Broncos facing ‘tough calls’ over Adam Reynolds future, Reece Walsh dilemma

The Brisbane Broncos are facing several tough calls around Adam Reynolds and Reece Walsh, with a squeeze set to push players out the door.

Selwyn Cobbo’s resurgent form has highlighted a salary cap squeeze at the Brisbane Broncos as the NRL powerhouse grapples over whether or not to re-sign veteran halfback Adam Reynolds.

The Broncos have endured a mixed start to the season but got their season on track with a dominant win over the Bulldogs last weekend and will head in as favourites against Penrith at Magic Round, where the only place to watch every game this weekend is on Kayo Sports.

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Reece Walsh has been sidelined for a month with a knee injury and Selwyn Cobbo has slotted back into the fullback position in his absence, looking right at home in a strong performance against the Bulldogs.

Cobbo looked very comfortable playing fullback and his versatility gives Broncos coach Michael Maguire a headache about the No. 1 jersey, although former coach Kevin Walters believes Walsh will play fullback when he returns from injury.

“He’s (Cobbo) a natural fullback, so I like him in that position,” Fox League expert Walters told news.com.au when asked about Cobbo’s strong form.

“But when Reece Walsh is fit, I would have thought he would come back straight into fullback and then Selwyn would shift to centre or wing, he can play many positions, Selwyn. “That’s the advantage the Broncos have with their roster. They’ve got good versatility with their players.

“Selwyn’s been waiting for that opportunity at fullback, I would’ve thought. He’s got his time now, so he needs to make, you know, the most of his next three or four weeks that he has there.

“I think he’ll go back to the wing and Reece Walsh in the No. 1 jumper for sure.”

Selwyn Cobbo has been excellent at fullback in Reece Walsh’s absence. Photo: Getty

Reynolds to force Broncos salary cap squeeze

Cobbo, 22, could end up being one of the victims of the Brisbane’s salary cap squeeze if the Broncos opt to re-sign Reynolds, who continues to deliver at age 34.

Reynolds, Cobbo, Kotoni Staggs and Corey Paix are among the 13 Broncos players out of contract at the end of the 2025 season, and at least one of them could be out the door, given Brisbane have significant money tied up in deals for Payne Haas, Reece Walsh, Pat Carrigan and Ezra Mam.

Reynolds wants to play on for another year in 2026, but Broncos legend Gorden Tallis told NRL 360 on Wednesday he thinks the club should prioritise re-signing Cobbo instead.

“I think Cobbo is the one that they keep … every day of the week, twice on Sunday,” Tallis said.

“Who is going to win more competitions for them? If Reece Walsh doesn’t come back and be Reece Walsh, who is fullback for the Broncos?”

“It’s a fair question but I watched that game against the Bulldogs last Thursday night and it was like watching Alfie Langer the way that Adam Reynolds played,” James Hooper responded.

Broncos skipper Adam Reynolds is set to play on in 2026. Photo: Lachie Millard

Attention has turned to how much the NRL should value Reynolds in the salary cap, with reports it could be as low as $300,000 given his age. That figure was debated by the NRL 360 panel, which you can watch in the video above.

“The NRL places an evaluation on every player’s head when they are off contract and are about to hit the negotiation stage,” Dave Riccio said on NRL 360.

“For example, they’ll put a valuation on Adam, they’ll assess his age, is he still playing State of Origin, how much experience he has.

“But there’s also a $300,000 veteran allowance that clubs can apply for. I would be shocked if the Broncos don’t apply for a $300,000 exemption on Adam Reynolds.

“But he will only be allowed to stay at the Broncos for around $300,000 if there is no other suitor in the game.”

But if a rival club tables a higher offer for Reynolds, it will prompt the NRL to value Reynolds at a higher figure, creating problems for the Broncos’ tight salary cap.

“Certainly Adam Reynolds will be hard one to let go,” Walters told news.com.au.

“I mean, he’s probably been their top two or three players every week this season to date. I know that Adam’s keen to stay on the club. I’m sure they could come to some sort of agreement there with Adam.

The Broncos have some tough decisions to make about their roster. Photo: Lachie Millard

“No one likes to lose players that you want to try and hang on to and that’s the situation that the Broncos are facing, one they face most years is with who you keep an who do you let go.

“They’re tough decisions, but I guess that’s all part of rugby league and the roster. The salary cap plays its part there as well.

“They’ve got some tough calls to make, certainly, but some good calls where they’re in control of who they keep and who they let go.”

Star forward and Kayo ambassador Pat Carrigan told news.com.au he hoped the carrot of leading the Broncos to their first premiership since 2006 would be enough to get Reynolds to finish his career at Brisbane.

“He looks at home in that Broncs jersey,” Carrigan said.

“Finishing at our club and delivering us to a premiership is hopefully a big enough bait to keep him around.

“I think he’s just focused on playing good footy. He’s a pretty cool, calm customer. I can’t begrudge whatever happens. Definitely want him to stay in Brissy colours.”

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The Broncos may need to use third party deals to keep Reynolds next season, but there’s no doubt Brisbane are facing some difficult roster decisions.

“Third party deals aren’t always there and available for players,” Walters said.

“A couple of years ago when I was coaching there, we had to let go Tom Flegler and Herbie Farnworth, certainly didn’t want to, and Keenan Palasia was part of that as well.

Fox League funny-men Nathan Hindmarsh and Bryan Fletcher will be calling NRL Magic Round games from the sidelines. Photo: Phil Hillyard.

“It’s the salary cap, and the idea is to even out the competition. You can’t keep all of your players, so you’ve got to make good decisions on who you do keep and who you let go.

“I’m sure that they’d like to keep all those players, but it’s just not possible, you know, with the salary cap and even with the third parties in that as well — it’s still not always enough money to keep players and to keep those that you want to stay at the club.”

Walters makes passionate Reece Walsh defence

Reece Walsh wasn’t exactly setting the world on fire early in the season before his injury, which may rule the 22-year-old out of selection for the State of Origin opener on May 28.

The young gun came under criticism for his performances in defence and attack, but Walters has backed the young gun to return to his best form.

“I think Reece has been unfairly criticised a lot of the time with his work at fullback,” Walters said.

“He’s still done some really good things there. He’s still young, still learning the game.

“But for me, what he brings to a team is lots of energy lots of great things. I think he’s really improved his defence a lot. That’s been a steady improvement for him over the last two or three years and that’s being a big improvement for him this year.

“He’s still heavily involved in everything good about Brisbane. Even that last game against the Warriors when he was injured — he was on one leg basically and managed to score a try and I think he had he had two try assists in that game.

“He’s a very good player and I would have thought that when he’s fit and ready he would be back into that No. 1 one jumper for the Broncos.”

Originally published as Broncos facing ‘tough calls’ over Adam Reynolds future, Reece Walsh dilemma