NRL star Corey Oates, who’s playing his farewell Brisbane Broncos game on Thursday, hopes the club will keep him on – but is better prepared than most for life after footy.
The 29-year-old winger expects to run on with the starting line-up at the Broncos final game of the season thanks to a spate of injuries at the club – but he’s already been told “they probably won’t” renew his contract.
NEWS:
NRL enforcer Thomas Flegler’s big Brisbane payout
32yo’s shock news after building $17m empire
Corey Oates at Brisbane Broncos training at Red Hill this week. Picture: Nigel Hallett
The man who’s scored 121 tries in 215 appearances for the Broncos told Robin & Kip on KIIS 97.3 Tuesday that the club “haven’t come forward with an offer yet, and they’ve said they probably won’t, but I’m still hopeful I can change this”.
But despite his real desire for another year at the Broncos, Mr Oates is one of several rugby league players who’ve already begun setting up for retirement – in his case buying four properties across his time with the club.
He bought his first home when he was 20, a year and a half after he debuted for the Broncos – a four-bedroom house in Albany Creek on a large 815sq m block.
He’d paid $462,000 for the property in December 2014, selling it for $685,000 in April 2020 – a $223,000 gain and 48pc rise in price.
Corey Oates has been a fan favourite, and is the longest serving member of the team.
Two of his remaining properties were bought in 2017, the first of which was in March – a three bedroom townhouse in Everton Park that he paid $610,000 for.
The valuation estimates on that property today put it between $904,000 and $1.08m, which would be as much as a 77 per cent gain for him in the time he’s owned it.
If he rented it out, the median rental in the suburb is $565/week, which would be just over $29,000 gross income annually.
Fans were shocked when Reece Walsh blew up at Corey Oates on field when the Titans thrashed the team 46-18. Picture: Fox League
He also bought a block of land at Collingwood Park in October 2017 for $190,000 on which a four-bedroom house was built and rented out a year later at $380/week or almost $20,000 annually.
It continued to have a listed rental price of $380/week right through to 2020. The most recent rental listing in January this year had an undisclosed rent figure, but median rent in the suburb has jumped to $530/week, which would be over $27,000 gross a year.
The valuation estimate there ranges from $654k to $767k now as well.
Former players have been among those noting coach Kevin Walters preference for youth and speed over size in selections this season. Picture: Liam Kidston
His most recent purchase was over six years ago in Samford Valley, a 9,560sq m block bought for $880,000 on which a stunning dream home has been built. It is in the same area as fellow NRL player and injured Dolphins enforcer Thomas Flegler.
In June, the land alone was valued at $1.5m, while the median price of houses was $1.714m – a figure that’s jumped 87.5 per cent in the last five years. Mr Oates has owned there for over six years.
For now though, Mr Oates’ only focus is playing the best game he can for the Broncos on Thursday. “I’ve gotta go out there and perform the way I know I can, and hopefully give me that one small chance at the dice. You know, one more roll,” he told Robin & Kip on KIIS 97.3. “I’d love to do as much as I can for that club. And, yeah, be a part of it.”
“It’d be nice to, you know, be offered one more year with the club.”
The Broncos have had a horror year, getting thrashed by teams they beat easily earlier in the season. Picture: Albert Perez/Getty Images
Ultimately, any decision outside of a contract renewal at the Broncos would depend on what offers emerge from other clubs and his family. “When you’re young, you come through, it’s always about you, and when you’re single and there’s no one else,” he said. “But yeah, when you get older and you get married and have kids, life changes … they’re a massive part of my life, and it isn’t just me that I’m out there playing for anymore.”
According to his Broncos biography, Mr “Oates is the longest-standing member of the current Broncos team, which is a testament to the calibre of player he is. With nine State of Origin appearances for the Maroons to his name, Oates uses his size, speed and strength to carry the ball forward as well as producing showstopping finishes.”
English (US) · 