Three potential destinations for free agent Albert Kelly

Albert Kelly was once a player with Super League at his mercy. A player of immense quality, he featured in both the Red of the Robins and the Black and White of the Airlie Birds during his time on English shores.

Despite putting up a number of good showings for Brisbane Broncos since returning in 2020, his place in the pecking order has dropped in recent time, and the off-contract half is now looking for a new audience to weave his patented magic for in 2023.

Teams on both sides of the world know what Kelly is capable of, but now at the age of 31 any move for mercurial talent would be a risk. There is also the added side note of him taking up a quota spot should he land back in the UK, and with those at a premium with most Super League clubs, it’s going to take a certain set of circumstances for any club to make a move, but a man of his ability could still turn into a real coup.

With all that in mind, we have drafted up three potential destinations for Kelly next season.

Hull FC

It couldn’t happen could it? He made 70 appearances for the Black and Whites between 2017 and 2020, starting their 2017 Challenge Cup triumph against Wigan. It’s easily arguable that Kelly’s peak on the UK shores came at FC, so would a return be all that surprising? They still have one quota spot available, but it could all dependant on Tony Smith’s plans for the confirmed recruits – with Jake Trueman and Jake Clifford already confirmed as Hull players for 2023. Smith won’t want to use up a quota spot on a player in a position that they’re not crying out for reinforcement in at this moment in time, however as we know, strength in depth wins titles, and Kelly would certainly provide that.

Wakefield Trinity

Trinity have the fewest quota spots currently filled. Coupled with the particularly hard-hitting loss of experienced half Jacob Miller, who has been a stalwart of the Belle Vue outfit since his arrival in 2015. With Trinity aspiring to build a future higher up the Super League table under new head coach Mark Applegarth, Kelly could be the perfect man to spearhead the turnaround. And, even from a neutrals point of view, it’s hard to argue that a Kelly/Lino partnership in the halves wouldn’t be a sight to behold if they were able to gel. This one could have legs, but it depends whether Trinity feel Kelly has any left in him.

Catalans Dragons

An outside shout to fill the Dragons’ final quota spot could indeed be Kelly. Particularly with Mitchell Pearce hitting 33 years of age, and Josh Drinkwater told he can leave. Bringing in Kelly would be a smart move to allow for rotation in the halves without losing any quality therein. Big deals are hardly an alien concept to the French side, and this would be a huge one to bolster their already strong numbers as they look to challenge for glory this coming year. Whatever the future may hold, Kelly still has a lot to offer the sport – and he will keen to slot in somewhere that allows him to showcase his best attacking skills.