Broncos veteran Corey Oates has been linked with a move to the Knights with the winger reportedly feeling “disrespected” by his salary next season.
Brisbane are desperately trying to keep their squad together with several young stars due upgraded deals on the back of the club’s stellar season.
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Oates is reportedly earning around $450,000 and has options in his favour for 2024 and 2025, but is considering heading elsewhere for a higher payday.
“Corey Oates, I wouldn’t say he’s in dispute with the club over his future, he’s got an option up there which is at a certain amount, Corey and his management perhaps think he’s worth more than that,” Brent Read said on Triple M.
“There’s a bit of talk about Corey Oates in Newcastle, obviously they’ll lose Dom Young at the end of the year who is going to the Sydney Roosters.
“It would be a big decision for Corey Oates to leave Brisbane, he’s been part of that club for so long and I’m sure his preference is to stay but if you’re feeling a bit disrespected and feel you’re worth more than what the club is offering… he’s played for his state.”
Fellow journalist Ben Dobbin shed more light on the unfolding situation with Oates in Brisbane.
“The understanding with Oatesy is he’s signed a two-year deal that’s in his favour now the money at the moment it’s reported, with a ratched, he’s earning around that $450,000,” Dobbin said.
“Last year he got his career back on track, a couple of years prior he was a bit off, he’s had injuries and everything like that and Brisbane have got Deine Mariner, Jesse Arthars who re-signed and has been really good for them and that’s a decision Kevvie is going to have to make next week - do they go with Jesse Arthurs back from suspension or Corey Oates who is fit as well.
“Oatesy is a bit frustrated because the freight (salary) is not that big next year, now he can go to Newcastle - and he probably is around that $400,000 a year player that he’s on in Brisbane.
“Now Reynolds wants another year that wasn’t factored in, Walsh has got to be upgraded, Ezra has got to be upgraded, they’ve just got Payne sorted.
“They’ve got some young blokes coming through as well that they don’t want to lose, Ben Te Kura, Xavier Willison, and they just haven’t got the money.
“In the past they would have panicked but they’re not doing that anymore.
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“They’ve also got Jordan Pereira and Delouise Hoeter, both of those blokes have played first grade before and have not played at all this year for the Broncs. Tristan Sailor is another kid who is very good who has re-signed.
“So Oatesy as much as he’s a club legend and a 10-year player, I think he either takes the freight or heads south.
“He might not even be selected next week because Jesse Arthars is back.”
Originally published as Corey Oates to walk out on Broncos over ‘disrespectful’ salary
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