Payne Haas hopeful Reece Walsh will remain at the Broncos and become highest-paid player in the club’s history

Reece Walsh is set to become the highest-paid player in Broncos history to keep NRL rivals at bay with a staggering 150 per cent pay rise.

Reece Walsh and Payne Haas. Picture: Steve Pohlner

Kevin Walters has declared Reece Walsh will not walk out on the Broncos amid a push for Brisbane to table a club-record $1.1 million deal for the fullback superstar.

The Broncos have kicked off extension talks for Walsh, who makes his first appearance of the 2024 campaign in Sunday’s NRL Pre-season Challenge trial against the Cowboys in Mackay.

The Broncos last week secured Walsh’s young-gun cohort Ezra Mam to a mega five-year deal, which came six months after star prop Payne Haas led the retention charge by inking a $3.5 million extension.

Now the Broncos are moving to extend skipper Reynolds and whiz-kid Walsh, the latter of whom is off-contract at the end of 2025, making him a free agent from November 1 this year.

Reece Walsh in flight at Broncos training at Red Hill ahead of his trial comeback.

But Brisbane bosses have no intention of allowing Walsh to go anywhere near the open market amid speculation Sydney clubs are prepared to pay up to $1.3 million-a-season for the Queensland Origin sensation.

The Broncos hope to secure Walsh to a long-term deal in the coming months and Walters uttered the words every Brisbane fan wants to hear as the coach looks to construct a premiership dynasty.

“He won’t be going anywhere,” Walters said of Walsh.

“I’ve just mortgaged the house to keep him here.

“A lot of those guys (who have re-signed) ... Ezra is another one, we did deals for Payne and Patty (Carrigan) last year, they are long-term players here for the club.

“Walshy is no different. We love having him here and he enjoys being around the place as well.”

Haas urged Walsh to reject the prospect of more lucrative offers from NRL rivals and take less money to stay at the Broncos _ just as the 118kg enforcer did himself in a bid to break Brisbane’s 18-year title drought.

“I am hopeful he signs,” said Haas, who will join Walsh in action against the Cowboys on Sunday.

“I want to keep Reece here, but at the end of the day that’s his decision and I’m not going to tell him what to do.

“We want him here and hopefully he does re-sign.

“I’m confident he won’t leave.”

Walsh is due for a staggering 150 per cent pay rise in the afterglow of his sizzling 2023 season.

The Maroons maestro returned to Red Hill from the Warriors last year on a three-year deal worth around $400,000 a season, but after propelling Brisbane to the grand final, Walsh is headed for Millionaire’s Row.

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Superstar prop Payne Haas (right) is confident Walsh will remain a Bronco.

The Broncos have given $1 million deals to just two players in their decorated history, former five-eighth Anthony Milford and Haas, the five-time Paul Morgan Medallist.

But Walsh could be Brisbane’s first $1 million fullback from next season or 2026 and ex-Broncos skipper Corey Parker believes the attacking phenom is on course to be the highest-paid player in the club’s 36-year history.

Parker says it’s not just Walsh’s on-field brilliance that warrants a seven-figure deal, but the off-field promotional pulling power that has seen him become an NRL rockstar.

“Reece needs to be the highest paid player at the Broncos _ that’s how you keep Reece,” Parker said.

“Name me a club out there that wouldn’t pay $1 million, or more, for him?

“I have never seen anyone with his following. There were girls running in front of the bus and screaming for his autograph. He brings eyeballs to the Broncos. I know they don’t need Reece for that reason, but he brings so much more than what he brings on the field.

“From a marketing perspective, he’s a dream for the Broncos.

“At the moment, he is fresh and shiny, but as classy as he is, he has a bit to work on as a fullback.

“The challenge for Reece will be repeating the brilliant season he had last year.”

With greater fiscal rewards, however, comes greater expectations and a greater test of Walsh’s mental maturity.

Walsh is set for a bumper pay rise after his brilliant 2023 season.

While Walsh’s highlights reel last season was mesmerising, the one blemish was the maelstrom that saw him found guilty by the NRL judiciary of abusing referee Chris Butler, despite claims the fullback was lashing out at teammate Pat Carrigan.

In the wake of that saga, Walsh sought professional help to “keep my brain calm” and cope with potentially powderkeg moments.

His temperament will be tested again this season, starting on Sunday against the Cowboys in Mackay, but Broncos boss Dave Donaghy is confident Walsh is coping with his rapid rise to stardom.

Donaghy declined to discuss Walsh’s contractual situation, but is adamant the Broncos is the right environment for the backfield dynamo after his turbulent 18-month stint at the Warriors.

Those close to Walsh say the 60-game flyer has already experienced the tumult of quitting the Broncos once. He isn’t expected to walk out again.

“I had never met Reece before he left for the Warriors, but when I met him for the first time and saw him walk through, it was like he never left the Broncos,” Donaghy said.

“Reece has done a brilliant job on and off the field at our club since he has been back.

“I know how diligent he is in preparing for his games, so when you see how hard he works, it’s no surprise to see the performances he is able to put in on the field.

Walsh has become one of the NRL’s golden pin-up boys.

“The challenge for Reece is to be consistent. That is something that he has as a goal for this year and no doubt ‘Kev’ (coach Walters) will be working closely to help him achieve that.

“Until you walk in these guys’ shoes, you’re not sure. You don’t know what they are experiencing. The challenge for our club is to ensure we put the appropriate pieces around them to succeed off the field, but also on the field.

“There is no doubting Reece’s popularity. I’m sure he is inspiring a generation of future young fullbacks coming through.

“I have found him to be really grounded. I have found Reece to be really patient and accommodating for people that are wanting photos or selfies and that’s an important part of being a professional footballer these days.

“He understands that and is taking it in his stride. I am sure there will be ups and downs with Reece, he is only a young man, but we will do everything we can to support him and help him realise his potential.”

Originally published as Payne Haas hopeful Reece Walsh will remain at the Broncos and become highest-paid player in the club’s history