Xavier Coates has become the latest NRL player to knock back an offer to stay at Brisbane, signing a two-year deal with Melbourne.
Disappointed Brisbane coach Kevin Walters on Sunday confirmed the winger’s impending exit, with the 20-year-old to head south at the end of the season.
As recently as Friday, Walters was adamant the Queensland State of Origin representative would be remaining at Red Hill.
But any late hope of that vanished in the sheds after the Broncos’ 19-18 loss to North Queensland.
“It’s very disappointing,” Walters told the Nine Network on Sunday.
“Everyone is really aware of his talents.
“He’s a young guy that’s been in our system for three or four years now and to lose him, it’s not great, I’ve got to say, for the Broncos.
“We respect his decision to move on.”
The Broncos’ latest recruiting setback comes after a rare win last week when Kotoni Staggs signed a new four-year deal.
But while once renowned as the club where wanted players would never leave, this is clearly no longer the case.
Xavier Coates of the Broncos. (Photo by Bradley Kanaris/Getty Images)
They were blown out of the water by Gold Coast last year when they lost David Fifita to the Titans, having since continued as a powerhouse there.
Rising young gun Reece Walsh also made the call to head to the Warriors earlier this year, having since starred in his early first grade games.
Brisbane have also struggled to replace Ben Hunt since his exit at the end of 2017, while they once banked on Tom Dearden but didn’t offer him a deal before North Queensland swooped him up.
Sam Walker is another young Brisbane junior who has made his name at the Sydney Roosters after moving south as a teen, while the club have also lost battles to keep Jai Arrow and Ash Taylor in the past five years.
“Xavier was an important part of our future here at the Broncos,” Walters said on Sunday.
“He was one of the guys that we were really keen to hang on to and be a long-term player here.
“That’s not the case. We’ll move on.”
Meanwhile, Coates becomes an ideal replacement at the Storm for Canterbury-bound flyer Josh Addo-Carr.
“Xavier has already shown he is one of the best young wingers in the game,” Melbourne’s football manager Frank Ponissi said, after they beat out intense interest from Gold Coast for Coates’ services.
“At just 20 years of age there is still plenty more he can achieve and develop in his game.”
BRISBANE’S LOST TALENT
Ash Taylor (2016)
Jai Arrow (2018)
Ben Hunt (2018)
Sam Walker (2020)
Reece Walsh (2021)
David Fifita (2021)
Xavier Coates (2022)
Emcie
Roar Guru
I just don't think Reynolds is the kind of signing that'll improve the other halves. He'd be a marquee signing, not a support player. If you want someone that'd improve the current guys you want a Benji type that's happy to play second fiddle, Reynolds still has a couple years in his prime left. For me the jury is still out on Walters, I don't think he's demonstrated much as a coach so far other then having the media mostly on his side. Any notion of improvement over last year has more to do with shifted expectations than tangible results, and that's without a lot of the hurdles from last year
Kurt S
Roar Pro
I see your point. I've heard that Reynolds doesn't train a whole lot and that he is kept in cotton wool for game days. Three years is a long time when nursing a player at the back end of career. But a half busted Reynolds can still control a game if he can improve on Gamble's / Walter's good work of getting Milford in motion before he receives the ball. Reynolds can also control a tempo of a game, and is worth a tie per game at least with his boot. I understand Broncs are okay in the conversion department though. It is definitely a risk. I would also be happy to watch Gamble's improvement. After two weeks it is clear that his enthusiasm is there, he needs to learn to control that aggression and work more on his decision making. The question must be raised, though. The Broncos management teams failed Milford in so many ways. Does Kevin Walters have the Broncos system support? And has the system that failed Milford's growth as a player and young man been improved upon to get Gamble to where he needs to be?
Maxtruck
Roar Rookie
Great young player with 8 tries from 9 games this season But not in the top 50 players this year for kick return metres, tackle breaks, run metres, post contact metres, dummy half runs, try assists. But he is fifth in the comp for errors with 14 from 9 games, sorry to see him go but $500K a season ? - no way.
jimmmy
Roar Rookie
Please stop rewriting history. This is not the Russian Republic.
Joe
Roar Rookie
First big name signing the Melbourne Storm have had in ages...actually can't remember the last one! Maybe Finchy? I think he would be the perfect replacement for JAC...got speed as well but adds a big frame and a great aerial game! Can't wait to see him in action next to his fellow PNG wrecking ball Justin Olam or if he plays on the right connecting with some of Jahrome Hughes kicks.
Emcie
Roar Guru
I can’t imagine Hunt would be, but then again I didn’t see the club offering $500k for a winger either… Yeah, I just can’t see the value in throwing money at an injury prone veteran half to build a squad around. Best case scenario you get a couple years out of them (hoping they adjust to a different system quickly) and then have to rebalance the squad around their replacement anyway. It just doesn’t seem to me in any way to be an effective way to stabilise the joint Personally, I’d be throwing money at a long term fullback
mushi
Roar Guru
Hunt is fine as long as he isn't on marquee money. StG would have gotten away with the over pay if Widdop didn't get injured/head home plus JDB.
Emcie
Roar Guru
Hunt I can live with in a utility/backup role ala Benji at Souths. The Widdop/Reynolds rumours concern me...
mushi
Roar Guru
It’s a bind though, over paying/taking injury risk on a spine player can Hunt you for a long time especially if you have to live Widdop a key injury in the spine as well.
Train Without A Station
Roar Guru
It's different picking a current Origin player to one you would only be investing into for the future anyway
Walter Black
Guest
.... and that is exactly why he is leaving. JAC's comments to him at the back end of last week might have been the final deciding factor when he said that Melbourne would make Xaviar the best footy player that he could be. A lot of talented young players make their way to Melbourne, some gain the experience and move on whilst others stay for a lifetime.
Jason
Roar Rookie
Hopefully the circle keeps going and we sign Reynolds or someone of that caliber shortly. Lately its felt more like a downward spiral than a circle.
Walter Black
Guest
Plus it was the Broncos who originally poached Xaviar from the the Storm backed Easts Academy, Melbourne have had Xaviar on their Radar for many years.
matth
Roar Guru
I guess we will find out this week.
JOHN ALLAN
Guest
I suppose it varies from case to case however I wonder who has more influence on player movement: the player himself or his manager? There are a lot of considerations involved in moving clubs: Is a player happy with his current team & what are his future prospects there? If he has a young family & takes a move involving relocation, how will that impact on them (away from friends & family) .What is the culture like at his new club, will he potentially have a good relationship with that coach & what are his future prospects there? It’s not just training & playing, it’s equally important that he is happy away from his “work environment” similar to people in other walks of life.
Big Daddy
Roar Rookie
It's AAP what else would you expect. Another click bait platform.
Dutski
Roar Guru
I’ve got no problem continuing to pick him. Just wondered if Kevvie puts a line through those who aren’t staying.
matth
Roar Guru
To be fair to the Broncos here, Coates scores tries for fun and Dearden hasn't actually set the world on fire. We've looked much better these past two weeks with the Milford/Gamble combination.
matth
Roar Guru
He took less to go, but also it's a straight swap for the Fox's salary.
matth
Roar Guru
The pun was too good to pass up.