NRL 2022: Warriors shut door on Broncos’ late bid to snare Reece Walsh for rest of the season

The Warriors have shut the door on an audacious bid by the Broncos to secure Reece Walsh to add X-factor to their squad for the finals.

Payne Haas. Picture: Cameron Spencer/Getty Images

The Warriors have ruled out releasing Reece Walsh to Brisbane immediately after an audacious bid from the Broncos to secure the fullback whizkid as their X-factor for the NRL finals.

News Corp can reveal Brisbane bosses made furtive inquiries about the prospect of Walsh being granted an early release by the Warriors to join the Broncos before the NRL’s August 1 transfer deadline.

Walsh will link with the Broncos from next season on a three-year deal, but Brisbane hatched plans to squeeze the attacking sensation onto their books before the transfer window closes on Monday.

That scenario would have seen the Queensland Origin hopeful available for selection for Brisbane’s clash against the Roosters next week and given the Broncos another attacking weapon in their premiership assault.

While Melbourne also tried and failed to land Walsh for the rest of the season, the Broncos believed they may have enjoyed more success given that the Warriors agreed to give Walsh a compassionate release to return to Brisbane next year.

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The Broncos were keen to snare Reece Walsh for the remainder of the season. Picture: Phil Walter/Getty Images

With the Warriors out of the finals race, Brisbane recruitment chiefs had some informal dialogue to gauge the possibility of Walsh leaving before August 1, but the Kiwi club vetoed an immediate move.

The Broncos have two spots still available on their 30-man full-time roster and Walsh would have been a dream addition for Brisbane’s first finals campaign in three seasons.

But the Warriors are adamant Walsh will finish the 2022 campaign in New Zealand, with the 19-year-old playing his first game at Auckland’s Mt Smart Stadium in Friday night’s 24-12 loss to the Storm.

Walsh will officially link with the Broncos for their 2023 pre-season in November and Brisbane skipper Adam Reynolds is relishing the prospect of working with the match-winning fullback.

“Reece is a great signing,” Reynolds said. “He is a player I love watching, he plays on the edge and he takes the game on.

“I love the style of footy that Reece brings. He is a tough player and the future is looking bright at the Broncos with guys like him and Ezra (Mam, five-eighth) leading the way.”

Reece Walsh will join the Broncos next season on a three-year deal. Picture: Fiona Goodall/Getty Images

While the Warriors are standing their ground on Walsh, his back-row teammate Eli Katoa continues to explore his options after being given permission to leave at the end of the season.

Katoa has already toured Canberra’s facilities but it is understood the Raiders’ interest is starting to cool.

Melbourne have also expressed an interest in Katoa but Wayne Bennett’s Dolphins have emerged as the wildcard in the race to sign the talented 22-year-old.

News Corp understands that Katoa has made it known that he wants to visit the Dolphins headquarters before he makes a final decision.

Dolphins recruitment chief Peter O’Sullivan, formerly the Warriors’ scouting boss, signed Katoa to the Kiwi club when he was a rugby league novice, having spent his formative years playing rugby union.

Two years ago when Katoa signed a contract extension at the Warriors, O’Sullivan declared: “The first time I laid eyes on him I had the feeling he was something special.”

The pair may yet be reunited at the Dolphins next season as O’Sullivan continues to assemble a roster capable of being competitive in their foundation year in 2023.

Eliesa Katoa has been given permission to negotiate with other clubs. Picture: Phil Walter/Getty Images

The million-dollar call Haas has to make

-Robert Craddock

It’s time for Payne Haas to pick up the phone and call Broncos football manager Ben Ikin with a simple message – “I’m staying.”

The Broncos prop is scheduled to meet with Brisbane officials at the end of the season to sort out his future after requesting an immediate release in May from the final two-and-a-half years of his long-term deal with the Broncos.

The blistering public feedback stung him and talks were deferred and a changing landscape has the question begging whether talks are still required.

Haas, who is on $750,000 this season and $850,000 next year – not overs but not exactly bread and dripping either — wanted an upgraded deal.

It wasn’t just the money. He was equally concerned about the Broncos inability to play finals football, having played just one finals match – the 58-0 loss to Parramatta in 2019 — during his time at the club.

Payne Haas has deferred talks about his contract until the end of the season. Picture: NRL Photos/Gregg Porteous

But grey clouds have parted and rays of vivid sunshine have poked through.

The Broncos have shored up their side of the argument by delivering a top eight — perhaps top four – finish which should see them play at least two finals matches.

Haas has been agitating for a pay rise to become a million-dollar a year player but there are several factors which show that the extra $150,000 he is chasing is barely worth the hassle.

If he moved to a Sydney club, that $150,000 – and plenty more — would vanish the first time he picked up the phone to a real estate agent and realised that house prices are 35 per cent dearer in the Harbour City.

He now lives a stone’s throw from the Broncos home base at Red Hill and clearly looked a man at peace with his world as he ambled into Broncos training on Friday with his daughter Lalita.

Payne Haas having fun with his daughter at Broncos training.

With the Broncos going well – and likely to rise another notch when Reece Walsh arrives next year – this is time to cash in, not at Sydney but Red Hill.

There is no certainty the Broncos are premiership-bound this year, next year or the year after that. But they are good and getting better. Something is cookin’ at Red Hill. You can smell the rich vibe of fresh ambition at training, in matches and even in media conferences.

The premiership window, which was ruthlessly slammed shut in his early years, is now open.

This is the chance Haas has craved and worked so desperately hard for.

Payne Haas has been the Broncos best player for the past few seasons. Picture: Cameron Spencer/Getty Images

And how much more satisfying would it be to win a title at a club where, for a couple of years, he could barely win a game, where he carried the rest of the team on his broad shoulders?

Strictly speaking, Haas is underpaid.

Fairfax newspapers revealed this year that the top five props in the game average $845,000 so his current wage is at least $100,000 under where it should be.

But he is still the highest paid forward in the Broncos’ history. And there’s more to life than money anyway.

Like premiership rings.

Originally published as NRL 2022: Warriors shut door on Broncos’ late bid to snare Reece Walsh for rest of the season