Latest news with #WomeninLeague
Yahoo
07-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
NRL news: Kotoni Staggs' confession about fiancee amid $2.4m re-signing development with Broncos
Kotoni Staggs has credited fiancee Brittany Becht for getting him back on track after some of his lowest moments, which has helped him land on the cusp of a $2.4 million contract extension at the Broncos. The Brisbane centre has reportedly 'verbally agreed' with club officials to remain at the club, and will become one of the highest-paid centres in the NRL on $800,000 per season. Staggs has come a long way since 2021 when he had to meet with NRL boss Andrew Abdo due to off-field dramas. Abdo told him to get his act together or face further sanctions, and the Broncos centre was just one more indiscretion away from being sacked. Kotoni Staggs and fiancee Brittany Becht. Image: Getty Since those rocky times he has been in a long-term relationship with fiancee Becht, who he credits with keeping him on the straight and narrow and growing as a person away from the game. "Every player has an important woman in their lives and I have got a lot in mine. They have got me to where I am," Staggs said on Wednesday ahead of the Women in League round of the NRL. ADVERTISEMENT Advertisement "I have a great partner and she is probably the main reason I have turned my outside life into a positive thing. She has helped get me back on track. 'There were times where I didn't do the right things outside of footy and it got me into some trouble. I had a look at myself and I needed to take a good look at myself and see what I wanted to do, how I am looked at after footy is done and how I want people to judge me. "I put everything aside to play good footy and not want to be in the media for the bad things, but for the right things. I switched around and got into the leadership group here and I've wanted to show the younger boys what the right thing is to do and set the right example." Kotoni Staggs credits fiancee Brittany Becht for getting him back on track. Image: Brittany Becht/Brisbane Broncos Kotoni Staggs hopeful of finalising contract extension soon Staggs became a member of the Broncos' leadership group in 2025 under new coach Michael Maguire, and sets a high standard with his preparation and performance on and off the field. He's currently a free agent and can negotiate with rival clubs, but doesn't want to be anywhere else but Brisbane. ADVERTISEMENT Advertisement There was an expectation that his multi-year extension would have been announced by now, but he's not worried. "Obviously I have just left that in management hands," Staggs said. "They are sorting that out and I will continue playing footy with the Broncs. Hopefully it just gets sorted soon and we can get on with it. "I've always wanted to be at this club as a young kid and I've been here for almost eight years now. I don't see myself being anywhere else. I love the club and it has done a lot for me and helped me along my path and journey inside and outside of footy. Hopefully we can get something done." RELATED: ADVERTISEMENT Advertisement A new deal worth $800,000 per season would put Staggs behind only Stephen Crichton and Herbie Farnworth as the highest-paid centres in the game. The Bulldogs and Dolphins players are both on $850,000. Staggs played one game for NSW in 2022, and is holding out hope of a State of Origin recall in 2025. But with Crichton, Latrell Mitchell, Tom Trbojevic and Bradman Best all in the mix, it appears unlikely at this stage.
The Age
07-05-2025
- Entertainment
- The Age
Facing NRL exile, Staggs turned his life around. He has advice for Mam
Before he became one of the leaders of the Brisbane Broncos, Kotoni Staggs faced the prospect of exile from the NRL. A string of off-field incidents threatened to curtail his rise, at a time in his life he now admits proved the catalyst to face the mirror. 'There were times where I didn't do the right things outside of footy, and it got me into some trouble,' Staggs says. 'But I had a look at myself away from footy and I needed to take a good look at myself and see what I wanted to do, how I wanted to be looked at after footy is done and how I want people to judge me.' Within a year, Staggs became the victim of a leaked intimate video, before being fined $10,000 for directing a homophobic slur towards a pub patron. Loading He was later sanctioned $20,000 and suspended for two games while completing education and personal rehabilitation programs for allegedly making unwanted advances towards a woman while drinking alcohol, as he recovered from a ruptured ACL. No charges were laid. Staggs' career was in limbo. But throughout the past four years, he has transformed himself, crediting his fiancee Brittany Becht for his turnaround and ascent into the Broncos' leadership group, after the pair met in 2021. 'Every player has an important woman in their life. I've got a lot in my life – they've got me to where I am,' Staggs says in the lead-up to the NRL's Women in League round. 'I have a beautiful partner, and she's the main reason that's turned my outside life into a positive thing, and she's helped me get back on track.' Having come through his tumultuous period, he believes maligned five-eighth Ezra Mam can achieve the same. 'I put everything aside, and I just wanted to play good footy and not be in the media for the bad things, and be in the media for the right things,' Staggs says. 'I want to show these younger boys coming through what the right thing is to do, set a good example for them and be the best person I can be.' Mam will make his comeback from a nine-game suspension following his involvement in a drug-driving related car crash that injured a mother and her daughter. Instead of being parachuted in to face South Sydney, he will instead line up in the Queensland Cup for Souths Logan Magpies this weekend. 'Everybody makes mistakes, but he's learnt from that. I've been through that and learnt the hard way, and I think he's taken it pretty deep what he's done wrong, and he's trying to push that to the side now,' Staggs says. 'We've always had his back from day one when it all went down, and our love and support has been with him. He's got the confidence now, he knows we've got his back. So important is Staggs to Brisbane, he has become one of their most crucial retention priorities amid a daunting salary cap juggling act. Loading The 26-year-old is joined by star Selwyn Cobbo as the most high-profile off-contract Broncos, with halfback and skipper Adam Reynolds also expressing his desire to play on beyond 2025. Cobbo's market value may well have skyrocketed since replacing the injured Reece Walsh at fullback – running for 223 metres and 10 tackle busts in his side's Magic Round loss to the Panthers. However, Staggs believed the Maroons ace's best long-term position would be in the centres, and he backed the pair to remain at Red Hill. 'The way he plays the game, he needs that early ball, and centre is a position where you can get that. But you put any number on the back of him, and he'll do the job,' Staggs says. 'He's got management out there who's going to work out a deal, and the club's going to organise all that out, but I'd love him to stay at the Broncs. 'I've always wanted to be at this club as a young kid, and I've been here for almost eight years now. 'I don't see myself being anywhere else. I love the club, and it's done a lot for me and helped me along my path and journey in and outside of footy. 'I just left that in my management's hands, they're sorting that out with the club. Hopefully, it gets sorted soon.'
Sydney Morning Herald
07-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Sydney Morning Herald
Facing NRL exile, Staggs turned his life around. He has advice for Mam
Before he became one of the leaders of the Brisbane Broncos, Kotoni Staggs faced the prospect of exile from the NRL. A string of off-field incidents threatened to curtail his rise, at a time in his life he now admits proved the catalyst to face the mirror. 'There were times where I didn't do the right things outside of footy, and it got me into some trouble,' Staggs says. 'But I had a look at myself away from footy and I needed to take a good look at myself and see what I wanted to do, how I wanted to be looked at after footy is done and how I want people to judge me.' Within a year, Staggs became the victim of a leaked intimate video, before being fined $10,000 for directing a homophobic slur towards a pub patron. Loading He was later sanctioned $20,000 and suspended for two games while completing education and personal rehabilitation programs for allegedly making unwanted advances towards a woman while drinking alcohol, as he recovered from a ruptured ACL. No charges were laid. Staggs' career was in limbo. But throughout the past four years, he has transformed himself, crediting his fiancee Brittany Becht for his turnaround and ascent into the Broncos' leadership group, after the pair met in 2021. 'Every player has an important woman in their life. I've got a lot in my life – they've got me to where I am,' Staggs says in the lead-up to the NRL's Women in League round. 'I have a beautiful partner, and she's the main reason that's turned my outside life into a positive thing, and she's helped me get back on track.' Having come through his tumultuous period, he believes maligned five-eighth Ezra Mam can achieve the same. 'I put everything aside, and I just wanted to play good footy and not be in the media for the bad things, and be in the media for the right things,' Staggs says. 'I want to show these younger boys coming through what the right thing is to do, set a good example for them and be the best person I can be.' Mam will make his comeback from a nine-game suspension following his involvement in a drug-driving related car crash that injured a mother and her daughter. Instead of being parachuted in to face South Sydney, he will instead line up in the Queensland Cup for Souths Logan Magpies this weekend. 'Everybody makes mistakes, but he's learnt from that. I've been through that and learnt the hard way, and I think he's taken it pretty deep what he's done wrong, and he's trying to push that to the side now,' Staggs says. 'We've always had his back from day one when it all went down, and our love and support has been with him. He's got the confidence now, he knows we've got his back. So important is Staggs to Brisbane, he has become one of their most crucial retention priorities amid a daunting salary cap juggling act. Loading The 26-year-old is joined by star Selwyn Cobbo as the most high-profile off-contract Broncos, with halfback and skipper Adam Reynolds also expressing his desire to play on beyond 2025. Cobbo's market value may well have skyrocketed since replacing the injured Reece Walsh at fullback – running for 223 metres and 10 tackle busts in his side's Magic Round loss to the Panthers. However, Staggs believed the Maroons ace's best long-term position would be in the centres, and he backed the pair to remain at Red Hill. 'The way he plays the game, he needs that early ball, and centre is a position where you can get that. But you put any number on the back of him, and he'll do the job,' Staggs says. 'He's got management out there who's going to work out a deal, and the club's going to organise all that out, but I'd love him to stay at the Broncs. 'I've always wanted to be at this club as a young kid, and I've been here for almost eight years now. 'I don't see myself being anywhere else. I love the club, and it's done a lot for me and helped me along my path and journey in and outside of footy. 'I just left that in my management's hands, they're sorting that out with the club. Hopefully, it gets sorted soon.'
Perth Now
07-05-2025
- Sport
- Perth Now
Staggs credits soulmate on cusp of new Broncos deal
Brisbane centre Kotoni Staggs hopes his contract extension gets sorted soon and has praised his partner for a transformation from wild child to leader of men. Staggs, who will play South Sydney away on Friday night, has come a long way since NRL boss Andrew Abdo met with him in 2021 after off-field dramas and told him to get his act together or face further sanctions. Since those rocky times he has been in a long-term relationship with fiancee Brittany Becht, who he credits with keeping him on the straight and narrow and growing as a person away from the game. "Every player has an important woman in their lives and I have got a lot in mine. They have got me to where I am," Staggs said ahead of the Women in League round of the NRL."I have a great partner and she is probably the main reason I have turned my outside life into a positive thing. She has helped get me back on track." Off-contract Staggs is now part of the Broncos' leadership group and sets a high standard with his preparation and performance on and off the field. There was an expectation that his multi-year extension would have been announced by now. "Obviously I have just left that in management hands," Staggs said. "They are sorting that out and I will continue playing footy with the Broncs. Hopefully it just gets sorted soon and we can get on with it."I've always wanted to be at this club as a young kid and I've been here for almost eight years now. I don't see myself being anywhere else. "I love the club and it has done a lot for me and helped me along my path and journey inside and outside of footy. Hopefully we can get something done." Staggs, who has played 126 NRL games for Brisbane is a shining example of a footballer who has made mistakes, but learned and grown after making key changes in thinking and behaviour. "There were times where I didn't do the right things outside of footy and it got me into some trouble," he said. "I needed to take a good look at myself and see what I wanted to do and how I am looked at after footy is done and how I want people to judge me. "I put everything aside to play good footy and not want to be in the media for the bad things, but for the right things. I switched around and got into the leadership group here and I've wanted to show the younger boys what the right thing is to do and set the right example." Staggs has been one of Brisbane's best performers this year and he is hopeful a NSW recall is looming after playing one match for the Blues in 2022. "There are some good centres and I would love to be back in (the Origin arena). We will see what happens selection time," he said. "If I am not there game one I will try my hardest to get there game two. "I have to stick to playing consistent and good footy for the club and you never know what happens."
