✍️ Brisbane, QLD — The Brisbane Broncos have secured a significant depth signing for the upcoming season, confirming the arrival of promising Cook Islands international utility forward Mason Teague. The 22-year-old, who joins the club from the Newcastle Knights, has put pen to paper on a train-and-trial contract at Red Hill, despite strong speculation linking him with a return to his junior club, the Penrith Panthers.
The acquisition of Teague represents a calculated gamble for the Broncos, who are looking to add versatility and potential to their roster. A product of the celebrated St Dominic’s College in Penrith, Teague’s junior career was marked by immense success, notably captaining the Panthers’ S.G. Ball Cup side to a premiership victory in 2022. That success saw him hailed as one of the game’s brightest emerging talents.
However, the three seasons following that junior triumph have presented a more challenging trajectory for the young forward. A move to the newly formed Dolphins initially placed him in an inaugural Top 30 squad, and he subsequently made eight NRL appearances between his time at the Dolphins and the Knights. While eight first-grade games at such a young age is nothing to dismiss, he has yet to cement a regular spot in an NRL lineup.
His time at both the Dolphins and the Knights has been characterised by glimpses of brilliance, primarily showcased in the reserve grade competitions. Teague has consistently impressed officials with his performances in both the QLD Cup and NSW Cup, demonstrating a high work rate and an array of skills that belie his relatively short professional career. He is a genuine utility, possessing the rare ability to shift between the forward pack—playing lock or second-row—and the dummy-half position, making him an invaluable asset for a club looking to navigate the rigours of a long NRL season.
For the Broncos, this train-and-trial contract is a low-risk, high-reward move. The club gains a young, hungry international player who is still at the beginning of his professional journey, while Teague is offered a clear pathway and an elite training environment to prove his worth. At only 22 years old, his best football is undoubtedly ahead of him, and a fresh start at an established powerhouse like Brisbane could be the catalyst he needs to unlock his full NRL potential.
The decision to choose Red Hill over a potential homecoming to Penrith suggests a strong desire from Teague to forge his own path and earn his top-squad contract through sheer performance. The pressure of a train-and-trial deal is significant, but it also provides a daily opportunity to impress coaching staff. If Teague can translate his consistent, high-calibre reserve-grade form into the intensity of NRL pre-season training, he stands a very good chance of securing a permanent deal and becoming a valuable contributor to the Broncos’ future campaigns.
His signing injects competition and depth into the Broncos’ forward rotation, a critical component for any side aiming for premiership contention. The club will be hoping that the combination of his junior pedigree, his international experience with the Cook Islands, and his versatility will see Teague quickly become a success story in the sunshine state, marking this modest train-and-trial signing as a masterstroke of recruitment.