picked for a game; Zero Tackle reports his maternal grandmother was raised in Staffordshire, which makes him the nearest thing this page has to a crossover. Two of next year's recruits are there too: Dane Gagai, rested by New Zealand on Sunday, and Shawn Blore, off Samoa's bench in both games.
  • The Broncos women at the World Cup. In the Jillaroos' 78–0 win over England in Perth, Tamika Upton had six try assists from fullback, and Julia Robinson, moved into the centres, scored her second try of the tournament (NRL.com). Jesse Southwell is one of three Broncos in the 23-player squad but has not been in the side for either game. Tavarna Papalii started at lock and scored for Samoa in a 76–0 win over Wales, and Shannon Mato and Brianna Clark both played in New Zealand's opening 18–12 win over Fiji. The Jillaroos' semi-final is at Allianz Stadium on 8 November, earlier the same evening as the Kangaroos'.
  • New faces for 2027. On 19 October the club confirmed Wilson De Courcey (21, two years, from Newcastle) and Richard Penisini (21, a development contract, from Parramatta). Four days earlier the NRLW side signed Tongan international Martha Mataele from Parramatta on a two-year deal. Details are in the ins and outs below.

Three names on one clock, a Test in numbers, and the road to the final

Kangaroos: through to the semi-finalsMen's season over · 14th · 8–166 days to 1 November

Step 1 — the free-agency clock, now with three names on it. The rule, and the club's own confirmation of the date, twice:

Rule (RLPA contracting window): a player may negotiate with rival clubs once he enters the FINAL TWELVE MONTHS of his contract. Contract expires : end of 2027 Final twelve months open: 1 November 2026 Days from snapshot (26 Oct 2026) : 6 Applies to: Xavier Willison off contract end 2027 -> 1 Nov 2026 Jordan Riki off contract end 2027 -> 1 Nov 2026 (see note) Blake Mozer off contract end 2027 -> 1 Nov 2026 From the club: Troy Thomson on Riki, 25 September -- "He can't talk to anyone until November 1, we haven't given him permission to talk." Troy Thomson on Mozer, this week -- "Blake is a free agent from November 1"

A note on Riki's contract. NRL.com's signings tracker, updated 22 October, lists Jordan Riki as contracted through 2028. The same list does not include Preston Riki, a different Broncos forward whose re-signing in May runs to the end of 2028 (Zero Tackle). AAP reported in November 2023 that Jordan Riki had re-signed to the end of 2027, and the club's own 1 November statement only makes sense on that date, so this page keeps 2027 and flags the conflict rather than resolving it.

Step 2 — what 2027 actually requires. An illustrative comparison using the 2026 structure, not a confirmed 2027 schedule. The NRL pays two competition points a win plus two for each of three byes, so a season converts cleanly:

comp points = (wins x 2) + 6 Brisbane 2026 8 wins -> 22 pts (14th) 2026 finals cut-off 13 wins -> 32 pts (Cowboys, 8th) Shortfall 5 wins Holding the 6–6 road record and fixing Suncorp: Suncorp 5–7 -> 11 wins = 28 pts Suncorp 6–6 -> 12 wins = 30 pts one win short of this year's eight Suncorp 7–5 -> 13 wins = 32 pts level with this year's eight Suncorp 8–4 -> 14 wins = 34 pts

The shape has not changed and it still cuts both ways. Going from the worst home record in the competition to a merely ordinary one only reaches the edge of the eight on this year's numbers — that is how far 2026 fell. But it is five wins, not fifteen, and the away half already happened: 6–6 on the road is a mid-table team, managed with an injured fullback, a retiring halfback and a defensive brief that changed hands in July. Keeping the two forwards on the November clock is the cheapest five-wins-worth of improvement available — and the club has now spent on a head of performance as well.

Step 3 — the Fiji Test, scored from NRL.com's timeline.

Australia tries Staggs 7', Walker 33', Trbojevic 47', 57', 62', Preston 76' = 6 tries = 24 Australia goals Walker: 5 conversions + 1 penalty goal = 12 Australia total 36 OK Fiji tries Valemei 17', 43', 69'; Milne 25' = 4 tries = 16 Fiji goals Wakeham: 3 conversions = 6 Fiji total 22 OK Half-time 12–10 · Fiji led 16–12 at 44' · Australia ahead for good from 54'

Step 4 — Pool A, and the road to Suncorp on Brisbane's clock.

Pool A after two rounds P W L PF PA PD Pts Australia 2 2 0 60 44 +16 4 New Zealand 2 1 1 104 40 +64 2 Fiji 2 1 1 62 48 +14 2 Cook Islands 2 0 2 28 122 -94 0 New Zealand v Fiji meet on Saturday, so only one of them can reach 4 points: Australia are through with a game to spare. Australia v Cook Is, Townsville, Sat 31 Oct 09:05 UTC = 7:05pm AEST Semi-final, Allianz Stadium, Sun 8 Nov 09:05 UTC = 7:05pm AEST World Cup final, Suncorp, Sun 15 Nov 08:35 UTC = 6:35pm AEST

The honest summary. On the field it was a good week for Brisbane's players: the opening try at Suncorp for Staggs, 26 tackles from Carrigan, 80 minutes from Willison, and a planned night off for Walsh. Off it, the date that matters more is six days away, when three Broncos can take calls from rival clubs; the club has said publicly it wants Willison and Mozer to stay. Brisbane lost Payne Haas from exactly this position a year ago.

Ins and outs — Broncos

Six listed arrivals for 2027. NRL.com's signings tracker, updated 22 October, lists five of them as 2027 gains (Pezet, Barnett, Gagai, Blore, De Courcey); Penisini is on a development contract, announced by the club on 19 October. Contract lengths other than those were not re-verified this edition. Destinations are not assumed when unannounced.

↘ Joining for 2027
  • Mitch Barnett Confirmed
    Back-rower from the Warriors, contracted through 2029. The headline forward recruit to replace Haas's minutes, if not his impact. Missed selection for Australia's World Cup squad.
  • Jonah Pezet Confirmed
    Halfback from Parramatta through 2029 — the Reynolds succession plan, and likely to be coached by Reynolds himself.
  • Shawn Blore Confirmed
    Back-rower from Melbourne, contracted through 2028.
  • Dane Gagai Confirmed
    Centre from Newcastle, one year, through 2027. Played in the Knights' 19–18 grand-final loss; cleared by the IRL on 3 October to switch to New Zealand, and named in their World Cup squad.
  • Wilson De Courcey Confirmed
    Centre, 21, from Newcastle on a two-year Top 30 deal to 2028, announced by the club on 19 October. Two NRL games for the Knights this year and 18 tries in 20 NSW Cup games — corrected this edition from the club's announcement.
  • Richard Penisini Confirmed — new
    Outside back, 21, from Parramatta on a development contract for 2027. Knee injuries interrupted his 2024 and 2026 seasons; the club says he is back to full fitness.
↗ Leaving
  • Adam Reynolds Confirmed — retired
    323 NRL games, no final and no farewell match in 2026. Joins the coaching staff in 2027, role still being defined.
  • Payne Haas Confirmed
    To South Sydney, 2027–2029, reported at $3.6m over three years. Finger surgery; not in Samoa's World Cup squad.
  • Jaiyden Hunt Confirmed — new
    To Canberra, two years, reported $350,000. Announced 14 September. Was on last week's "undecided" list.
  • Jack Gosiewski Confirmed — leaving
    Contract not renewed. No destination reported. Also moved off last week's "undecided" list, halfway.
  • Corey Jensen Confirmed — retired
    Retiring rather than moving on.
  • Jesse Arthars, Gehamat Shibasaki, Grant Anderson, Joshua Coric Confirmed
    Arthars to Catalans Dragons, Shibasaki to the Perth Bears, Anderson to the Warriors, Coric to Hull FC on a two-year deal.
  • Delouise Hoeter Confirmed — retired
    Farewelled as a retiring player at the club awards on 14 September.
  • Josh Rogers, Ben Te Kura Confirmed — departing
    Both acknowledged as departing in the club’s awards announcement. NRL.com's signings tracker lists Te Kura as “released / NFL”; Rogers' destination is not verified.

Xavier Willison, Jordan Riki and Blake Mozer are on neither list. All three are contracted for 2027 (one source puts Riki's contract to 2028 — see the maths panel); none has an early release; all three may be approached by rival clubs from 1 November 2026. Willison was reported on 13 October to have verbally agreed an extension, to be signed after 1 November, and on 18 October to be testing the market; he has said publicly he wants to stay. Riki is expected to test a market where comparable second-rowers are getting $850,000 to over $1m, and the Warriors are the club linked. Mozer has permission to talk to rivals, according to News Corp; the club says it is happy to honour his contract. None of this is resolved, and nothing here is a signing.

NRLW, for 2027: Martha Mataele Confirmed, a Tongan international outside back, 27, joins from Parramatta on a two-year deal announced by the club on 15 October. She won two caps for the Black Ferns in rugby union before switching codes, and earlier this month she captained Tonga to a Test win over the Cook Islands. Last week's edition missed this signing.

Coaching and football staff for 2027, since it is movement even if it is not players: Peter O'Sullivan in as general manager of recruitment from Newcastle (confirmed 14 October); Jon Clarke in as head of performance from Manly; Matt Ballin confirmed as defensive coach after taking the brief in July; Ben Te'o out, to Queensland; Trent Barrett stays on attack; Adam Brideson stays in development with a new hire to support him; Troy Thomson up to executive general manager of football; Dave Pallard up to general manager; Adam Reynolds joining the staff in a role still being defined.