NRL 2021: Coach Kevin Walters concedes Broncos have salary cap issues as Titans circle

The loss of whiz-kid Reece Walsh has hit Kevin Walters and the Broncos particularly hard. And it further emphasises the utter mess of the club’s salary cap.

Reece Walsh, Brisbane Broncos training, Red Hills. Photographer: Liam Kidston

Broncos coach Kevin Walters has broken his silence on whizkid Reece Walsh’s departure, admitting Brisbane have salary-cap “problems” as they fight to retain off-contract stars Kotoni Staggs and Xavier Coates.

As revealed by News Corp, Brisbane are under siege following revelations Titans culture boss Mal Meninga has held talks with Staggs, Coates and boom back-rower Brendan Piakura as the Coast turn up the heat on the embattled Broncos.

Meninga successfully poached David Fifita last year and the Broncos were hit with another ruction last Thursday when Walsh stunned Walters by signing a three-year deal with the Warriors worth more than $1 million starting next season.

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Kevin Walters and the Broncos are under the pump. Picture: Richard Walker

The Broncos have 12 players off-contract at season’s end, including Staggs, Coates, Anthony Milford and skipper Alex Glenn, and there are fears Brisbane’s on-field decay could trigger a Red Hill exodus.

Walters was so desperate to keep Walsh he entered the key stage of negotiations appealing for him to stay, but concedes the 18-year-old fullback’s decision to quit was directly linked to Brisbane’s salary-cap headaches.

“That (Walsh leaving) is part of the reason where we are with our salary cap and the problems we have with it,” he said.

“We tabled an offer to Reece that we believed was fair given his position in the game at the moment.

“The Warriors were an option for him, so there’s no hard feelings from me towards Reece.

“I wish him all the best, he is a good young player but we just couldn’t offer anymore than what we actually had.”

Reece Walsh has been snapped up by the Warriors. Photographer: Liam Kidston

Brisbane’s salary cap is a mess. The Broncos board have asked questions of Brisbane’s recruitment-and-retention committee, with bosses determined to scrap costly player-option clauses in contracts because of the financial implications for their salary-cap position.

The Broncos copped a $200,000 hit alone on their salary cap this year as part of the farcical release of Andrew McCullough to the Dragons, just months after he activated a player option to return to Brisbane from Newcastle.

Out-of-favour Corey Oates is currently languishing in the Intrust Super Cup on a $600,000 deal.

Now the Broncos must get their financial forecasting right or risk the entire collapse of their roster management.

Queensland Origin winger Coates has attracted a $1.7 million, three-year offer from the Titans, who are also prepared to pay centre strike weapon Staggs $700,000 annually. The Coast have also tabled a two-year, $500,000 deal to Queensland under-18s tearaway Piakura.

Titans coach Justin Holbrook confirmed the club’s interest in snaring the Broncos triumvirate.

Kotoni Staggs is attracting widespread interest.

“They’re all great players,” he said.

“I’m happy for the club to be looking at all the good players. That’s all it is at the moment.

“Those players (Coates, Staggs and Piakura) are in this area, that’s why we want them. They love being in Queensland and living in a good place.”

Milford, the highest-paid player on Broncos history on $1 million a season, faces a $500,000 pay cut, while Brisbane must decide whether to suggest retirement for 32-year-old Glenn to open up a back-row slot for Piakura.

The Broncos are keen to retain off-contract young guns Jordan Riki, Tesi Niu and Tom Dearden and must somehow find sufficient funds to repel more poaching raids.

Broncos fullback Jamayne Isaako lamented the loss of Walsh and urged the club to prevent a mass walkout.

Jamayne Isaako has lamented the departure of Reece Walsh.

“Walshy is one of the up-and-coming youngsters in the club,” he said.

“It was a shock knowing he is going to the Warriors. He is one of those players who has some flair and we will miss a young player like that coming through.

“It’s important for us to keep the likes of Kotoni and Xavier at the club. We all know what those two guys bring to our team.

“Kotoni is a match-winner for us, he has X-factor and he is someone we need on the fringes to create something out of nothing.

“Having Kotoni in the team elevates the performance of everyone at the Broncos.”

Originally published as NRL 2021: Coach Kevin Walters concedes Broncos have salary cap issues as Titans circle