'Sad to see him leave': Big recruitment call drives rising star halfback out of Broncos

Rising Broncos playmaker Coby Black has quit the club.

Broncos coach Michael Maguire said this week that he had not given up on Black, 19, playing NRL but the young gun will no longer fulfil his promise to be the club's long-term halfback.

The arrival of Jonah Pezet from 2027 has seemingly triggered Black's decision to leave, with Pezet and Ezra Mam ahead of him in the long-term pecking order.

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Black, a Queensland U20s State of Origin representative, has opted to take his services to the Canberra Raiders.

"It will be great for Coby to play another year at the Broncos and also guide Souths Logan in QCup," Raiders CEO Don Furner told the Canberra Times.

"By then he will be 20 going on 21, so that's a perfect age to welcome him to the Raiders."

Broncos general manager of recruitment and pathways Simon Scanlan said it was "sad" to see Black leave.

"Coby has come through our academy program from the age of 14 and has worked really hard to progress through to our NRL top squad," he said.

"While we're sad to see him leave, we thank him for his dedication and commitment and sincerely wish him every success as he takes the next step in his career."

Canberra lost Jamal Fogarty to Manly for next season and will most likely give Ethan Sanders first opportunity at securing the No.7 jersey alongside Ethan Strange.

Black's departure means Pezet and fellow recruit Tom Duffy, who in 2025 made his debut for the Cowboys, will battle it out for the halfback position over the next couple of years.

Black scored 46 points last year for Burleigh in a 130-0 thrashing of Wide Bay in the Mal Meninga Cup.

He played 16 games for feeder club Souths Logan in the Queensland Cup this year.