‘Question marks’ erased as one man tipped to revive Broncos
Updated . First published at
Billy Slater believes Mitch Barnett is precisely what the Broncos need after his remarkable comeback from an ACL injury.
Barnett has been a key man in the Warriors′ rise to the top of the ladder but will be lost to the club next season, returning to Australia on compassionate grounds.
Mitch Barnett. Getty Images
The hard-nosed NSW Origin forward has played 14 matches this year after returning from a serious knee injury suffered last season.
Barnett’s contract became a massive talking point earlier this year after he opted to leave the Warriors early due to personal reasons. He then signed with the Broncos on a three-year deal and rejected the Eels’ offer.
Slater declared it’s a shrewd purchase considering Brisbane’s decline in 2026.
“He’s a good pick-up for the Broncos next year, he’s probably exactly what they need,” he said on Nine’s The Billy Slater Podcast.
“They need a bit of steel and hardness in the middle of the field, a guy that’s going to set the standards and keep things really simple for his creative players.
“I think he’s doing a wonderful job for the Warriors. To come back and play to the standard he’s playing, that’s an incredible achievement.
“I had question marks when the Broncos signed him as he was only a couple of games back from an ACL repair, there’s always a question mark over how they return – but he’s done a great job.”
Barnett and James Fisher-Harris have shared the captaincy role for the Warriors this season, with the Blues enforcer fronting up to press conferences.
Slater said his appearances with the media show a side of the 32-year-old away from the field.
“James Fisher-Harris is a great leader and you can see the impact he’s had on the Warriors, but Mitch Barnett is equally as good,” he said.
“You can see the intelligence in him, he’s a smart footy mind, he thinks the way he plays, thinks really simple and has a good understanding of the game.”
