The future of Brisbane Broncos playmaker Jock Madden has taken a surprising twist after three clubs have gained interest in the youngster.
The Brisbane Broncos are determined to extend Madden's contract after being linked to the St George Illawarra Dragons and Wests Tigers earlier this month.
The Courier Mailย has reported that Madden and the Broncos have begun preliminary talks to extend his stay. Still only 23, the halfback is currently the understudy of Adam Reynolds and is set to take over his role once the club captain retires.
The former Australian Schoolboys playmaker is contracted until the end of 2024, but his management has spoken to Brisbane about granting him an extension until the end of 2026.
โI came up here to learn from Reyno, โKevvie' (Kevin Walters) and โAlf' (Allan Langer) and those great players who have done everything in the game,โ Madden said.
โI've learnt just watching Reyno's game management, his kicking game and how he speaks to the boys in meetings.
โI want to be playing first grade week-in, week-out, that's what I want to do, but I have to stay patient and keep learning.
โIt doesn't all come overnight. My time will come.โ
The Dragons have expressed a keen interest in Madden after Ben Hunt is set to leave the club at the end of the season- joining the Gold Coast Titans.
Wests Tigers have also been linked to Madden, with reports that Benji Marshall spoke to him a little over a week ago. Ironically, the Tigers let him go last season to join the Broncos.
As a fan i think the Tiger’s decision to let Madden go last year was idiotic. I thought so at the time and wrote as much on this website. I have now been proven right. We are nor with Madden, Hastings, Brooks and are utilizing a below average half back in Wakeham that we brought from Canterbury. All this because we wouldn’t let the over valued Brooks leave to go to Newcastle. If we had, we couldve been seeing if Madden was a 1st grade half back this year (he does look to have the potential), and we wouldve had a lot more money in the salary Cap to put towards whatever was needed. To think that the Tigers power to be did not see this coming leaves me so angry and frustrated.