NRL 2024: Billy Walters set to sign two-year extension with the Brisbane Broncos

The Broncos have locked in a third member of their starting spine, with Billy Walters on the verge of signing an extension with the club.

Billy and Kevin Walters before the 2023 grand final. Picture: Sam Ruttyn

The Broncos have continued their retention drive with grand final hooker Billy Walters on the verge of clinching a new deal ahead of Saturday night’s clash against Wests Tigers.

Brisbane have secured star halves Ezra Mam and Adam Reynolds to new deals in the past six weeks and unheralded rake Walters is the next member of Brisbane’s playmaking spine to extend his tenure at the club.

The Broncos are in the final stages of formalising a two-year extension for Walters, who will remain at Red Hill until the end of 2026.

Just turned 30, Walters was off-contract at season’s end but the Broncos have moved swiftly to secure the reliable No.9, who faces his former club the Tigers this week at Campbelltown Stadium.

The son of Broncos coach Kevin Walters’ career was at the crossroads at the Tigers in 2021 when he snapped his ACL and required a knee reconstruction which saw him play just 10 games for the joint-venture club.

Thrown a lifeline by the Broncos, Walters has been a revelation since his move to Red Hill, amassing 56 games Brisbane and playing a key role in the club’s charge to last year’s grand final against Penrith.

Billy and Kevin Walters before the 2023 grand final. Picture: Sam Ruttyn

Walters underlined his status as one of the most improved hookers in the club with a superb kick-and-regather solo try in Brisbane’s 34-10 rout of the Raiders last Saturday night.

Brisbane’s playmaking spine is settled for at least another 18 months, with skipper Reynolds locked in for the 2025 season and superstar fullback Reece Walsh close to signing a five-year extension.

Walters last month backed himself to stave off a three-way threat for one of the most hotly contested positions at the Broncos, who also have hookers Cory Paix, Tyson Smoothy and Blake Mozer on their books.

“I am pretty keen to stay,” Walters said.

“I know the club is pretty keen to keep me, so I suppose it’s not too much of a rush.

“I am focusing on footy and playing good football and repaying the faith of the club.

“There’s bigger fish to fry with Ezra, ‘Walshy’ (Reece Walsh) and ‘Reyno’ (in talks on new deals), but I’m sure it will get done in the next couple of weeks and I can focus on footy after that.”

After several years battling for NRL prominence, Walters enjoyed the greatest campaign of his career last season, playing 26 games and cementing the contentious No.9 jumper as the quiet achiever whose craft around the rucks helped Brisbane to the grand final.

Billy Walters is on the verge of a fresh deal. Picture: Bradley Kanaris/Getty Images

But few, if any, positions at the Broncos are so competitive. Smoothy has been handed a new deal and 19-year-old Blake Mozer is regarded as Brisbane’s next big thing at hooker.

Walters is mindful of the threat from within, but says he feels no pressure to operate as an 80-minute hooker in a bid to deny his rivals precious game time around the rucks.

“I had made it a goal of mine to try and put in 80 minutes this year, but ‘Kevvie’ (coach Walters) hasn’t harped on that too much,” Walters said.

“He thinks the game has moved away from the 80-minute hooker.

“There’s a few in the game (who can play the full game) but he would rather give me a good 40, 50 or 60 minutes, rather than trying to save my lungs or not going as hard as I can to try and save myself for the whole 80 minutes.

“He is looking for quality minutes from me instead of long minutes.

“As long as I am busting my guts during the time I’m on the field, he is happy to bring me off.”

Originally published as NRL 2024: Billy Walters set to sign two-year extension with the Brisbane Broncos