Karmichael Hunt's startling call on why Broncos can afford to lose Selwyn Cobbo or Kotoni Staggs

Broncos great Karmichael Hunt has questioned whether Michael Maguire needs to retain both of Selwyn Cobbo and Kotoni Staggs, with rugby union convert Glen Vaihu emerging as a potential ready-made replacement. Maguire and the Broncos are facing a huge call to retain both Cobbo and Staggs, with their contracts finishing at the end of the 2025.

Former coach Kevin Walters talked about the issues facing the club to retain both Staggs and Cobbo under the current salary cap, with the club forced to the brink having re-sgined Ezra Mam and Payne Haas on big deals. The contract extension of Reece Walsh - who finally extended his stay at the Broncos in a mega $5 million deal - has also placed the the club's salary cap in a bind.

Suggestions are one of the two players will have to take a pay cut to stay at club. The Broncos are reportedly eyeing the contract extension of Staggs first, which would leave Cobbo with a difficult decision on whether to chase a bigger contract elsewhere or stay at the club.

However, former Broncos fullback and the club's current reserve grade coach Hunt has offered up a solution. Hunt has claimed Vaihu has the ability to step up into NRL competition and thrive for the Broncos. The 23-year-old came from rugby union and featured in four games for the South's Logan Magpies - the Broncos' feeder team - towards the end of the season.

The outside back scored two tries in his short time for the Magpies. And Hunt - a former Queensland and Kangaroos representative - has praised Vaihu's ability and claimed he needs to be given a chance so he stays in rugby league.

"He was so motivated to give it a crack, he actually played some Brisbane Rugby League games first," Hunt told The Brisbane Times. "His athletic ability, and ability to beat defenders one-on-one, has really stood out. He had some offers to go back to Super Rugby and overseas, but he wanted to really give rugby league a red-hot crack.

"We desperately want him to stay in rugby league because he's such a difference with the ball. He's got really good late footwork at the line. He's really powerful build with good acceleration, and he loves the tough stuff."

Vaihu's rise in rugby league could sway the Broncos' decision on whether to splash on both Cobbo and Staggs or promote the promising rugby union convert. Despite speculation, Staggs appears to be the priority for the Broncos going forward.

Kotoni Staggs in line for new contract

There has been plenty of speculation over who the Broncos will prioritise, with Corey Parker claiming Cobbo could seek up to $1 million a year at a rival club. Cobbo showed his talent in State of Origin Game 1 this year for Queensland, but failed to recover the game form for the Broncos.

And reporter Brent Read has claimed Staggs is more likely to stay at the Broncos with Cobbo's manager reportedly reaching out to rival clubs to see his worth. This is a telling move from new coach Maguire if the Broncos do seek to tie down Staggs first.

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"This is another big one. Kotoni is a priority at the moment now. I reckon they will knock him over, they will get a deal done," Read said on Triple M Radio last week. "They are told he wants to stay and they'll get a deal done. Selwyn is real interesting...he is obviously an elite player, but it is hard to see him outside of Brisbane.

"I know his management has been ringing clubs trying to drive that price up. I find it hard to see Selwyn coming to Sydney. That means they have to drum up interest in Brisbane." Cobbo