Coby Black is seeking an immediate release from his 2026 NRL contract with the Brisbane Broncos.
That’s according to reports in The Courier Mail that say the U19 Queensland halfback is desperate to join Ricky Stuart and the Canberra Raiders a year earlier than expected.
A product of the Broncos’ revered youth academy, Black had long been earmarked as the club’s future NRL number seven when premiership-winning captain Adam Reynolds retires.
However after spending the past two seasons with Souths Logan in Q Cup—and yet to make his NRL debut—Black shocked the Broncos earlier this month by inking a long-term deal with the Raiders from 2027.
MORE: Sea Eagles confirm new captain to lead them out in 2026
Black’s announcement came shortly after Brisbane signed former Melbourne Storm playmaker Jonah Pezet from 2027.
Two weeks on, it now seems both Black and the Raiders would prefer if the move happened ahead of the upcoming NRL season—allowing all parties to move forward rather than spent another 12 months in limbo.
It remains to be seen if a deal can get done for 2026 between the Raiders and Broncos, who will no doubt expect something in return in the form of financial and/or player compensation.
Should his management be able to negotiate an early release to Canberra, Black would become an immediate contender to partner boom Raiders five-eighth Ethan Strange given the off-season departure of veteran Jamal Fogarty to Manly and continued doubts around the NRL credentials of 21-year-old half Ethan Sanders.