Adam Reynolds detail that could see Broncos retain both Selwyn Cobbo and Kotoni Staggs

Broncos coach Michael Maguire has vowed to do everything in his power to keep Kotoni Staggs and Selwyn Cobbo despite the coup of Ben Hunt putting an even bigger squeeze on an already tight Brisbane salary cap. Many didn't believe the Broncos had any room in the salary cap to sign the former Dragons halfback but the club managed to get it done, despite in recent years handing out several multimillion-dollar contract upgrades to the likes of Ezra Mam, Payne Haas and vice-captain Pat Carrigan.

Most recently, the Broncos tied down star fullback Reece Walsh to a four-year $4.4 million extension, making him the highest-paid player in the club's history. But the Hunt deal is one that many fear could have sealed the exits of promising backline talent Cobbo and Staggs. The pair are both off-contract next season and Brisbane are yet to lock either player down to a new deal.

Brisbane's salary cap had very little wiggle room last year, with the club reportedly having just $150,000 left before the June 30 transfer cut-off, according to The Courier Mail. After rejecting Tevita Pangai Jnr, they used that money to bring in Jack Gosiewski and the Broncos have again recalibrated their salary cap for 2025 to snare Hunt as they chase their first title in 19 years.

However, the squeeze is going to be felt over the next two seasons with something simply having to give. And captain Adam Reynolds could ultimately help solve what is arguably Maguire's biggest headache by calling time on his career at the end of their 2025 campaign.

Cobbo and Staggs are currently locked into contracts worth around $650,000 a year, however, both are expected to get upgraded deals, whether they remain at Red Hill or not. But Reynolds, who is on around $550,000 a year could hypothetically free up the necessary space for Maguire to hold onto both Staggs and Cobbo if he retires at the end of 2025.

The Brisbane captain's deal currently expires at the end of next year, and despite Reynolds stating in April he could play on in 2026, retiring at the end of next year would hardly be a surprise given his recent injury history. It would also be a decision that may be encouraged by Maguire if it means holding onto Cobbo and Staggs, who both have long and promising careers ahead of them.

RELATED:

• Phil Gould's classy move after Paul Vautin news saddens NRL world

• Former teammate's classy act after Clint Gutherson move with wife

Michael Maguire doubles down on plan to keep strike pair

Maguire has stated on several occasions since taking over at the Broncos that he plans to find a way to keep both Cobbo and Staggs. “Well I want to keep both Kotoni and Selwyn,” Maguire confirmed once again last week. “How we achieve that is up to the organisation and what we do there.

“I tend to steer away from that (salary cap management) and how that happens. At the end of the day, I want both of them here … but how we do that is a work in progress.”

There is little doubt that Hunt’s purchase has further pushed Brisbane's salary cap to the absolute limit. And while Reynolds would be the most obvious solution, there are plenty of off-contract players that could also be let go in order to hold onto the strike pair.

Of Brisbane's top 30 who are all on full-time deals, half of them are off-contract at the end of 2025. While many under contract will be likely to demand improved deals to stay on at Red Hill. And to add further strain on the salary cap, Walsh's contract will almost double in 2026 to $1.1 million, somewhat cancelling out Reynolds' contract if he were to retire anyway.

While there will be a slight increase in the NRL’s base salary cap from $11.25 million this season to $11.4m in 2025, it will be impossible for Brisbane to hold onto the same squad they will line up within 2025 for the 2026 campaign. And the Hunt deal only makes things even more complicated.