NRL 2023: Bronco Corey Oates shock reaction to bombshell finals snub, Vs Melbourne Storm

Broncos winger Corey Oates has made the shock declaration that he’s willing to take a pay cut to stay in Brisbane after he was left out of the side for the qualifying final.

The 28-year-old flyer has played all 201 games of his career in Brisbane as well as representing Queensland nine times, most recently in 2022.

In recent times, Oates has been linked with a move to Newcastle after reports he was “feeling a bit disrespected” by his current $450,000 pay packet and may seek more money elsewhere.

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But while being left out of the Broncos side for the semi-final against the Melbourne Storm in favour of Jesse Arthars, Oates has pledged his allegiance to his current side according to The Courier Mail, even suggesting he’d stay for less money.

“Those are the things you have to do (cop a pay cut) when you are an older player and you have been here for long enough,” Oates said before his omission for the Storm qualifying final.

“I’ve always known that, but that’s the way it happens when you want to keep a great team together.

“You know what needs to happen and we will see what comes in the next few weeks.

“Hopefully things can get sorted, but I am just happy to be playing footy again.

“It’s been a s**t year for me.”

Oates has struggled to stay on the field in 2023, playing just nine games and not yet tallying a try after dealing with knee issues and broken jaw.

However, he has made seven line breaks and averages 185m per game for 1667m total when he has been on field.

Arthurs on the other hand has had 17 matches with eight tries this season, as well as 14 line breaks and averaging 97m per game for 1660m total.

Oates reportedly had an option in his favour for next season but scrapped the clause to start negotiations.

And while that could force him out of the club, Oates said he wants to stay at the club.

“The way it works these days, if you have to move on, you have to move on,” he said.

“But I have made it pretty obvious in my career that the Broncos is always my place.

“I will wait and see what happens the next few weeks, but I’m just enjoying playing back-to-back footy.

“I have been injured a lot this year.”

The decision to drop Oates stunned when the teams for the finals were selected as despite the injury woes, he had been a strong ball runner for the Broncos when on the field.

Broncos legend Darren Lockyer told the WWOS’ QLDER program it was an “enormous” call but came down to mobility and fitness.

“Remember, he’s just come back, he hasn’t had a lot of luck with injuries this year, so he hasn’t really had a lot of continuous football,” Lockyer said.

“I think what it comes down to is mobility. Corey brings the ball back well, but (the Storm have) got a couple of big, mobile wingers … and maybe in the last couple of weeks there would have been a few moments where they thought Jesse was just a bit more nimble or quicker to the situation, quicker to defuse the situation.

“Unfortunately for Corey, it is what it is. But, look, all he’s got to do is just focus on having a good attitude because you never know when the next opportunity comes.

“I think Kevvie’s (Broncos coach Walters) mentality is not about what happens in attack; it’s more about what happens defensively. Like I said, there’s a couple of big, quick wingers there at the Storm and maybe Kev just thinks there’s a bit more mobility with Jesse.”

Arthurs will line up opposite the Storm’s Will Warbrick, who won an Olympic silver medal for New Zealand in Rugby Sevens at the 2021 Tokyo Games.

Walters said the decision to leave Oates as 18th man was not easy.

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“It was a tough decision to be made,” Walters told 4BC’s Wide World of Sports.

“I just felt that Corey is still not 100%, he’s just come back from complications with his knee

“He was very professional about it all, understood the situation, obviously very disappointed as well, but very willing and able to fight hard to get his position back and I’m sure he will do.”

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