NRL 2023: Brisbane Broncos team for Gold Coast Titans trial, Billy Walters benched, Reece Walsh to make club debut
The Broncos have made their first selection shock for 2023, with Kevin Walters benching his son Billy for their trial match against the Titans. See the full team list.
NRL
Don't miss out on the headlines from NRL. Followed categories will be added to My News.
Broncos coach Kevin Walters has benched his son Billy and handed livewire Cory Paix the first crack at Brisbane’s No. 9 jersey.
Walters will roll out a star-studded team for Brisbane’s first proper 2023 pre-season trial against the Gold Coast Titans at Sunshine Coast Stadium on Sunday night.
While the likes of captain Adam Reynolds and Queensland Origin quartet Kurt Capewell, Pat Carrigan, Selwyn Cobbo and Corey Oates will be rested, the majority of Walters’ best 17 will take the field.
Warriors recruit Reece Walsh will start at fullback while Walters has also named Origin props Payne Haas and Tom Flegler to start. Manly recruit Marty Taupau will make his club debut from the bench.
But it’s the dummy-half duties which are the only position seemingly up for grabs ahead of the NRL premiership kick-off next month, with Walters to run his eye over Paix and his son Billy Walters as they fight for the crucial position.
Billy was the frontrunner for the role heading into the pre-season, but Paix has trained superbly to mount a strong case for the No. 9 jersey when the Broncos launch their 2023 season against reigning premiers Penrith on March 3.
Whoever misses out on the starting position is likely to secure the Broncos’ interchange utility role.
Hooker is the only real question mark for a Broncos team that has secured Walsh to play fullback in an exciting spine that will feature Ezra Mam at five-eighth.
Mam withdrew from this weekend’s Indigenous All Stars team to play in the Broncos’ trial as he looks to build on an encouraging debut NRL season last year.
Strike centres Kotoni Staggs and Herbie Farnworth will both play in the Titans trial.
Staggs underwent shoulder surgery last year while Farnworth hasn’t featured for the Broncos since suffering a serious biceps injury in round 14.
Farnworth starred for England in the World Cup and will start at left centre against the Titans.
With Oates and Cobbo rested, Walters will field journeyman Jordan Pereira and emerging star Deine Mariner on the wings.
Pereira said the Broncos couldn’t wait for the hitout following a lengthy pre-season after last year’s finals fade out.
“Everyone is that keen to play football that it doesn’t really matter who’s there,” he said.
“The pre-seasons are that hard, they suck. When the footy comes around, everyone is going to be super keen to play. Everyone will be bringing their best.
“We had a lot of World Cup players come back and then last year we had a lot of Origin players. They’ve all brought little bits back from their experiences.
“Everyone is a year older and wiser. We’ve got a taste of what the top four looks like.
“It’s heartbreaking we didn’t end up there and the boys are feeling it. Everyone is pretty excited to get back there.”
The Broncos had a reserve grade hitout against Wynnum-Manly last weekend, but will ramp up preparations with a solid contest against the Titans.
The Broncos will spend next week on the Sunshine Coast before Walters fields a full strength team for Brisbane’s final pre-season trial against the Cowboys on Saturday week.
BRONCOS TEAM v TITANS
1. Reece Walsh
2. Jordan Pereira
3. Kotoni Staggs
4. Herbie Farnworth
5. Deine Mariner
6. Ezra Mam
7. Jack Ahern
8. Thomas Flegler
9. Cory Paix
10. Payne Haas
11. Shalom O’Fou
12. Brendan Frei
13. Cory Jensen
Interchange
14. Billy Walters
15. Logan Bayliss
16. Martin Taupau
17. Ben Te Kura
18. Ethan Ouai
19. Tyson Smoothy
20. Tristan Sailor
21. Josh Rogers
22. James Johnson
WALSH’S BRONCOS DEBUT COMES WITH ‘ARROGANT’ WARNING
—Peter Badel
Queensland fullback legend Gary Belcher has urged Reece Walsh not to let the pre-season hype go to his head as the Broncos prepare to unleash their star $1.3 million off-season recruit.
News Corp can reveal Broncos coach Kevin Walters will bring the Ferrari out of the Red Hill garage when excitement machine Walsh is rolled out for Brisbane’s pre-season trial against the Titans on the Sunshine Coast this Sunday.
The former Brisbane Academy young gun has returned home after a 38-game stint at the Warriors and the Broncos are banking on Walsh’s backfield brilliance to ignite their charge to the finals this season.
After a magnificent rookie season in 2021 at the Warriors, Walsh had a mixed 2022 campaign, which began amid turbulence when he was arrested for cocaine possession outside a Gold Coast nightclub.
Walsh admitted he became “arrogant” after bursting onto the NRL scene.
Belcher, one of the code’s greatest fullbacks and a former assistant to Wayne Bennett at Red Hill, believes Walsh can be a revelation for the Broncos - but implored the 20-year-old to stay grounded in Brisbane’s NRL bubble.
“In a big city like Brisbane where they are a big team in town, it’s important Reece doesn’t get carried away,” Belcher said.
“I saw so many kids coming through the Broncos and they think they are superstars before they have done anything.
“The minute they have played five games for the Broncos, everyone is patting them on the back.
“That doesn’t help immature young players, there is so much potential at the Broncos, but the most important part of the job is keeping your feet on the ground.
“In the case of Reece Walsh, he can’t get carried away with his importance and position at the Broncos.
“He is another piece of the puzzle.
“If he plays every game and gets Brisbane to the finals, you can get excited about that, but Reece has a hell of a long way to go.”
Walters is showing immense faith in Walsh, recently releasing fullback rival Tesi Niu to the Dolphins in the most definitive sign yet the Queensland Origin hopeful is his chosen one in the Broncos No.1 jumper.
Walsh sat out last week’s opening trial against Wynnum Manly, but his unveiling against the Titans is a chance for the classy fullback to clear the cobwebs ahead of Brisbane’s season opener against premiers Penrith.
“I know the Broncos let Tesi go but Reece is the classier of the two,” said Belcher, the former Queensland, Australia and Canberra custodian.
“It was a mixed year for Reece last year. He was really good at times and it probably reflected the way his side went.
“There’s a bunch of great fullbacks in the NRL, you look at (Ryan) Papenhuyzen at Melbourne and James Tedesco at the Roosters.
“It has become the go-to position now, but Reece has to be careful because he has a long way to go in his career.
“You look at the consistency of James Tedesco, that’s what Reece should be aiming for.
“He needs to be doing it year upon year and that’s when people can say, yes he’s a great player.
“At the moment, he is a good player with a lot of potential.”
Belcher lauded Brisbane’s off-season recruitment, believing the acquisition of Walsh and former Kiwi Test prop Martin Taupau can deliver the Broncos’ first finals campaign since 2019.
“Reece is a key part of the solution to get the Broncos to the finals,” he said.
“They were virtually a finals team last year and then fell off a cliff, so with Reece Walsh and Taupau coming in, I’m sure they can be a top-eight team.
“Reece is Brisbane’s key off-season buy and he is maturing, he is getting older and he will get better. I know he has some defensive issues but you can fix that and work on that. He has speed and skill and he has gifts a lot of players haven’t got.
“He has the footy smarts. I think he can be outstanding for the Broncos.
“I like the pure speed that Reece has. Not all fullbacks have that raw speed, but Reece can really motor and he is not afraid to get in there and have a crack.
“He is still only young, so his best years are ahead at the Broncos.”
HOW PHONE CALL FROM DAD INSPIRED SAILOR
- Callum Dick
An early morning phone call from his famous father ensured Tristan Sailor’s first outing in a Broncos jersey was a memorable one.
The son of club legend and dual international Wendell Sailor starred for the Broncos in their first pre-season trial against Wynnum Manly on Saturday, and was one of the most sought-after players in the wash up.
With a single top-30 spot up for grabs it was a young and hungry Broncos side that put the Seagulls to the sword at Kougari Oval and Sailor was one of the standouts.
Three try assists, a last-gasp try-saving tackle and one – nearly two – tries of his own underlined his NRL-calibre skillset, inherited from a man who played just shy of 200 games in the same jersey.
Though not his first NRL pre-season, and despite five first grade games with the Dragons already under his belt, the normally unflappable fullback said there was a different mood around his Broncos debut.
“I don’t tend to get nervous, but this one did feel a little different,” Sailor told News Corp.
“Dad called me this morning and he was quite emotional.
“He got pretty emotional so he kept it short, but he just said how proud he was of me for pulling on the Broncos jersey and that he respects everything I’ve done as a man and how proud he was to see me out there.
“To have this Broncos jersey on (means a lot). It’s a big achievement not only for myself but my family and friends as well.
“It’s such a prestigious jersey and to get the opportunity to pull it on, no matter the game, is awesome.”
Sailor painted himself in near-perfection in Saturday’s trial and despite his impressive stat line, it could have been even greater.
He was inches from latching onto a cross-field kick under the posts at the end of the first period and should have had another try-assist early in the second, if Liam Horne had not tripped up at the line.
But it was ultimately mission accomplished for Sailor, who this time last year wondered whether his time in the NRL had come and gone.
The son of a gun was stood down by the Dragons in 2020 under the NRL’s ‘No Fault Stand Down’ policy as he fought sexual assault charges.
Acquitted of those charges in March last year, Sailor moved to Queensland and laced up for Broncos feeder club Souths Logan in the Hostplus Cup where his form secured him a train-and-trial contract at Red Hill.
Where to now for Sailor after outstanding trial?
After impressing on the training track in pre-season, Sailor was lights out in his first match minutes – he just hopes it’s enough to earn a full-time spot in the Broncos’ squad.
“Yeah, hopefully. I’ve tried to consistently perform at pre-season each time and learning from people like Reyno (Adam Reynolds) and Capes (Kurt Capewell) who have so much experience,” Sailor said.
“I hope I’ve put my best foot forward but I guess only time will tell if I’ve done enough.”
Fullback or five-eighth is where Sailor plays his best football but neither position is one of significant need for Kevin Walters in 2023.
The talented triumvirate of Reece Walsh, Selwyn Cobbo and Herbie Farnworth have a stranglehold on any minutes in the No.1, while Ezra Mam is locked and loaded as the starting six alongside skipper Reynolds in the halves.
But after his first taste of life in a Broncos jersey, Sailor declared a role at wing or centre would not be beyond him, despite his 177cm, 80kg frame.
“Fullback is my preferred position along with five-eighth but part of my game is being versatile,” he said.
“Positions like wing and centre are normally for the bigger boys, but we’ve seen people like Corey Thompson use their speed around there and be super impactful.
“At fullback we have Walshy who is an amazing player and then Selwyn and Herbie who have that innate ability to play as big fullbacks, so for me it’s about learning from them and improving my game so that if the opportunity arises, I’m ready.”
GUN SPEEDSTER GIVES WALTERS SOMETHING TO THINK ABOUT
Another young gun who knows about the Broncos’ logjam at outside back is sophomore centre, Deine Mariner.
The 19-year-old bagged himself a hat-trick in the same outing 12 months earlier and though he settled for just one on Saturday, he reminded the rugby league world of his growing profile as one of the best young centres in the game.
But with representative duo Kotoni Staggs and Farnworth forming one of the most dangerous strike-centre pairings in the NRL, Mariner’s path to adding to his two NRL games from last season is not straightforward.
However, like Sailor, he seems unfazed by the challenge and promised to put pressure on the coaching staff at selection time.
“I can’t control how they (Staggs and Farnworth) play, all I can control is what I’m doing and I’m going to play my best footy and continue to knock on that door,” Mariner said.
“I know the coaches will always make the right choices and what is best for the team.”
The Sailor-Mariner pairing may still be in its infancy, but the slick one-two to put the latter over the line in the first period of Saturday’s trial could yet become a Broncos staple in years to come.
“I guess it was a really special game for him (Sailor) to come back and play some footy and I thought he played awesome,” Mariner said.
“I’ve honestly never seen him nervous, he’s always smiling and taking the piss but he backs it all up (on the field) so you have to give it to him.”
The Broncos’ next trial match is against the Gold Coast Titans at Sunshine Coast Stadium on February 12, followed by a February 18 meeting with the Cowboys at the same venue.
More Coverage
Originally published as NRL 2023: Brisbane Broncos team for Gold Coast Titans trial, Billy Walters benched, Reece Walsh to make club debut
New look, new mission: Galvin on Tigers future, Luai, fresh ink
Lachlan Galvin has a new look, new ink and a new halves partner for the 2025 season. Is it the signs of new beginnings at the Wests Tigers? Hear from the teen star on his Tigers future, Jarome Luai and more.
Inside the gruelling camp driving Storm’s NRL success
For the last 10-years, the Melbourne Storm have spent two weeks in Geelong for a gruelling pre-season camp, and the results speak for themselves. Skipper Harry Grant opens up on his time in the trenches.