NRL: New signing spells end to Brisbane Broncos’ biggest problem

With up-and-coming halfback Tyson Gamble earning a contract extension, one of the Broncos’ biggest issues may finally be solved.

The Broncos have taken a gamble on Tyson. Picture: Cameron Spencer/Getty Images

Tyson Gamble has inked a two-year contract extension with the Brisbane Broncos.

The club announced on Thursday that the 25-year-old halfback, known for his energy with and without ball in hand, will remain at the club until at least the end of 2023.

The re-signing may spell the end of one of Kevin Walters’ biggest headaches in his first year as the club’s head coach.

Across the opening 16 rounds of the season, Walters has cycled through eight unique halves combinations in a bid to restore fluency to the side’s offence.

Gamble has been the common denominator in three of the club’s four wins this season. Most recently, he was part of the side that upset the Sharks in what was the Broncos’ most impressive showing in months.

With marquee signing Adam Reynolds packing his bags for Red Hill in 2022 and Anthony Milford on the outer at the club, the Broncos may just have landed on a winning combination in Reynolds’ precision with the boot and Gamble’s exuberance with ball in hand.

Alternatively, speculation has been rife for some time that Walters could trial Kotoni Staggs, who has also signed a contract extension this season, at number six in 2022.

Tyson Gamble has re-signed with the Broncos. Picture: Bradley Kanaris/Getty Images

“It’s unreal to re-sign with the Broncos – I love the way the club is going, the direction that Kev is taking us and I’m looking forward to the future,” Gamble said in a statement on Monday.

“It’s good to keep the young blokes around, it’s a good crew that we’ve got here at the moment and the longer we keep all of us together, the better we can go.

“We’ve had a bit of a refresh mid-season, and after that win against the Sharks, there’s no reason we can’t get a few more to finish off the season, and we can then build into 2022.”

Gamble made his NRL debut with the Wests Tigers in 2018 before migrating north for the 2020 season.

He has most often started as a halfback in his 10 games for the club but will have to vacate the number seven jersey when Reynolds rolls into town next year.

Gamble’s contract extension spells trouble for Milford and Brodie Croft, who has one year left to run on his contract.

The Melbourne Storm product has struggled to find his rhythm at Red Hill but may well get more chances to prove himself in 2021 as Walters continues to experiment with his playmaking options.

Walters has previously indicated the halves merry-go-round would stay in motion as long as performances remain below par.

“The chopping and changing is a direct result of the performances not being at a level I think is sustainable,” the six-time premiership player said last month.

“If you keep doing the same thing over and over, nothing is going to change. I feel I have been extremely fair in giving players opportunities to come into the side and show us what they can do.”

Originally published as NRL: New signing spells end to Brisbane Broncos’ biggest problem