‘There were good things coming’: Staggs reveals why he stayed a Bronco

At one time, Brisbane’s fall from grace threatened to send Kotoni Staggs to a rival club.

Now, he faces a palpable one-on-one challenge in the Broncos’ first finals appearance since 2019, adamant the running battle he is set to wage will bring out his best.

Upon the Red Hill outfit claiming their sole wooden spoon in 2020, Staggs was reportedly being sounded out by a host of sides.

The Eels, the Knights, the Bulldogs and the Titans were said to be among the prospective suitors, however the now 24-year-old opted to ink a new deal to remain in Brisbane to the end of 2025.

His decision, Staggs says, was made because he sensed something special was about to begin under coach Kevin Walters’ tutelage.

“I love this club, it’s always been the club I’ve wanted to be a part of. I just knew there were good things coming, and I’m glad that I did re-sign, and I’m here now,” Staggs said.

“There’s a few boys who have been through it all. That season we got the wooden spoon was pretty tough, to take that all in and soak it up.

“To be where we are now, it’s just one step towards where we need to go to, but we’re just looking forward to each week as it comes.

“Kevvie has been there before ... I think it was just a matter of time for us boys to get together and do what he wanted to do at the club.

“We’re all on board with that. I think in previous years we didn’t really take an onus on leadership and where we wanted to go, we weren’t all on board.”

Staggs has turned in arguably his most consistent NRL campaign in 2023, rarely missing a defensive assignment while never losing the physicality that garnered a State of Origin debut last year.

Declaring his body had felt strong all season, he has missed just one contest (through suspension) on his way to 12 tries, 13 line breaks and 118 running metres with more than three tackle busts a game in 23 appearances.

But finals is a different beast.

Staggs knows that all too well: his lone foray in the do-or-die phase of the season ended in a 58-0 defeat to Parramatta in 2019.

He declared those memories did not linger. They could not afford to.

And while he was initially bracing for another battle with Storm centre Justin Olam – who failed to retain his spot in Melbourne’s backline – he declared whoever he faced off against would be in for a rude awakening.

“That [Parramata loss] in the past, we don’t want to have that stuff in the background,” Staggs said.

“When that season was over, that swept away from here. We don’t want anything like that to come back, it’s definitely not in our heads.”