Sport Confidential: Broncos rule out Walsh move, Billy Slater’s State of Origin bolter

Broncos coach Kevin Walters has downplayed suggestions that star fullback Reece Walsh could be on the move as Maroons coach Billy Slater talks up an Origin bolter. Full Sport Con here

Coach Wayne Bennett could defect to the 18th club

Brisbane coach Kevin Walters will resist calls to move Reece Walsh to five-eighth and insists the whiz-kid is here to stay in the Broncos’ No.1 jumper.

There is a push for Walsh to eventually move into the halves to partner Ezra Mam, who is keen to shift to halfback as a replacement for champion No.7 Adam Reynolds, who is off-contract next year.

Broncos winger Selwyn Cobbo has also expressed his desire to eventually move into the fullback role.

Ezra Mam, Reece Walsh and Kevin Walters at the Broncos fan day at Red Hill. Picture Lachie Millard

There is no question Walsh has the skill set to handle life in the No.6 jumper, but Walters says the sight of the 20-year-old chiming into the backline and burning defenders with his speed makes him the perfect fullback.

“We have no intention of moving Reece anywhere at the moment,” Walters said.

“They (Walsh, Mam and Reynolds) have a great combination now.

“He is still mastering the smaller points of fullback play. They (Walsh and Mam) are young men and learning as they go, which you have to do in the NRL.

“The best way to learn is to play games in the NRL and Reece is doing that.

“Right now, Reece is using that to his advantage and his natural instincts are suited to the fullback spot, I’m really happy with how he is progressing there.”

Queensland State of Origin coach Billy Slater. Picture: Liam Kidston

SLATER’S STATE OF ORIGIN BOLTER REVEALED

Queensland coach Billy Slater is considering a bolter for this year’s Origin series in Parramatta ironman J’maine Hopgood.

Slater has no hesitation showing faith in forward young guns Pat Carrigan, Reuben Cotter and Jeremiah Nanai last season and now Hopgood is on the Maroons mentor’s radar.

The 23-year-old back-rower or lock has been a revelation since arriving at the Eels from Penrith this season.

The Hervey Bay product is averaging a whopping 43 tackles and 127 metres per game in the opening six rounds and Slater will be watching Hopgood closely in Sunday’s clash against the Bulldogs.

“J’maine is one guy who has jumped out of the ground,” Slater said.

“I have been aware of what he has been doing in the NSW Cup the last few years and sometimes you can be out of sight, out of mind not playing first grade.

“But when you are in an environment like the Panthers and living and breathing that success and professionalism around guys like Liam Martin and Isaah Yeo, you are rubbing shoulders with the best every day.

“He is reaping the rewards and making the most of it at Parramatta.

“I am watching the form of all the Queensland guys and J’maine is doing a great job.”

BENNETT A SHOCK TARGET FOR NRL’S 18TH CLUB

Wayne Bennett has backed plans for a Pasifika team to join the NRL in a move that could see the Dolphins super coach recruited as an ambassador to help build the code’s 18th franchise.

As revealed by Sport Confidential, the NRL has discussed growing the competition to 20 teams by the 2032 Brisbane Olympics and a Pasifika franchise is considered a major contender to be the next club to join the big league.

The Australian Government is prepared to tip in $20-25 million annually to bankroll a Pasifika club that would be based full-time in Cairns in far north Queensland and play some home games in Samoa, Tonga, PNG and Fiji.

ARL Commission boss Peter V’landys has vowed to seriously explore an NRL club that represents the Pacific region and the code’s strategic plan has the support of rugby league’s greatest coach Bennett.

“I really do believe a Pasifika team could work,” Bennett said.

Dolphins coach Wayne Bennett has backed a Pasifika side to join the NRL as the 18th franchise. Picture: Bradley Kanaris/Getty Images

“You could also have a Papua New Guinea team, but if we had a team based in Cairns, it would make it easier logistically.

“A Pasifika team could play some home games in PNG and Cairns and one in Tonga and Samoa.

“The Pacific Island is a massive growth market and their players are suited to our game with their build and talent and power.”

Bennett is known for his passion for international rugby league and developing the game in new markets.

The 73-year-old helped the New Zealand team to World Cup glory as an assistant to Steve Kearney in 2006 and more recently, coached England between 2016-20, steering the Poms to the World Cup final in 2017.

Papua New Guinea hooker Edwin Ipape.

While Bennett is totally committed to the Dolphins, he will pass the head-coaching baton to Kristian Woolf at the end of next season.

That means Bennett is a free agent in 2025, by which time the NRL will seriously consider whether to admit a Pasifika franchise in 2026-27 ahead of the code’s next broadcasting deal for 2028-32.

V’landys played a key role in ensuring Bennett coached the Dolphins.

Redcliffe are certain to offer Bennett another role with the club, but he has not ruled out head coaching in 2025 and would be the perfect option to guide a new Pasifika club through their embryonic years.

Bennett, who has played a key role in setting up the Dolphins, says a grassroots strategy is the key to the NRL sustaining an 18th team.

“If every club starts buying into development, we will have no problem generating enough players for 18 teams,” Bennett said.

“We (the Dolphins) have been a good trial for the NRL.

“I don’t care where the new team goes, but the key is investing in the pathways because if you do that, you will get more quality players into the game in the future.

“If there is going to be a new club in the next few years, they should announce it in the next six months and give the 18th team a two-or-three-year headway to start building their pathways and be ready for the NRL.”

AUSSIE CHAMP’S SAMOAN DREAM

AUSTRALIA’s cruiserweight champion Jai Opetaia is exploring the prospect of staging his first world-title defence in Samoa.

And Opetaia’s world-title showdown with Poland’s Mateusz Masternak could be one of the rare Australian boxing events to be screened on free-to-air television.

Sport Confidential understands Channel 7 and 10 are possible options to television the Opetaia-Masternak world-title bout, slated to take place at Samoa’s Apia Park in early June.

Opetaia and Masternak have agreed terms with the parties hoping to formalise a fight contract over the next week.

The 27-year-old defied a broken jaw to win the IBF world title last July with his heroic defeat of Mairis Briedis and Opetaia is keen to honour his heritage by fighting in Samoa.

Australia’s leading boxing commentator Ben Damon recalls Channel 9 screening a Billy Dib world-title fight in 2015, while Channel 7 covered a Vic Darchinyan bout in the US in 2011.

“We are looking at a fight in Samoa. The government is supporting it so hopefully we can finalise a deal,” Opetaia’s manager Mick Francis said.

“Samoa has been very supportive of Jai for a long time and they came to us with the idea.

“Jai sees it as a once in a lifetime opportunity. He doesn’t care about the money. He may never do this again.

“We’ve got the capability of screening the fight, so hopefully an Australian broadcaster will pick it up.”:

RAIDER SLIPPED DOLPHINS NET

BY rights, Canberra cult figure Corey Horsburgh could easily be in Dolphins colours this season.

Horsburgh was outstanding for the Raiders in last week’s upset of the Broncos but the fiery redhead nearly quit the nation’s capital to be a foundation player at the Dolphins.

A Caboolture junior, Horsburgh was keen to come home. There was just one problem - the Dolphins weren’t convinced about signing him.

It has proved a lucky turn for the Raiders, who secured Horsburgh to an extended deal last year and the 25-year-old has responded with sensational form that has put him in the Queensland Origin frame.

“Corey was certainly interested in playing for the Dolphins,” said his manager Jeff Jurotte.

“I spoke to Wayne Bennett and mentioned Corey was coming off-contract at Canberra and was serious about coming home to play for his local club.

“He went through hell with all his injuries at Canberra, so he thought maybe a move to the Dolphins back in Queensland could be a fresh start.

“Corey was a Caboolture junior, so he would have been a genuine Redcliffe junior.

“Unfortunately, the Dolphins weren’t sure at the time. Corey started last year well at Canberra and they signed him to a new deal and he has shown a lot of courage to turn things around.”

Corey Horsburgh could easily be in Dolphins colours this season.

LIVERMORE SPIRIT LIVES ON

THIS Sunday will mark the 10th anniversary of the passing of legendary Queensland Rugby League supremo Ross Livermore.

Livermore was chief executive of the QRL between 1981-2011 and presided over some of Queensland’s greatest Origin moments, including Wally Lewis’ retirement and Mal Meninga’s record dynasty.

Renowned for his tireless work ethic, Livermore was so dedicated to the cause he would work on Christmas Day and used to personally track every sale of a State of Origin ticket with a highlighter, marking off each purchase on sheets of paper in his office.

Livermore’s spirit lives on in his son Nick, who was CEO of the Brisbane Jets’ unsuccessful bid to win an NRL licence this season.

“The work he did over 30 years for the growth of the game in Queensland was remarkable,” Nick Livermore said.

“It is still evident today through his passion for grassroots development to the statewide competition (Hostplus Cup).

“The emergence of the dominant force that is State of Origin is a credit to the foundation that Ross laid during his time at the QRL.

“His commitment to the game in Queensland always transcended the vast cultural differences that makes rugby league so great.

“It is a reminder for the way the league continually evolves and we continue to celebrate what rugby league does in our lives.”

AGENT CALLS FULL-TIME

ONE of the NRL’s longest-serving player managers, Darryl Mather, has closed out his final deal.

SFX Sports guru Mather has opted for retirement after serving more than 25 years in the cutthroat world of NRL player management.

Agents can cop some brickbats but Mather, who has represented the likes of Jarome Luai and Knights legend Danny Buderus, is one of the code’s most respected operators.

TANAH THE NRL TRAGIC

IT’s official. Titans halfback Tanah Boyd in the NRL’s greatest football tragic.

In the lead-up to Saturday night’s Broncos derby at Robina, Boyd has confessed to Sport Confidential that he watches every game of every NRL round.

It underlines his total commitment to the cause and the Titans playmaker believes watching all eight games per round helps him get an edge over his opponents.

“Yeah, it’s fair to say I love my footy, I’ll watch every game,” Boyd says with a laugh.

“I actually love nothing better than Super Saturday and it’s actually a bit annoying when we play on Saturdays because I love watching all the games back to back on Fox.

“My family love the NRL and I find by watching games, you pick up little things with the opposition.

“Even with refs, you see things they might not like or are cracking down on and it helps you for the next game.”

PARO’S BIG MOMENT ARRIVES

HE is the kid from Mackay who produced the knockout punch of 2022.

Now Liam Paro has secured the biggest bout of his career that could leave him one win away from a world-title fight.

The WBO has ordered Paro and Arnold Barboza to begin negotiations for a world-title eliminator at super lightweight, which is one division above Australia’s former world champion George Kambosos.

Should Paro (23-0, 14KO) dispose of the classy Barboza (28-0, 10KO), the No.3-ranked Queenslander will secure the mandatory position for the WBO super lightweight title.

That scenario would see him fight current champion Josh Taylor or Teofimo Lopez, who moved up to the 140-pound division after his shock world-title loss to Kambosos.

Paro produced a stunning first-round knockout of Jeff Fenech-trained Brock Jarvis last year and the 26-year-old southpaw believes he is ready to shock the world.

REYNO IS NO SLOW COACH

BRONCOS mentor Kevin Walters is adamant Adam Reynolds has what it takes to become an NRL coach.

As revealed by News Corp, Reynolds is keen to move into the coaching ranks when his playing career is over, first as an assistant or halves specialist before possibly stepping up into a main role.

Walters has worked with Reynolds at the Broncos over the past 18 months and believes the champion playmaker is perfectly suited to the NRL coaching caper.

“If Adam wanted to move into coaching, I have no doubt he would succeed,” Walters said.

“Even now, ‘Reyno’ has a huge say in our game plans and it is like having another coach out on the field.

“The players respect him enormously and you don’t achieve what Adam has in the game if you don’t have great football knowledge.”

Originally published as Sport Confidential: Broncos rule out Walsh move, Billy Slater’s State of Origin bolter