In-demand Canberra forward Corey Horsburgh has met with Brisbane Broncos coach Kevin Walters and is set to catch up with Wests Tigers in the coming weeks.
The 26-year-old, who made his Queensland debut last year, is contracted with the Raiders until the end of 2027 but has been given permission to meet with other clubs to source a deal for 2025 and beyond.
The fiery Horsburgh, who has played just two NRL games this year, has been in stellar form for Canberra’s reserve-grade side in recent weeks after a season marred by injuries and suspension.
Horsburgh, who played juniors at Redcliffe and was born in the Brisbane suburb of Caboolture, is close friends with Broncos lock Pat Carrigan and had a positive meeting with club powerbrokers after touring the club’s facilities.
“We met with the Broncos yesterday and had a really good conversation with (coach) Kevin Walters and (recruitment chief) Simon Scanlan,” Horsburgh’s manager Jeff Jurotte told AAP on Thursday.
“Nothing was decided and they explained they have some salary-cap issues they have got to work through.
“Corey played with Pat Carrigan in the Queensland under 20s and they are good mates and would like to play with each other. I look after Pat as well.
“Corey has seen and used Brisbane’s facilities before because the Origin players have trained there. Part of the attraction of the Broncos is coming home to Brisbane.”
The Broncos are in the midst of finalising a multi-million dollar extension for Reece Walsh and have strike backs Kotoni Staggs and Selwyn Cobbo off-contract at the end of next year, so the salary cap is tight.
Jurotte said Tigers coach Benji Marshall had also reached out.
“We will probably give them the courtesy of meeting up with them next week or the week after,” he said.
“Benji and (CEO) Shane Richardson have said they are keen on him but we just haven’t had a chance to get to Sydney, but we will.”
Horsburgh has also attracted interest from Canterbury and St George Illawarra.
Jurotte said the Bulldogs were “out of the running” after signing Leigh Leopards forward Tom Amone, Sydney Roosters second-rower Sitili Tupouniua and looking to upgrade several members of their current squad.
“Phil Gould was really good about it,” Jurotte said.
“He said they wanted to look after the kids that were there and that’s fine.”
Jurotte has spoken with Dragons coach Shane Flanagan, who also has other irons in the fire.
“He asked me if I can give him a call back in the next two weeks,” Jurotte said
Jurotte has spoken to Raiders CEO Don Furner and coach Ricky Stuart and said the option was still open to stay in Canberra.
“They obviously want to keep him at the club and that is still a possibility,” he said
“Corey has played three or four games in reserve grade and has been the best player the past few weeks.
“He has lost six kilos, is training the house down and is in a really good spot at the moment and is injury free. It is like he has done his pre-season again and that’s where we wanted to get him.”
