NRL club to allow early release for Super League-linked man named Leeds Rhinos ‘target’

An NRL club would allow the early release of one of their playmakers who has been named a Leeds Rhinos ‘target’, amidst a number of other Super League links.

Brisbane Broncos’ Jock Madden has been stuck in the Queensland Cup on a substantial salary that is set to rise to $400,000 in 2026, the final year of his contract.

The Broncos had signed him with the plan for him to be Adam Reynolds’ successor but since then the club have signed fellow veteran Ben Hunt meaning Madden has been stuck in reserves.

With Ezra Mam set to return from his ban soon there appears no path for the 25-year-old and with Brisbane keen to re-sign Adam Reynolds for 2026, they need to find cap space somewhere and Madden has been named as one of three potential casualties.

Fletcher Baker is another whilst Martin Taupau, who has constantly been linked to Super League throughout his career, is another but at 35 he could be set to call time.

With Madden’s salary rising to $400k from next year, the Broncos are keen to find him a new club and that has seen talks of a Super League move heat up again.

Super League-linked man set to be cap casualty at Brisbane Broncos

According to The Daily Telegraph Madden is “fighting for his future” at the club and his management have received “expressions of interest from Super League”.

The Broncos would be willing to agree to an early release meaning teams could land him from next year, before the end of his contract but there could be a problem, as Leeds Rhinos found out previously.

Reports emerged in April from the same outlet that Leeds Rhinos were keen to make a move for Madden, however, Super League rules regarding signing overseas players looked like preventing them.

Players signed from the NRL must have played in 50% or more of the games from the season prior to them signing but Madden only played ten of Brisbane’s 24, meaning he did not qualify, however there is a catch.

The RFL have confirmed to Serious About Rugby League that players must play 50% of the games they are available for and given that Madden missed time due to injury, he would actually qualify as long as documentation was provided to prove those injuries.