Reece Walsh will stay in Brisbane for the foreseeable future, according to Kevin Walters, the Broncos coach who is determined the team won’t let the fullback go again.
The Broncos have until the end of October to sign Walsh, a 21-year-old who will be free agent at the end of the following season, in order to prevent him from entering the free agent market.
Walters, though, asserts it won’t even come close to occurring.
Walsh, who was formerly thought of as a rising star at Brisbane, left the team in the middle of 2021 to sign with the Warriors after being unable to get into the first grade.
His return to the Broncos last year was one of the stories of the season, as his red-hot attack helped take Brisbane to within minutes of their first title in 17 years.
And Walters is well aware Walsh’s contract is the next crucial piece of the Broncos’ long-term puzzle, weeks after securing Ezra Mam on a five-year deal.
“I’ve just mortgaged the house to keep him (Walsh) here,” the Broncos coach said.
“He won’t be going anywhere. There are lot of those guys that have come off (contract). Ezra is one of them.
“Payne (Haas) and Patty (Carrigan) were done late last year.” Walshy is one of these men who has been with the team for a long time.
“We love having him here and I’m sure he enjoys being around the place as well.”
As Walsh gets ready for his first hit-out in a pre-season trial against North Queensland on Sunday, Walters also pushed him to reach new heights this year.
“Some of the things we’ve spoken about is with his defence and his organisation in defence,” stated Walters.
“We constantly benefit from his attacks since we know how much he enjoys them.
Additionally, we place a lot of emphasis on unforced errors—not only Walshy, but the group as a whole.
“Those voluntary
In the previous year’s grand final, mistakes cost us. Starting on Sunday, we’re going to try to get rid of as many of those as we can.”
Carrigan and Adam Reynolds, who recently got into a late-night altercation, will both participate in the Mackay trial and will not face an NRL ban.
Instead, after receiving infringement notifications on Friday, the two will be subject to fines from the NRL.
“I don’t think (playing round one in Las Vegas) was ever in jeopardy, to be honest,” Walters stated.
However, this is wonderful news for them. They now have the chance to clear some cobwebs on Sunday up there.”
Brisbane hopes that Mam and Reynolds can give the young player the centerfield position, and Selwyn Cobbo will also play that position.
the same area Walters earlier provided for Brisbane’s Steve Renouf.
“That’s the plan, and likewise for Kotoni (Staggs at right centre) as well,” Walters stated.
“They are excellent ball-getters in one-on-one situations. That’s the overall concept of our assault.”
