Peter Badel

Peter Badel is the chief rugby league writer for The Courier-Mail in Brisbane and also works as a Fox Sports boxing commentator. He has covered every NRL grand final and State of Origin series since 1998. Badel has been first to reach Cap Dramas with nine contract stories this season, early on two more, and has carried 29 in all. The latest, on 21 October: Tigers close in on Fainu extension. Posts as @badel_cmail.

Journalist · The Courier-Mail · @badel_cmail

Against the field

Scoops: 9 · mid 4.5 · 75th · 6 of 26
Early: 2 · mid 0 · 83th · 3 of 26
Stories carried: 29 · mid 16.5 · 67th · 9 of 26
Heat: 25.8 · mid 14.5 · 67th · 9 of 26

Oct 2026

2 scoops · 2 early · 7 carried

29 Oct — The wildcard NRL option that has suddenly emerged for Nathan Cleary (carried) · X · Tom Dearden · Cowboys
24 Oct — Titans prepare $1m raid for Harry Grant (carried) · X · Harry Grant · Melbourne
22 Oct — Bradman Best linked with Parramatta move (carried) · X · Bradman Best · Newcastle
22 Oct — Cooper Bai set to leave Titans for Chiefs (early) · X · Cooper Bai · Titans
21 Oct — Tigers close in on Fainu extension (first) · X · Samuela Fainu · Wests Tigers
15 Oct — Harris-Tavita already extended at Warriors (carried) · X · Chanel Harris-Tavita · Warriors
14 Oct — Verrills returns to Roosters on cut-price deal (carried) · X · Sam Verrills · Titans
10 Oct — Broncos plan $10m retention deal for Walsh (first) · X · Reece Walsh · Brisbane
8 Oct — O'Sullivan off to Broncos from Knights (carried) · X · Sean O'Sullivan · Bulldogs
6 Oct — Dane Gagai departs Knights for Broncos (carried) · X · Dane Gagai · Newcastle
4 Oct — 176 players are about to send NRL into a feeding frenzy. This is where they could land (early) · X · Salesi Foketi · Roosters

Sep 2026

1 scoop · 0 early · 10 carried

29 Sep — Billy Walters signs new Broncos deal (first) · X · Billy Walters · Brisbane
29 Sep — Pezet leaves Eels for Broncos switch (carried) · X · Jonah Pezet · Parramatta
24 Sep — Jordan Riki tipped to leave Broncos (carried) · X · Jordan Riki · Brisbane
23 Sep — Farnworth linked with Roosters move for 2028 (carried) · X · Herbie Farnworth · Dolphins
22 Sep — Bostock linked with Eels, Dragons, Sharks (carried) · X · Jack Bostock · Dolphins
18 Sep — Cobbo re-signs with Dolphins until 2031 (carried) · X · Selwyn Cobbo · Dolphins
15 Sep — Addo-Carr future in doubt amid drug scandal (carried) · X · Josh Addo-Carr · Parramatta
14 Sep — Willison contract talks freeze amid agent change (carried) · X · Xavier Willison · Brisbane
10 Sep — Shibasaki quits Broncos for Perth Bears (carried) · X · Gehamat Shibasaki · Brisbane
10 Sep — Tabuai-Fidow re-signs with Dolphins until 2029 (carried) · X · Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow · Dolphins
5 Sep — ‘Not set in stone’: Bostock sets record straight about Sydney return (carried) · X · Cameron Munster · Melbourne

Aug 2026

6 scoops · 0 early · 1 carried

18 Aug — Broncos may need to move on Ben Hunt (first) · X · Ben Hunt · Brisbane
18 Aug — Warriors weigh future of Tanah Boyd (first) · X · Tanah Boyd · Warriors
15 Aug — Ezra Mam contract future a talking point (first) · X · Ezra Mam · Brisbane
15 Aug — Cowboys shop Matt Lodge to Broncos (first) · X · Matthew Lodge · Cowboys
12 Aug — Katoa in talks on long-term Dolphins deal (first) · X · Isaiya Katoa · Dolphins
12 Aug — Payne Haas completes move from Broncos to Rabbitohs (first) · X · Payne Haas · Brisbane
11 Aug — Sam Walker contract talks collapse with Roosters (carried) · X · Sam Walker · Roosters