NRL news: Broncos CEO Dave Donaghy vows to re-sign Adam Reynolds, Reece Walsh & Ezra Mam
In his first interview since Brisbane’s crushing grand final loss, Broncos CEO Dave Donaghy details the club’s end-of-year review — and the fight to keep Adam Reynolds, Reece Walsh and Ezra Mam.
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Broncos boss Dave Donaghy says the club’s Big Three — Adam Reynolds, Reece Walsh and Ezra Mam — are going nowhere as he boldly outlined Brisbane’s mission to become the kings of Australian sport.
It has been almost a month since the Broncos suffered the greatest grand-final collapse in NRL history, blowing a 24-8 lead with 21 minutes to play to crash 26-24 to Penrith in an epic decider at Sydney’s Accor Stadium.
In his first interview since Brisbane’s horror capitulation, Donaghy insists the painful defeat will not break Broncos players, backing Kevin Walters’ troops to mentally recover and snap the club’s 18-year title drought in 2024.
“There’s a genuine thirst to continue to get better — to not sit still and be content with where we are,” Donaghy said.
THE HEARTBREAK
Broncos chief executive Donaghy knows what rugby league success looks like.
As an administrator at former club Melbourne, he was a part of three premiership wins, two as CEO. The 40-year-old has spent the past few weeks presiding over a review of Brisbane‘s operations, a process that reinforced his belief the Broncos possess the cultural bedrock for title success.
“It’s always a bitter pill to swallow,“ he said of Brisbane’s grand-final implosion with one hand seemingly on the NRL trophy.
“I’ve been part of six grand finals now – three wins and three on the other side, and I know which one is more fun.
“But I’ve got every confidence that this group – as disappointed as they were – will learn an incredible amount about themselves from the experience.
“We set ourselves a goal of making progress across the entire club and without doubt we did that. We’ll keep setting lofty goals. I’m really proud of everyone at the club and how closely connected, passionate and professional they are – and there’s still room to grow.”
SCAR TISSUE
The last Brisbane team to suffer similar grand-final heartbreak — Wayne Bennett’s Broncos of 2015 — did not recover to win a premiership.
After their crushing extra-time loss to the Cowboys in the 2015 decider, Bennett vowed the Broncos would go one better in 2016. It never happened. The Broncos bowed out in the second week of the finals and Bennett left the club at the end of 2018 without another premiership.
There is a view the Broncos’ class of 2023 will be psychologically scarred by Penrith’s great escape and struggle to rediscover their title hunger next season.
But Donaghy’s post-season review, which included interviews with a host of Broncos players and coach Kevin Walters, tells him a different story.
“I haven’t seen any early signs of that (a mental hangover),” Donaghy said.
“We all will learn lessons. When we reflect back on the season holistically, we made great strides as a club and as a team, and I have absolute confidence it will steel this group and motivate them to want to go one better next year. I’m optimistic it will drive everyone at the club.
“The thing I’ll say ... I was super impressed with our football program’s review process – how honest they were and how positive they were despite the result.
“If you’re not winning, you’re learning and the guys would have learnt plenty from that experience. Plus, we’re still not sure what the ceiling of this group is.
“If they needed any more, they’ll have all the motivation required next season.”
SALARY-CAP SQUEEZE
Donaghy scoffs at suggestions salary-cap pressures could force one of Reynolds, Mam or Walsh out of the Broncos.
Reynolds initially signed a $2.4 million, three-year deal and was expected to retire at the end of 2024. Now he’s playing on in 2025, meaning the Broncos must find an estimated $800,000 for their skipper.
Grand-final hat-trick sensation Mam, currently on around $250,000, is off-contract next year, while fullback whizkid Walsh, signed until 2025, has a superb season. His salary is set to nudge $1 million as the NRL’s next superstar.
Donaghy, however, makes it clear the Broncos have no intention of losing Mam and Walsh, who will spearhead Brisbane’s attack in the post-Reynolds era.
“Managing a cap is an ongoing juggle,” Donaghy said.
“I’ve seen a lot of commentary from outside our club about our cap situation and to be frank, they wouldn’t have a clue.
“We have a really clear plan with our roster.
“From the moment he arrived, ‘Reyno’ has been an outstanding leader and member of our club, he has exceeded all of our expectations and he’s a professional in the way he manages his body.
“It’s no secret we’re talking to his management about 2025. Halfbacks of his quality are hard to come by, so we’ll be doing what we can to ensure he’s here. His leadership has been outstanding for our young guys – Reece and Ezra included – they have a really close-knit relationship and he’ll be playing a big role when the time is right in transitioning the stewardship of the team to them.
“Ezra and Reece are key players for us and we will be doing everything we can to ensure that they are Broncos for a long time to come.”
TRIPLE TROUBLE
Brisbane’s cross-town rivals, the Dolphins, are entitled to be rubbing their hands in delight.
Bennett’s new franchise has poached star Broncos duo Herbie Farnworth and Tom Flegler, who played stellar roles in Brisbane’s charge to the grand final.
Throw in the loss of Samoa Test forward Keenan Palasia to the Titans, and Brisbane will lose three key players from their 17-man grand-final team.
“We all know we operate in a salary-cap environment which is important for the game, but unfortunately at different times we’ll see players depart,“ Donaghy said.
“Those players made wonderful contributions to our club, they leave as better players and better people I hope, but their departures allow others to grow and step up.
“We’re really confident in the depth of the players with have at the club and the culture that exists in football under Kev.
“There are many plates spinning with regards to the salary cap, but we’re confident in the squad we have for next year.”
SIMPLY THE BEST
Donaghy is aiming high. The Broncos aren‘t just chasing premierships, they want to become a true market leader; the most powerful club in Australian sport.
Penrith may be three-time NRL premiers, and newly-minted AFL champions Collingwood have claims to being the most recognised sporting brand in the nation, but Brisbane have the $60 million empire to reign supreme.
A seventh premiership in 2024 might just be the icing on the corporate cake.
“The progress of the club is the result of the hard work of many, many people,” Donaghy said.
“In terms of aspirations, we want to be the undisputed leader in Australian sport on all fronts.
“We’ve seen huge growth this year, we almost reached 50,000 members for the first time, we saw records crowds at Suncorp.
“There’s a lot of excitement amongst our member and fan base which is great and we want that, but everyone at the club is focused on working really hard and continuing to improve on the really strong base that we now have.”
KEV-OLUTION
Three years ago, Brisbane were a club in crisis. They finished 2020 with their first ever wooden spoon. Brisbane‘s board sent an SOS for club legend Kevin Walters to parlay his passion and five-time premiership success as a 241-game player into resurrecting the Broncos as a coach.
‘Kevvie’ has defied the doubters, piloting Brisbane from 16th, to 14th, to ninth last year and grand finalists this season in a rapid revival that vindicated club hierarchy’s decision to rubber-stamp a two-year extension in March.
The final frontier for Walters is delivering Brisbane‘s first premiership since 2006. Donaghy is adamant he has the roster to do it.
“Kev’s done a wonderful job,“ Donaghy said.
“He’s proven to be an outstanding NRL head coach.
“He has brought the football program together and instilled a sense of pride. He’s also encouraged the players to have fun and enjoy their football, which goes a long way in what can be a pretty serious industry that is professional rugby league.
“It’s no surprise they’re playing an exciting style of footy, Kev was a big part of the entertainers in his heyday and that’s exactly what this current team are about.”
THE FUTURE
Brisbane’s expansion rivals the Dolphins are building ominously ahead of their second season in 2024 with the purchase of Farnworth and Flegler.
Meanwhile, ARL Commission boss Peter V’landys has flagged plans for an 18th franchise by 2027, most likely to be based in Cairns, effectively giving Queensland a fifth NRL club.
Asked if he is wary of an increasing Dolphins threat, Donaghy said: “I don’t think so, they were just as much of a threat this year.
“We’ll respect them like we do with any of the other teams but I can assure you that the only thing we’re focused on is ourselves. We’re looking forward to more of our ‘Battles’ against them – the first two were incredible spectacles and I’m sure a taste of what’s to come in year two.”
Donaghy says Queensland doesn’t need another NRL club and warned League Central of the perils of another franchise in the Sunshine State.
“No. Where do you put them?” he said.
“I think the game is well positioned in Queensland now with four franchises at the top end.
“We should be looking at how we support the continued growth and health of our game at the grassroots level in this market.”
Originally published as NRL news: Broncos CEO Dave Donaghy vows to re-sign Adam Reynolds, Reece Walsh & Ezra Mam
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