‘It won’t do much’: Bostock coy on Red V rumours after World Cup stunner
Updated . First published
Jack Bostock produced one of the best Kangaroos debuts of all-time on Thursday night and it could help make him a very rich man – but the only thing certain about his NRL future is the position he wants to play.
The 24-year-old was brilliant on the wing in Australia’s come-from-behind win over New Zealand, bagging three tries including the match-winner.
Jack Bostock. Getty Images
Bostock reeled in a Kalyn Ponga pass and ran 90 metres to score an intercept try in the first half, before two impressive pieces of aerial skill in the second half helped seal the 24-22 win for the Kangaroos at a packed Allianz Stadium.
The question on everyone’s lips is much more Bostock is worth on the NRL open market, especially after shining on the international stage.
A talented Illawarra product, who somehow fell through the cracks at the Dragons and joined the Dolphins for their inaugural 2023 season, Bostock has gradually developed into one of the sport’s elite outside backs.
He spent the early stages of his career on the wing and was being spoken about as a State of Origin player last year, until suffering a devastating ACL rupture in mid-2025 that sidelined him for the opening two months of this year.
Kristian Woolf surprised many when he brought Bostock back from injury at centre, allowing Selwyn Cobbo and Jamayne Isaako to remain on the wings and Herbie Farnworth as the other centre, completing perhaps the most formidable back-five in the NRL when you throw Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow into the mix.
It proved a masterstroke for all involved, as the Dolphins secured a maiden top-eight spot while Bostock quickly showed his class in a new role.
Such was the form Bostock produced at centre that after just a handful of games back from a serious injury with the Dolphins, he was thrust into the NSW team – albeit on the wing – for the Origin decider against Queensland.
The problem now is that Bostock, despite being pencilled in as a winger on the representative stage, is going to demand elite centre money in the NRL.
“When it comes to rep footy, I’m happy to play on the wing, but with club footy, I had a good season at centre, and given it was my first year, I know I can learn a lot more and improve in that role,” he told The Sydney Morning Herald.
Looking across the competition, the likes of Latrell Mitchell, Valentine Holmes and Stephen Crichton earn around the $1 million mark per season, while Bradman Best and superstar Dolphins teammate Farnworth aren’t too far behind.
It wouldn’t come as a surprise to see Bostock earn in the high six-figure range for his next contract, such are his rising stocks and the desperate need for some rival clubs to add a player of his quality and class to their backline.
Bostock’s future at Redcliffe has been thrust into the spotlight and his display in the green and gold on Thursday night will only make it brighter – even if his focus isn’t on how many dollars he’s going to make or what club he’s going to play for.
“I’m not too sure mate, that’s with my manager now that I’m here [in Kangaroos camp], I can’t really be worrying about negotiating contracts,” Bostock told 2GB’s Sports Today before his debut for the national side.
“It’s not fair on anyone, especially me while I’m in here. My manager’s got to get his money’s worth because that’s his job and he can do it without me.”
Jack Bostock may be squeezed out of Redcliffe. Getty Images
While it’s a standard line from a player with bigger fish to fry in the short term, the reality is Bostock’s contract situation isn’t going to disappear and the market for centres has become incredibly competitive heading into November 1.
Mitchell, Best and Farnworth are all off-contract at the end of 2027 and are yet to commit to their current clubs, which makes for a seriously interesting free agency period in the coming weeks, with Bostock right in the thick of it.
The most obvious and logical landing spot for Bostock, should he decide to move on or be squeezed out of the Dolphins due to salary cap constraints, would be a homecoming at St George Illawarra, who have already been linked with him.
The Sydney Morning Herald reported this week that the Dragons are monitoring the situation closely and with the aforementioned Holmes, Clint Gutherson, Kyle Flanagan and Moses Suli freeing up plenty of space in the salary cap, a move for Bostock seems like a total no-brainer if the Dolphins don’t move quickly.
Bostock said while he still has close ties to the area, that wouldn’t influence his decision as the open market period approaches.
“Obviously [the Illawarra region] is home and where my parents live, but it won’t do too much [in influencing my decision],” he told the Herald.
“It will always be there, and I can always go back there after footy.”
Jack Bostock in action for Australia. Getty Images
Dragons fans were salivating at the prospect of bringing the Shellharbour Stingrays junior back home, but they won’t be the only ones keen on Bostock.
It’s a tricky situation for the Dolphins, who also have both Farnworth and Tabuai-Fidow unsigned for 2028, and it’s difficult to imagine a world where all three stay put.
Bostock’s management could wait for another domino to fall before making a call, but once the clock strikes midnight on October 31, the chequebooks will be flung open and the Kangaroos young gun will be in high-demand.
But for now, Bostock will be looking to continue his promising start with the Aussie side and help his country to another World Cup triumph.
