NRL transfer news: Brisbane Broncos launch $5m plan to re-sign Reece Walsh, Ezra Mam
Brisbane have kicked off contract talks to fend off rival clubs, preparing a monster $5m package deal to ensure Reece Walsh and Ezra Mam remain Broncos for life.
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Brisbane have begun contract talks with Reece Walsh and Ezra Mam as part of a monster $5 million package deal to ensure the dynamic duo are Broncos for life.
This masthead can reveal ‘Reece Lightning’ is on track to become Brisbane’s first ever $1 million fullback as the Broncos move to scupper poaching raids from NRL rivals - including Saturday night’s opponents Canberra.
Walsh and Mam go into the Raiders clash at GIO Stadium as not only two of the NRL’s hottest rising stars, but two of the most underpaid.
Queensland Origin whizkid Walsh is a bargain buy at $400,000 this season, while Mam is on around $250,000, with the latter a free agent from November 1 and having attracted the interest of the Raiders.
But the Broncos are mindful of the soaring value of Walsh and Mam and have kicked off preliminary talks to keep their boom attacking sensations off the market for the long haul.
Fresh from securing superstar prop Payne Haas to a $3.5 million extension, Brisbane bosses have turned their attention to Walsh and Mam and coach Kevin Walters says the club has the salary-cap room to broker bumper new deals.
“We have kept Payne and I am very confident we can hang onto those two guys (Walsh and Mam),” Walters said ahead of Saturday’s round 26 road trip to Canberra.
“I accept we can’t keep everyone, but if you keep the nucleus there, that’s always a good thing.
“We don’t want Reece to become a free agent.
“He obviously needs a fair upgrade. We’re not stupid at the Broncos, we understand how far he has come in the 12 months, it’s been amazing.
“It’s the same with Ezra, he has made some really big steps. We’d like to see that progression continue.
“They are 20 and 21 years old so we need to make sure they are developing and learning as players and more importantly as men.
“There’s a lot in front of us going into the finals, but we have big plans for Reece and Ezra.”
Those plans include a whopping wage increase for Walsh that could see him celebrate a 150 per cent pay rise.
The fullback maestro is contracted to Brisbane until the end of 2025, while Mam is off-contract next year and can head to free agency from November 1, making his retention a more pressing issue.
But Brisbane want to pull off a double retention strike. Aiding their cause, Mam and Walsh share the same manager in Nash Dawson, who has commenced first-stage discussions with Broncos hierarchy.
The Broncos have yet to table formal offers, but it is understood Brisbane would prefer longer-term deals of at least three seasons to ensure Walsh and Mam are locked in for 2027 and beyond.
Mam has been valued at around $700,000 a season, while Walsh is in $1 million territory, a figure that would see him become just the third player in Brisbane’s 35-year history to pocket a seven-figure wage.
Mam’s predecessor Anthony Milford was Brisbane’s first $1 million player in 2017. Haas will enter the NRL’s millionaire’s row next year with his upgraded deal and the brilliant Walsh could soon join him.
Former Warriors rookie Walsh has been electric this season, amassing 19 try assists, 15 line breaks and 97 tackle busts from 18 games to spearhead Brisbane’s charge towards the minor premiership.
Walsh could potentially earn upwards of $1.2 million a season on the open market, but he is prepared to take less to stay at Brisbane in pursuit of his boyhood dream _ a Broncos premiership.
“I knew Reece would be a good player, but he has exceeded where we thought we could get him,” Walters said.
“Anyone who thought he would be this good would be full of it.
“’Greeny’ (former Maroons coach Paul Green) showed great foresight to pick Reece for Queensland when he was only 18 (in 2021) and he was set to debut before he got injured.
“Reece Walsh has toughness. You don’t grow up in Nerang being the size that he is without toughness, because you don’t survive in the NRL ... physically and mentally you have to be tough enough to cop the collisions.
“All the good small players like ‘Alfie’ (Allan Langer), they learn to play tough or they don’t make it and Reece is the same.”
Canberra are sure to ramp-up their interest in Mam if he carves up the Raiders on Saturday night, but Walters remains hopeful of an extended deal for the classy pivot before November 1.
“We obviously have plans for Ezra to be here long term,’’ Walters said.
“Simon Scanlan (recruitment chief) and Dave (Donaghy, CEO) are working through that.
“I know he loves playing here. He has been through our Academy system and then into first grade.
“So the plan is to keep Ezra, that’s for sure.
“Mam will be in a maroon jersey for the next few years ... not a green one.”
WALTERS WEIGHS IN ON TPJ MOVE, MAM FUTURE
—Peter Badel and Robert Craddock
Kevin Walters has ruled out a Broncos bid for enigmatic forward Tevita Pangai junior as the club prepares a major pay rise for in-demand Ezra Mam.
Walters tipped Pangai to head “over the bridge’’ to Wayne Bennett at the Dolphins or even join the Titans.
But the Broncos exploding salary cap ensures Pangai, who sensationally quit the Bulldogs to pursue a professional boxing career, is a luxury Brisbane cannot afford.
“No there wouldn’t be (any interest) because we don’t have any room in our cap,’’ Walters said on Friday as he prepared for Saturday’s away game against his former club Canberra.
“We saw with Payne Haas (resigning) a couple of weeks ago and Pat Carrigan … these guys are our middles and we would not be able to finance Tevita.
“I am not sure where he will end up. Boxing might be a good opportunity for him but I think you will find him back in a league jersey, maybe somewhere across the (Hornibrook) bridge (to Redcliffe).
“He is coming back to southeast Queensland but it won’t be (to) us. It will either be Redcliffe or maybe the Titans.’’
Like Walters, Dolphins super coach Bennett is not convinced Pangai Jnr has played his last game of top-level rugby league and has put out the welcome mat for the Tongan torpedo to resurrect his chequered NRL career at the Dolphins.
“I won’t knock Tevita Pangai back if he wants to come to the Dolphins,” Bennett said.
“At this stage, I've had no conversations with Tevita.
“I'm not privy to anything going on with him. He hasn’t spoken to me, we haven’t crossed paths and I didn’t know he was doing this (leaving the NRL to take up boxing).’’
Rapid improver Mam, one of the most in-demand players in the competition due to a chronic shortage of halves and his exceptional promise, has been reported to be on a contract of just $240,000 and Walters is adamant he will be retained with the Broncos starting urgent contract talks.
“We obviously have plans for him to be here long term,’’ Walters said.
“So (head of recruitment) Simon Scanlan and (chief executive) Dave (Donaghy) are working through that. I know he loves playing here. He has been through our academy system and then into first grade. So the plan is to keep Ezra that’s for sure.’’
Canberra have expressed interest in signing Mam but, much as he respected his former club, Walters said: “Mam will be a maroon jersey for the next few years not a green one.”
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