One NRL half-back has been tipped to ‘thrive in Super League’ amid reports that he is set to be squeezed out of his current club.
Jock Madden looks set to be the victim of Brisbane Broncos’ big-spending off-season with the 24-year-old reportedly given permission to talk with rival clubs, including those in Super League.
It’s been an off-season of change for the Broncos who have seen their two assistant coaches John Cartwright and Lee Briers move to Super League, whilst Kevin Walters was sacked after a lacklustre 2024.
New South Wales coach Michael Maguire has arrived but the highest-profile arrival is star playmaker Ben Hunt, who now looks to be forcing Jock Madden out of the club given Hunt’s salary demands.
Hunt has been handed a $600,000 two-year deal meaning that the salary cap is beginning to pinch for a team that already boasts the likes of Reece Walsh and Payne Haas.
As such, Madden has now been told that he’s free to sign somewhere else with both NRL and Super League sides interested.
NRL half offered to Super League
That’s per The Daily Telegraph who explicitly stated that Madden ‘would thrive in Super League’. The 24-year-old has just 32 NRL appearances to his name with ten of those coming in 2024.
Madden is contracted until the end of the 2026 season but the Broncos are happy to allow him to depart given they have Hunt, Adam Reynolds and Ezra Mam still in the picture, despite his possible suspension.
As an able half-back, Madden would have a lot of Super League suitors but currently just two teams have the ability to sign overseas players.
They are Huddersfield Giants and Leigh Leopards with Adrian Lam’s side the more obvious destination considering Matt Moylan’s shock retirement leaving them with just Gareth O’Brien alongside star player Lachlan Lam in the halves.
Huddersfield have both Tui Lolohea and Adam Clune but no obvious depth behind them after the exits of Jake Connor and Olly Russell.
