'My style of player': Michael Maguire flies to Sydney as Broncos ramp up pursuit of Mitchell Barnett

Broncos coach Michael Maguire admits Mitchell Barnett is "my style of player" but attempted to hose down speculation the front-rower will move to Brisbane at year's end.

Barnett is being released by the Warriors on compassionate grounds so he can move back to Australia and be closer to his family, who are from Taree on the NSW mid-north coast.

The Auckland-based club announced last week it had agreed to release Barnett from the final year of his contract.

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Bizarrely, the club then changed the story a day later and said it would demand a suitable player swap in return for his services.

Brisbane eyes the Blues front-rower as a replacement for Payne Haas, who will leave at year's end to join South Sydney.

But the Broncos may need to hand over a representative-class player of their own to make peace with the Warriors.

Maguire flew to Sydney earlier this week to sit down with Barnett, who also met with Parramatta as he weighs up options for 2027 and beyond.

Speaking to media on Thursday, Maguire said he has no idea whether Barnett will be at Red Hill next year or elsewhere.

"I don't know. Yeah I met with him, I talk to a lot of the players I've coached over time and he's one of them," Maguire said.

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"He's a great character, obviously my style of player.

"I tend to leave (recruitment) to the front office, but he is my style of player."

Maguire handed Barnett his Origin debut in 2024 when the former coached the Blues to a stunning series win over Queensland in his one and only campaign in charge.

The pair formed a close bond and Maguire hopes that friendship can help sway Barnett in Brisbane's favour.

But when pressed on the issue, the coach tried to turn the focus to Friday night's season opening game against Penrith.

"I don't get caught up in that, I just focus on what we're doing now," he said.

"That's the future. We have a big game tomorrow night.

"My job is partly to look to the future, but now is important too.

"I've mentioned he is my style of player but we've got a really important game tomorrow night."

As for his relationship with Haas, Maguire says it is as strong as ever despite rumours the best prop in rugby league chose to leave the club over differences with the coach.

Haas signed with the Rabbitohs in order to be closer to family in Sydney, but also to reunite with supercoach Wayne Bennett next year.

"He hasn't changed. He dials in to every meeting, everything we do," Maguire said of Haas.

"He does love the club. Sometimes change just happens in your life."

The Broncos knocked the Panthers out of NRL finals last year, before going on to win the premiership.