NRL: Brisbane urged to make Reece Walsh to highest paid Bronco in club history

Reece Walsh heads into the 2024 season as one of the lowest-paid superstars of the NRL and one Broncos legend is urging Brisbane chiefs to table a club record deal.

Brisbane have been urged to make Reece Walsh the highest paid player in the club’s 35-year history by offering him a $1.1 million bonanza to stave off an NRL poaching war for the Broncos superstar.

The Broncos are facing a salary-cap crunch next season with the club under pressure to retain key off-contract trio Adam Reynolds, Ezra Mam and Kurt Capewell, while Walsh is a free agent the following season.

But former Broncos skipper Corey Parker is adamant Brisbane must prioritise the retention of Walsh — by almost tripling his current salary.

The 21-year-old whizkid was outstanding last season in his return to Red Hill after a stint at the Warriors and goes into the 2024 season as one of the NRL’s most underpaid superstars on just $400,000.

Reece Walsh is poised for a big pay rise. Picture: Adam Head

Brisbane chiefs have begun preliminary talks to upgrade Walsh, who is off-contract at the end of 2025.

The Broncos have had just two $1 million players in their history, former five-eighth Anthony Milford and superstar prop Payne Haas, who inked a three-year upgrade in August.

No Broncos player has ever earned in excess of $1.1 million, but Parker implored Brisbane coach Kevin Walters to table a club record deal to keep Walsh off the open market for the long haul.

“I think they have to pay Reece Walsh a million bucks and probably more actually,” said 347-game Broncos great Parker.

“If Payne Haas is on $1 million, Walsh has to be on at least $1.1 million.

“He should be the highest-paid player at the Broncos.”

ARL Commission boss Peter V’landys believes Walsh can become the face of the game and he is the closest thing to rugby league’s rockstar with his good looks, attacking style and match-winning talent.

Former Broncos skipper Corey Parker says Walsh is worth $1.1 million a season.

The Queensland Origin fullback is arguably the most marketable player the Broncos have ever seen and Parker says Walsh should be rewarded accordingly.

“It’s not just his talent on the field, it’s his marketing value off it,” Parker said.

“It’s simply unbelievable the impact he has had on the Broncos on and off the field.

“Reece has arrived smack bang in the social-media cycle.

“My son has a haircut like Reece Walsh and wears hot pink tights because Reece wears them.

“That’s the impact he has on kids.”

Walsh has played 60 games since his NRL debut for the Warriors in 2021. There are concerns as to whether Walsh can replicate his magical 2023 campaign next season, but Parker believes the backfield wizard is entering his prime years as an NRL entertainer.

“I honestly believe Reece will back it up,” he said.

“I can’t see why he wouldn’t.

Walsh is one of the most marketable players in the NRL.

“It’s his third season and while the competition starts to work out the good kids a bit, I just can’t see Reece going backwards.

“He has a great work ethic, he is super competitive and every hurdle he goes to, he jumps.

“You can’t stop his raw ability.”

Parker believes Broncos bosses face an uphill battle keeping their squad intact under the salary cap, notwithstanding the loss of star duo Herbie Farnworth and Tom Flegler to the Dolphins next season.

“The big challenge for the Broncos is paying these guys what they deserve, especially if they keep winning,” Parker said.

“To be honest, I don’t see how they keep all their guys.

“Kurt Capewell is coming off-contract and he came to the club at a good time, he has been great for Brisbane with his experience, but they can’t keep offering him more money.

“Jordan Riki is another guy off-contract and I certainly value what he brings to the Broncos with his workrate, he improved a lot last season.

“Patty Carrigan’s value is going up and then there’s Ezra Mam and Adam Reynolds, who wants to play on in 2025.”