NRL 2022: Brisbane Broncos coach Kevin Walters wants big defensive effort from five-eighth

Broncos coach Kevin Walters has revealed the key factor that will determine who will partner star recruit Adam Reynolds in the halves for Round 1.

Broncos coach Kevin Walters has thrown down the gauntlet to Brisbane’s five-eighth contenders, insisting defence will be the key factor in deciding who clinches the club’s famous No.6 jersey.

Walters has declared the race to partner South Sydney recruit Adam Reynolds at Brisbane’s scrumbase is wide open ahead of a three-match trials campaign.

The Broncos have a number of five-eighth hopefuls in Albert Kelly, Tyson Gamble, Ezra Mam and Billy Walters vying for the coveted position following the departure of Anthony Milford.

The Broncos’ No.6 jersey was made famous by Wally Lewis, Darren Lockyer and Walters himself, who played in five of Brisbane’s six premiership teams.

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Broncos coach Kevin Walters wants a strong defensive five-eighth. Picture: Liam Kidston

Now Walters wants the contenders to put their hand up and demand selection for Brisbane’s Round 1 blockbuster against the Rabbitohs at Suncorp Stadium on March 11.

“Not really, not at the moment,” he said when asked if he had settled on a five-eighth.

“I’m giving everyone the opportunity, not only at training but also when we enter the trials. Everyone will get a fair opportunity to show their skills.

“It’s a good healthy environment when we’re competing not only at training but also in games for who’s going to wear the jumper. They’re all capable.

“We’re looking at it from a defensive point of view more than anything else. Who can defend best there will be the person who gets the job.

Adam Reynolds and Albert Kelly have known each other since their schoolboy days. Picture: Tertius Pickard

“Defending in that three-in position, it’s a key position.

“A lot rests on those guys to get their decisions right and once they get it right they have to get their body in front and make the tackle.

“They are big targets for the opposition. We’ve got to get our boys in there that can defend well.”

Walters’ defensive focus comes on the back of what was a poor 2021 campaign for the Broncos in his first year in charge.

On the back of collecting the 2020 wooden spoon under former coach Anthony Seibold, the Broncos finished 14th last year after conceding 695 points at an average of 29 points per game.

While they improved in the back end of the season, winning three of their last six games, Walters recognises Brisbane’s defence must improve and he will be asking for input from back row recruit Kurt Capewell and Reynolds to help him choose a five-eighth.

The Broncos have two more weeks to prepare before trials against Wynnum-Manly on February 12, the Titans (February 19) and Cowboys (February 26).

At this stage there appears to be two frontrunners for the Round 1 duties in Kelly and Gamble.

Tyson Gamble is a solid defender. Picture: Liam Kidston

Kelly, 30, played eight games in the halves for the Broncos in the second half of last season and made an immediate impact, with Brisbane’s best win of the year coming in his club debut against the Roosters in Sydney.

He is a seasoned first grader, having played 55 NRL games and 118 Super League games as well as a Challenge Cup title with Hull FC.

Kelly’s defence has improved significantly since returning to the NRL last year following six seasons in England and he said he wanted the opportunity to partner Reynolds.

“I’m more of a natural runner so (five-eighth) suits me to a tee,” he said.

“I’ve known Adam since high school. We always played against each other and hopefully we can form a combination together.”

Talented youngster Ezra Mam may start the season in the reserves. Picture: Liam Kidston

Gamble, 25, also made an impact when he was called into the Broncos last season, producing a spirited performance in Brisbane’s Round 8 win against the Titans.

Gamble played 13 games at halfback and five-eighth and while he may not have the attacking spark of Kelly, he is a big body in the defensive line that isn’t afraid of the hard stuff.

“Reyno’s obviously got the seven, and there’s six other blokes that want the six jersey,” he said earlier in the pre-season.

“I feel like I’ve got two hands on it for the moment and I don’t really want to give it up too easy.

“If I’m not that number 1 choice for the 6 then so be it, I’ll just have to fight my way into another jersey, or play well in the Queensland Cup and force my way in.”

Mam, 18, is the great unknown at NRL level.

The indigenous speedster was crowned the Intrust Super Cup’s rookie of the year in 2021 and shapes as a long-term playmaking option at Red Hill.

But he is untested in the NRL and is completing his first pre-season with the top squad, meaning he is likely to spend the early part of the year in reserve grade as he continues his development.

Walters said Mam would be ready for the NRL if required.

“Ezra is a bit younger than those guys but he will be ready, certainly,” he said.

“The idea of this pre-season is to get him ready. He came out of the under-18 competition last year and into (Intrust Super) Cup and played really well.

Billy Walters boasted good tackle efficiency when playing a mixture of halves and utility at the Wests Tigers. Picture, John Gass

“We expect him to continue with his pre-season and he’ll get his opportunities through the trials. He will play two trials and can show us in there what he can do.

“He is young but if you’re good enough you’re old enough.“

The bolter in the five-eighth race is the coach’s son Billy.

Billy, 27, has played 12 NRL games since debuting in 2019 and shapes as more of a bench utility option for the Broncos, although Walters hasn’t ruled him out of a starting spot in the halves.

The Broncos also have Norths Devils premiership-winning playmaker Tyrone Roberts training with them.

Roberts, 30, is on a train-and-trial contract and has played 156 NRL games in a solid first grade career which also saw him spend the 2018 season with Warrington in the Super League.

Originally published as NRL 2022: Brisbane Broncos coach Kevin Walters wants big defensive effort from five-eighth