BRISBANE BRONCOS COACH AND FANS MIGHT LOSE A PLAYER..

Kurt Capewell, a star second rower for the Brisbane Broncos, was reportedly being courted by the Warriors. Today, the club announced that the 30-year-old has signed a three-year contract that will keep him with the team through the end of the 2026 campaign.

Nine times as a Queensland player, Capewell was under contract with the Broncos through the conclusion of the 2024 season. However, he was given immediate freedom from the team to sign with the Warriors.

Expected to arrive in Auckland the following week, Capewell offers a distinguished background to the second-row stocks at Mount Smart Stadium, having participated in 139 NRL games to date and winning an NRL Premiership with the Penrith Panthers in 2021.

Kurt’s calibre and experience make him a fantastic addition to the team, and Warriors general manager of recruitment, pathways, and development Andrew McFadden expressed his excitement.

“Since we had space in our roster, we put out a long-term offer with the intention of signing Kurt starting in 2024. We appreciate the Broncos’ assistance in enabling him to go early.

With 139 NRL games played to date and an NRL Premiership triumph with the Penrith Panthers in 2021, Capewell, who is anticipated to arrive in Auckland next week, provides a wealth of experience to the second-row stocks at Mt Smart Stadium.

Warriors general manager of recruitment, pathways, and development Andrew McFadden stated, “We’re thrilled to be able to lock in a player of Kurt’s calibre and experience immediately.”

We presented a long-term offer to Kurt in the hopes of having him join the team in 2024 because we had room in our roster. The Broncos helped make it possible for him to depart early, and for that we are thankful.

Aside from his athletic contributions, Kurt will be a great asset to the team as a mentor to the young back row players that the club is producing.

Capewell’s signing was confirmed on the same day that the Warriors announced Jackson Ford, a fellow second rower, and Rocco Berry, a centre, had both extended their contracts. Ford will stay a Warriors player until the end of 2025, and Berry will be a member until the end of 2026.

Head coach Andrew Webster is familiar with Capewell from his time as an assistant coach with the Panthers; Webster was also Capewell’s coach at Penrith.

Webster discussed the deal and noted that Capewell “fits the profile” of the kind of player the Warriors are looking to add to their roster.

He declared, “Kurt is a winner with amazing work ethic and tremendous passion.”

“I had a great time working with him at Penrith, and I’m confident that he will make a significant contribution to our team and the club as a whole.