NRL 2024: Reece Walsh agrees terms for huge new $5 million contract in massive Broncos coup
The Brisbane Broncos have today announced the re-signing of superstar Reece Walsh, a move that Courier Mail readers have been expecting for over a month, this is how PETER BADEL broke the story.
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On Sunday the 22nd of September Brisbane Broncos fans woke up to the news that their club had captured Lightning - Reece Lightning - with Peter Badel revealing that the megastar fullback had agreed to terms on the richest deal in club history.
Now that the deal has been formalised and announced to the public, we revisit the story that originally broke the signing news.
WALSH MEGA DEAL SEALED WITH A HANDSHAKE
- This story was published on 22 September 2024
Brisbane have staved off poaching raids for Reece Walsh with the superstar fullback pledging his future to the club in a $5 million contract coup for the Broncos.
This masthead can reveal Walsh has agreed terms on a four-year extension – ending months of uncertainty over his contract status and keeping him at the Broncos until the end of 2029.
The upgrade is worth $4.4 million, with the final season of the extension to reach $1.2m, which will make Walsh the highest-paid player in Brisbane’s 36-year history.
The parties have shaken hands on the monster deal.
Walsh has yet to formally sign but, having agreed terms, Broncos bosses will now draw up the contract for NRL registration in a move that will prevent the Queensland Origin star becoming a free agent on November 1.
Walsh is currently on annual leave after taking part in Brisbane’s end-of-season review.
The Broncos plan to publicly announce Walsh’s retention next month ahead of Brisbane’s 2025 pre-season in November.
Queensland fullback legend Gary Belcher says Walsh can live up to the pressure of being a $1 million star.
“It’s great news for the Broncos, the upside in him is enormous,” Belcher said.
“Reece can be one of the best players in the game and at his best he is worth that sort of money.
“He is a matchwinner, he just has to find a balance and that will come with maturity.
“Reece Walsh scares the life out of teams and as far as the Broncos go, he is an entertainer who puts bums on seats.
“He is enormous for the game.”
‘Reece Lightning’ was already contracted for the 2025 season on a salary of around $600,000, with the extension securing Walsh to the Broncos for another five years for a total outlay of $5 million.
There were fears Walsh could head to the open market, with at least four clubs ready to pounce with multi million-dollar offers if Brisbane’s negotiations dragged on beyond November 1.
But Brisbane have got their man, with the 22-year-old to become the NRL’s youngest $1 million player in his ambition to bring a premiership to Red Hill and be a Bronco for life.
Walsh’s retention is a major shot in the arm for the Broncos, who are reeling from their shock free fall to 12th place this season and under pressure to hit back as a finals force in 2025.
Brisbane hierarchy have identified Walsh and boom playmaker Ezra Mam, 21, as key pillars in their plan for long-term dominance and both are now locked in at the Broncos until the end of 2029.
It is understood Walsh’s salary will rise to $1 million for the 2026 season. The speed machine will then enjoy incremental rises that will see him surpass Brisbane teammate Payne Haas ($1.1m) as the club’s financial top dog with a deal that will reach $1.2m by 2029.
Walsh stood to earn up to $1.4 million on the open market – a figure that would have made him the NRL’s top paid player – but he is keen to also remain in Brisbane for family reasons.
In March, Walsh outlaid $1.88 million for a new eight-bedroom home in the Gold Coast hinterland, a sign the flying fullback had no plans to leave the Broncos and Queensland.
As one of the NRL’s most bankable pin-up boys with his good looks and on-field brilliance, Walsh stands to earn in excess of $200,000 in additional third-party endorsements outside the salary cap.
The new deal is a silver lining to a turbulent season for Walsh.
Twelve months after starring in Brisbane’s charge to the 2023 grand final, Walsh suffered a facial fracture in round three against Penrith before being concussed in a sickening shot in Origin that saw NSW debutant Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii sent off.
The Maroons maestro missed the final month of the season due to a broken hand, but the four-year mega extension will have Walsh primed to lead a finals fightback in 2025.
Broncos boss Dave Donaghy has been in delicate negotiations for several months with Walsh’s agent Nash Dawson, who also manages Brisbane pivot Mam.
The financial terms are now palatable to Walsh, who earlier this season outlined his plan to stay loyal to the Broncos in his quest to break the club’s 19-year premiership drought.
“The Broncos are a massive part of me,” he said.
“I want to be at the Broncos for a long time and I’m sure that stuff (his next contract) will get sorted out when it gets sorted out.
“I love the club, I love the people involved in the club and what they stand for. They have amazing values.
“We have an amazing city, we have amazing fans, they turn up every single week and make it enjoyable to play for the club and come to training.
“There’s some decent blokes at the Broncos, too, so that plays a factor.”
The Nerang Roosters junior made his NRL debut for the Warriors in 2021 and has scored 34 tries from 74 games after four seasons in the top grade while also playing five Origin games for Queensland since being blooded by Billy Slater last year.
Walsh is learning to cope with the pressures of NRL fame. He is feted like a rock star by adoring teenage fans and earlier this season, he returned to his car at Broncos training to be greeted by a young female holding flowers and a coffee mug.
After that episode, Walsh received personal security escorts to his car. He also took to his Instagram account, which has 536,000 followers, appealing for his army of fans to use basic manners when seeking his photo and autograph.
To help him deal with the on and off-field scrutiny, Walsh has been working with sports psychologist Jacqui Louder, who has also helped Melbourne and Queensland Origin star Cameron Munster.
“She is an awesome lady,” he said.
“I touch base with her now and then, she checks in to make sure I’m all right and everything is going all right.
“It’s good to have a chat about everyday life and have a catch up with someone who isn’t involved with the club too much.
“She is a breath of fresh air. She has been really awesome for me and I look forward to doing more work with her in the future.”
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