Brisbane have already lost one strike centre to the Dolphins, but they won't be losing a second after wrapping up 19-year-old Deine Mariner until the end of 2027.
Mariner was already on contract until the end of 2024 but after the Dolphins poached England international Herbie Farnworth for next year, the Broncos went into action to secure a centre likened to club legend Steve Renouf.
Renouf told AAP Mariner's signing was "great news" while Brisbane recruitment chief Simon Scanlan said the club had prepared for Farnworth's exit.
"Deine was the succession plan as the next centre in our system. He was our Plan B if Herbie left," Scanlan told AAP.
"He will fight the spot out with Jesse Arthars next year. It is not just going to be handed to Deine."
From Auckland, Mariner was first brought to the Broncos for training camps when he was 14 after Scanlan watched him play in a local grand final.
"We signed him at the end of his 15th year and he came back and forth from New Zealand to our academy sessions before moving here with his family at 17," Scanlan said.
Mariner, who played two NRL games last year, attended Gold Coast league powerhouse Palm Beach Currumbin High.
While Farnworth and Kotoni Staggs are the club's first-choice centres this year, Brisbane have been impressed with Mariner in the Queensland Cup for Wynnum-Manly.
Naturally a right centre, he is playing on the left at the Seagulls as Farnworth will vacate the left centre position in 2024.
"We want Jesse Arthars and Deine to have the versatility to play on the left or right," Scanlan added.
Renouf said Mariner was "the young gun centre the Broncos need".
"It is a shame that Herbie is leaving but Deine has always been touted as the next centre coming through and (coach) Kevvie Walters knows he will do the job," Renouf said.
"I like the way he carries himself, he moves well and he is good with the ball. He does it all with confidence.
"The Broncos have done well to wrap him up because you can't tell me Benny (Wayne Bennett ) wasn't looking at him."
The Brisbane and the Dolphins had some argy-bargy last year when the Broncos believed their crosstown rivals had made an illegal approach to Mariner and complained to the NRL.
Renouf said his old coach Bennett would continue to be a threat in the years to come as more gun Broncos come off contract.
"I was at (former Bronco) Andrew Gee's wedding with Wayne and we were talking about Selwyn Cobbo," Renouf revealed.
"Wayne said, 'He's a good player' and I said, 'You leave him alone'. Then he started talking about Herbie Farnworth and I said, 'You're not going to get Herbie. He's a Bronco for life'.
"Wayne did get Herbie but he won't get Deine Mariner now. The start to the Dolphins' season has made Benny's pulling power stronger but the Broncos won out with Mariner."
