NRL transfer news: Brisbane Broncos set to open contract talks with Billy Walters

The Broncos are poised to reward Billy Walters’ encouraging start to the season with a deal to stay in Brisbane beyond 2022. Get all the details on the deal.

The Broncos are set to open talks on a new deal for Billy Walters following an impressive career resurrection for the NRL journeyman.

Walters is off-contract at season’s end and Broncos football boss Ben Ikin lauded his opening fortnight of premiership form heading into Sunday’s derby blockbuster against the Cowboys at Suncorp Stadium.

The son of Broncos coach Kevin Walters, Billy has reinvigorated his NRL career at Red Hill following two stagnant seasons at Wests Tigers where he only managed 10 NRL games.

After starting the season at five-eighth, Walters has found a home for himself on the bench as Brisbane’s super sub utility given his ability to cover multiple positions across the field.

At 28, he still has plenty of good football left in him and the Broncos will look to extend his tenure at the club after he arrived on a one-year contract lifeline.

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Billy Walters made his Broncos debut in round 1. (Photo by Bradley Kanaris/Getty Images)

“We wanted Billy to find his feet inside the team, which means the season will play out a little longer for him,” Ikin said.

“But at some point, we will start the conversation with Billy about what the next phase of his career looks like.

“Billy has been very solid in our first two games. He was great at five-eighth in that win over the Rabbitohs and then he added a stack of value coming off the bench to play dummy-half against the Bulldogs.
“Billy is a great young guy, he can clearly play and he has fitted into the Broncos system. They are a really close group and you can tell from the first two performances they are closely connected and they play for each other. Billy has been an important part of our start to the season.

“It will come up on us pretty quick. We have to have discussions with some guys fairly quickly so I dare say we will start talks sooner rather than later.”

Walters had two patchy years at Wests Tigers before joining Brisbane. (Photo by Matt King/Getty Images)

Walters took the long road to the NRL, biding his time in the Queensland Cup before securing a contract with the Melbourne Storm, who he debuted for in 2019 at age 25.

He has toiled hard over the past three years to remain in the top grade, and now finds himself with a prime opportunity to become a permanent fixture at the resurgent Broncos.

Walters said he was high on confidence being coached by his father and following an impressive pre-season.

“It’s been the best pre-season I’ve done in any NRL system,” he said.

“I’ve got Kevvie on my side knowing I can bring a lot to the team and showcase what I’ve got to the NRL. For me it’s been really good because I know he backs me and has a lot of confidence in me and what I can do.

“It’s made me more confident in my game. I know I don’t have to overplay my hand or try to be the best player on the field to impress the coach.

“I know if I do my role really well he will pick me. He just wants everyone to be the best they can be and that will take us to where we want to go.”

Walters wants to wear the No. 6 jersey but is a valuable bench utility. Picture NRL photos

While he ideally wants to start at five-eighth, Walters understands he offers tremendous utility value to the Broncos off the bench and Albert Kelly has produced two sensational performances in the halves to justify his selection.

Walters has so far proven he was a worthy signing for the Broncos and Ikin is excited about what the future holds.

“When he got here I was looking forward to seeing what he had under the bonnet in his first pre-season here and I have been impressed,” he said.

“He works hard, he wants to learn, he has great humility about the way he goes about his work. He doesn’t lack confidence. He knows what he wants and he is prepared to go after it.

“Billy has always been competitive and he is not without talent. He is one of those guys who just needed to find an opportunity.

“Now that he is at a club where his father is the head coach, Kevin will want to give him every chance to contend for spots and he won’t want to let his father down. The ingredients could deliver a good outcome for Billy.”

Originally published as NRL transfer news: Brisbane Broncos set to open contract talks with Billy Walters