'Nowhere else but here': Kotoni keen to re-sign with Broncos

Off-contract star Kotoni Staggs says he wants to stay put long-term at Brisbane as the club continues talks around an extension beyond this season.

Staggs is ahead of schedule in his recovery from an ACL rupture and in no rush to sort out his future as one of the hottest properties in the NRL transfer market.

Last year he declined to take up a 2022 option in his favour at Red Hill to gauge his market value elsewhere and is understood to have fielded expressions of interest from rival clubs in the past month.

NRL.com understands Brisbane have tabled an extension beyond this season, though the length of terms is unclear.

Staggs's market value has been touted at around $700,000 per season, with Brisbane's release of Andrew McCullough on Monday providing further clarity for negotiations over coming weeks.

New coach Kevin Walters has spoken more than once of wanting to make him a "10-year" Broncos player.

The 22-year-old centre's own comments on Monday, describing playing for Brisbane as a childhood dream come true, bode well for keeping him at Red Hill.

"I love the club. Growing up as a young kid this is where I wanted to be," Staggs said at a Deadly Choices event on Monday, encouraging health checks among the Queensland's Indigenous community.

"It was a dream to play at the Broncos and just the club itself, growing up, watching Darren Lockyer, he was my idol.

"I don’t want to be anywhere else but here.

"It’ll be good if I can stay here. I just want to play good footy when I get back from injury and see what happens."

Along with Staggs, fellow rising youngsters Tom Dearden and Xaiver Coates rank as re-signing priorities for the Broncos as 15 players come off contract.

Staggs has begun running again as part of the rehabilitation he hopes will have him back on the paddock by "round 13 or 14".

The Wellington junior had been in line for a NSW Origin call-up before undergoing a knee reconstruction late last year.

Meanwhile, Staggs has been handed a $10,000 fine by the NRL following an off-field incident in November.

The Broncos centre was served an NRL breach notice after allegedly provoking an altercation at a Dubbo hotel.