The Warriors are in the “box seat” to acquire second-rower Kurt Capewell from the Brisbane Broncos.
After a stellar season from several individuals on the Broncos rosters in 2023, Brisbane are frantically trying to lock up there young talent with big money contract extensions.
Unfortunately, some players may be squeezed out due to salary cap pressure and the Warriors have sniffed an opportunity to move him across the ditch according to The Daily Telegraph’s David Riccio.
“Capewell was in New Zealand over the weekend to tour the Warriors’ facilities and met with head coach Andrew Webster,” Riccio told SEN 1170 Breakfast.
“He was wined and dined you could say.
“It’s a by-product (of the salary cap constraints) the Broncos are having, particularly in their back-row.
“Brendan Piakura and Jordan Riki have both re-signed until 2027 and Capewell is a free agent to negotiate beyond 2024.
“It’d be a very good pick up for the Warriors because he’s 30 years of age, he brings plenty of experience.
“Marata Nikore would be moved to the middle of the field for the Warriors to replace Addin Fonua-Blake.
“The Warriors are in the box seat (to buy Capewell).”
With the Warriors resigned to the fact they will lose Fonua-Blake at the end of the 2024 season, Capewell is seen as an adequate replacement in their eyes.
After the success of their 2023 season, Riccio opined that the Warriors are quietly building one of the best rosters in the competition.
“One of the big discussion points when I make my phone calls to clubs, so many of them are talking about leadership voids,” Riccio added.
“They are struggling for an experienced bunch of leaders in their footy club.
“The addition of Capewell to the Warriors (leads me) to argue that they’ve got one of the best leadership structures in the game.
“Tohu Harris, Shaun Johnson, the arrival of Roger Tuivasa-Sheck who was a former Dally M Captain of the Year and then you’ve got the (possible) arrival of Kurt Capewell for next season.
“That’s a really strong leadership group to lead the next wave of talented Warriors and show them the way.
“That’s a leadership structure that struggling clubs would absolutely crave.”
The Broncos travel to Las Vegas to take on the Sydney Roosters in the season opener whilst the Warriors will host the Cronulla Sharks in Round 1.