'He has really matured': How the 'wild' Kotoni Staggs finally reached his potential for Broncos

Ever since his first grade debut months out from his 20th birthday, the word potential has been thrown around whenever it comes to Broncos star Kotoni Staggs.

That's not to say that Staggs hasn't been brilliant at stages, but it wasn't until this year that he has really established himself as one of the competition's elite centres.

The 26-year-old has been on a tear in the back-half of the season for Brisbane and played a major role in the side's surging run into Sunday night's grand final.

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Staggs was rewarded for his efforts with a spot in the Dally M Team of the Year - the first time has earned such an honour - alongside Bulldogs captain Stephen Crichton in the centres.

He is potentially on the verge of a Kangaroos recall, to be confirmed on Monday.

But what has turned Staggs into the full package this year hasn't been the highlight reel plays, but instead his growth as a leader within the Broncos team.

Speaking on Nine's The Billy Slater Podcast, the champion former Melbourne fullback and current Maroons coach explained why Staggs is now the barometer for Brisbane's success.

"We talk about that word maturity - I think he's really matured into a great leader within this Broncos team," Slater said.

"He's the real energiser of the footy team with the way that he runs the footy and the way he defends. I've played with some great centres and they've been the aggressors.

"I think about Justin Hodges and Greg Inglis and Will Chambers - when you've got a really aggressive centre, that can be infectious throughout your footy team.

"Staggs is that guy for the Broncos."

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Slater's comments were echoed by Sam Thaiday, who was part of the club's last premiership 19 years ago, during an appearance on Nine's Freddy and The Eighth. 

"He sets the tone," Thaiday said.

"Payne [Haas] is the guy in the middle that does the tough carries, but when Kotoni is either hitting someone or running with aggression, he is the tone-setter. He is going to the game and chasing those big moments and the Broncos benefit off the back of it.

"We've got some great young guys that help us with some carries out of trouble and he's one of those guys putting his hand up."

Staggs was enormous in helping the Broncos back from 14-0 down in last weekend's preliminary final against the Panthers, making an impact on both sides of the ball.

Andrew Johns and Brad Fittler both described Staggs as "the wild man" multiple times during the Nine broadcast of the blockbuster at Suncorp Stadium - but again, it's the one-percenters that are leaving legends of the game in awe.

"He's doing more work - there were times where he'd just sit out at right centre and do very little until the big moment came," Fittler said.

"He's now doing heaps more hit-ups and chasing the moments." 

Staggs will go into Sunday's showdown against the Melbourne Storm as one of the most important players for the Broncos as they look to end a title drought.

If he can perform at the level he has shown throughout the season, Staggs could find himself heading overseas once the dust settles on the NRL campaign.

"I would love to see the reward for him at the end of the season of playing for Australia," former Kangaroos forward Thaiday said.

Staggs has reportedly pledged his allegiance to Australia and if that is the case, officials better start preparing his seat on the plane across to England for the Ashes.

The tackle-busting machine has already played three Tests for the Kangaroos back in 2023, while also representing Tonga and NSW at representative level.