NRL 2024: Billy Walters vows to fend off Blake Mozer for Brisbane Broncos No.9 jersey

Despite coming off a career-best season, Billy Walters is feeling the pressure from rising star Blake Mozer, as the battle for the Broncos No.9 jersey heats up.

Broncos hooker Billy Walters has vowed to fend off rising star Blake Mozer as the battle for Brisbane’s No. 9 jersey heats up.

Broncos hooker Billy Walters has vowed to fend off rising star Blake Mozer as the battle for Brisbane’s No. 9 jersey heats up.

Walters has hit the ground running after returning from the United States following the NRL’s promotional tour last month.

Walters will start the 2024 premiership against the Roosters in Las Vegas as Brisbane’s first-choice No. 9 after playing a key role in the Broncos’ charge to last year’s grand final.

However competition is high for the crucial dummy-half duties as a four-way battle intensifies.

Despite coming off the best season of his NRL career, Walters is facing increased competition in the hooker ranks heading into 2024.

Grand final interchange player Tyson Smoothy and Cory Paix, who has so far rejected an opportunity to leave the club, are snapping at his heels.

But it’s Mozer that looms as the biggest threat to Walters’ future.

Billy Walters has vowed to fight for his spot, as the battle for the Broncos No.9 jersey heats up. Picture: Adam Head

A Queensland under-19s Origin player compared to Maroons legend Cameron Smith, Mozer has long been considered one of the Broncos’ most promising young talents.

He made his NRL debut off the bench in the final round of the 2023 regular season after Broncos coach Kevin Walters rested the bulk of his best 17.

Now Mozer is chasing more game time as he enters a crucial season in his blossoming career after spending most of last year playing in the Hostplus Cup.

Walters, 29, came of age in the NRL last year, playing 26 games to prove he was deserving of Brisbane’s No. 9 role and he vowed to continue improving to hold off the rising Mozer.

“It brings out the best footy in you,” Walters said of the competition.

“I know I can’t string one or two bad games together, or I’ll be finding myself out of the team.

“It’s keeping me on my toes.

“I feel like I’ve got a lot of good footy left in me. Hopefully I can continue on from last year and build on my game.”

Rising star Blake Mozer is heaping pressure on Walters, despite a career-best season. Picture: NRL Imagery

Mozer has been training strongly during the pre-season and spending plenty of time at dummy-half in opposed sessions.

He was earmarked to move into the hooker position in the coming years, but the development of Walters last year has thrown a spanner in the works.

Walters said he wasn’t sure what his father and coach’s plans were when it came to the make-up of Brisbane’s best 17, but admitted Mozer was a promising talent snapping at his heels.

“I’m not sure what Kevvie’s plans are,” he said.

“Whoever works the hardest and plays the best in trials will probably get first crack.

“It’s been good for Mozer to get a full year in Cup and playing against men. He’s only young. He’s still got a lot to go and to learn but he’s looking very promising.

“It’s the case with everyone in the squad. You can’t get too comfortable in your position.

“You’ve got to be playing good football or there’s someone young and talented ready to take your spot.

“We’ve seen in previous teams, and even in our team, sometimes when you give your spot up, it’s hard to get back,

“You don’t want to be in that position where you have to give your spot up to someone else.”

Originally published as NRL 2024: Billy Walters vows to fend off Blake Mozer for Brisbane Broncos No.9 jersey