NRL 2021: Brendan Piakura could join Reece Walsh in quitting Broncos
Less than a day after losing Reece Walsh to the Warriors, Brisbane are on the brink of another rising star quitting the club to join an NRL rival.
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Embattled Brisbane are under siege with boom forward Brendan Piakura the latest young gun considering quitting the Broncos and following whizkid Reece Walsh out of Red Hill.
News Corp can reveal Piakura toured Canterbury’s facilities on Wednesday and held another round of talks with coach Trent Barrett as the Bulldogs ramp-up their poaching bid for the Broncos back-row sensation.
The off-contract Australian Schoolboys star is on the verge of finalising his future and has whittled down interest from nine clubs to a race in three between the Bulldogs, Titans and the Broncos.
The Bulldogs’ offer is worth $500,000 over two seasons, putting pressure on the Broncos to respond as they battle salary-cap pressures to retain a host of off-contract players including Kotoni Staggs and Xavier Coates.
The Broncos are reeling from the Warriors’ ambush on Walsh and they can ill-afford to lose another budding NRL star from their Elite Player Development program.
Within hours of the Warriors trumpeting the signing of fullback sensation Walsh on a three-year deal worth as much as $450,000 a season, the Broncos held urgent talks with Piakura’s management to thrash out an extension.
But it is understood the Bulldogs are strong favourites to edge out the Titans for Piakura, with the Broncos a distant third at this stage.
Broncos coach Kevin Walters is aware of the situation and is moving swiftly to try and retain the tackle-busting forward.
The rangy Piakura has represented the Queensland under-18s and former Brisbane skipper Corey Parker says it would be a crippling blow if the explosive back-rower defected to Belmore.
“I’ve watched Brendan for some time and he is outstanding,” said 347-game Broncos legend Parker.
“In my mind Piakura is physically ready for the NRL now and he would be the perfect replacement for Alex Glenn in the back row next season.
“I really hope the Broncos can keep him because he is a brilliant back-row talent.
“I can see why the Bulldogs would be going hard for him ... there’s no doubt for me that he is NRL quality.”
Piakura wears head-gear and is a devastating back-row package on the left edge.
The hulking Brisbane rookie is not only mobile for a 100kg-plus forward but runs superb lines and has the same defensive aggression that propelled former Bronco Jaydn Su’A into the Queensland Origin team last season.
Parker said Piakura had the talent and desire to graduate from Queensland’s junior representative teams to the senior Maroons in the Origin arena.
“Brendan has all the skills,” he said.
“Piakura is a different style of back-rower to David Fifita (ex-Bronco who defected to the Titans this season) ... he is a damaging ball-runner but I also like the fact he has mongrel in defence.
“He is a quietly-spoken sort of kid but he has a great attitude, I’m not surprised clubs are lining up to sign him.”
Young gun snubs Broncos to sign with rivals
The Broncos have been rocked by another player departure with the Warriors outlaying a staggering $1 million deal to poach boom fullback Reece Walsh as they plan for life after Roger Tuivasa-Sheck.
News Corp can reveal the extraordinary contract details that will make the 18-year-old Walsh, who has yet to play a single NRL game, a millionaire before his 21st birthday.
In a huge blow to Brisbane’s development plans, Walsh - rated the Broncos’ version of Billy Slater - will quit Red Hill at season’s end to chase his NRL dream across the ditch with the New Zealand club.
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The Warriors have cash to spend following Tuivasa-Sheck’s defection to rugby next season and have blown Brisbane out of the water with a head-spinning offer Walsh simply couldn’t refuse.
The Broncos were desperate to keep Walsh, but were ambushed by a three-year Warriors offer that reached $450,000 a season - representing one of the richest deals for an uncapped teenager in NRL history.
Walsh is regarded as one of Brisbane’s most exciting backline talents of the past 20 years, making his senior debut in a trial against Wynnum last month with a view to being groomed for a long career at the Broncos.
But the terms of the Warriors deal blindsided the Broncos, who feared a bidding war for Walsh could cost them the signature of off-contract strike centre Kotoni Staggs due to salary-cap pressures.
As revealed by News Corp a fortnight ago, the Warriors began their play to snare Walsh and they have got their man in a recruitment coup for their new coach Nathan Brown.
Walsh’s shock decision comes just nine months after another boom Bronco, back-rower David Fifita, quit the club to ink a $3.5 million deal with the Titans.
“Reece is a talented young player with much potential and we are disappointed to lose him,” Broncos interim CEO Neil Monaghan said.
“He is yet to play senior football but we were keen to have him stay, however the offer from the Warriors was too good to refuse for a player of his experience.
“We wish Reece all the best and look forward to him finishing out this year with us.”
Walsh was impressive last month in his maiden senior outing in Brisbane’s 22-all draw with Wynnum Manly.
The goalkicking teenager has links with New Zealand via his mother, making the Nerang Roosters junior eligible for both Australia and the Kiwis at international level.
“I’ve played league my whole life. I started at four playing for the Nerang Roosters and I just love it,” Walsh said after his Broncos trial against Wynnum Manly.
“My mum is from New Zealand and my dad has Aboriginal in him, so I guess I’m eligible for the Kiwis.
“There’s a bit of rivalry in the family. Mum wants me to play for the Kiwis but dad says no way, you are an Aussie.
“I’d love to get in touch with that New Zealand culture.”
Former Queensland Origin lock Scott Sattler has watched Walsh in his role as Channel Nine’s expert commentator on the Intrust Super Cup and likens the teenage flyer to Storm fullback legend Slater.
“Reece Walsh is going to be an NRL sensation. He is the closest thing I have seen to Billy Slater,” he said.
“He has amazing speed and blinding acceleration and a similar running style to Billy.
“I first saw Reece playing for Keebra Park when he was 15. He just had this beautiful deception and awareness for the game. He didn’t mind contact and he covers a lot of territory at the back. Returning the ball, he would pick up top speed in three or four metres.
“Karmichael Hunt made his debut at 17 for the Broncos and he had some amazing attributes, but I reckon Reece has more at the same age.
“He is a fully-fledged fullback and I believe he is good enough to be playing NRL this year.”
Broncos teammate Tevita Pangai Jnr described Walsh as a rare talent.
“Reece has had a crazy off-season and he will be one to watch this year,” Pangai Jnr said.
“Once he gets the balance of his game right, he is going to be special.
“He likes to attack on every play but when he gets that balance right, he will be brilliant.
“He is bloody tough, he stops a lot of tries at training so he’s not afraid to put his body on the line.
“He has a huge future in the game.”
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