A long-term injury to Newcastle hooker Andrew McCullough has left the Knights with no real fit number 9 and could mean the end of their premiership dreams for 2020.
But in the long run, McCullough’s hamstring, which his trainer tore off on Sunday, could give poor Brisbane an even bigger headache.
And that headache could be $ 600,000 for Red Hill money managers.
The Broncos borrowed the veteran rake from the Knights earlier this season after Newcastle lost Jayden Brailey, the star whore, for the year due to a serious knee injury.
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The deal included a clause that McCullough would return to the Broncos in 2021 based on his existing $ 600,000 contract.
But Brisbane reportedly hoped that if he had a good season in the Hunter, they could find another buyer for the former Origin hooker and free up the money for her salary cap for the next season.
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Now Phil Gould says the Broncos are probably no longer able to pay $ 600,000 for a hooker who has returned from a serious injury.
“They hoped that going to the Knights would impress another club to take over this contract so precisely now that he won’t be playing for the rest of the season and has had such a serious injury, whether or not not, it puts the Broncos in an uncomfortable position because they may not be able to sell it, ”Gould told Wide World Of Sports Final Whistle.
“He has a significant deal with the Broncos. He went to the Knights this year to play with them this season, but he’s still signed to the Broncos next year.
“But now it could be a cap problem for them next year, because he’s on their books, he won’t be playing for the rest of this season, he has a big injury, whether other clubs are looking closely or not with him for the next one I don’t know the season. “
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McCullough is 30 years old and would have provided the Broncos with much-needed experience this season, going through their worst season ever and battling for victory.
In addition to their terrible shape, Brisbane has just lost striker David Fifita to the Titans for next year.
The Broncos are struggling with their salary cap, although Darius Boyd will give up his $ 800,000 salary this season.
They still pay $ 1 million for a misfire, Anthony Milford, and about $ 975,000 for Jack Bird, who has barely played a game since he was recruited two years ago.
They would have hoped to use McCullough’s $ 600,000 to launch top talent to get them out of their current slump.
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