NRL 2024: Scott Drinkwater reveals he rejected interest from Brisbane Broncos before they signed Reece Walsh
Cowboys star Scott Drinkwater has revealed he knocked back interest to wear the No.1 jersey at the Brisbane Broncos in a sliding doors moment that led to the club signing Reece Walsh.
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Scott Drinkwater has revealed he knocked back interest from the Broncos and the chance to wear the Brisbane No.1 jumper now occupied by superstar Reece Walsh in his bid to win a premiership at the Cowboys.
On the eve of the Cowboys’ finals blockbuster against the Sharks, Drinkwater also paid tribute to Storm coach Craig Bellamy for releasing him with his career on death row at Melbourne.
Drinkwater is the Cowboys’ X-factor in Friday night’s sudden-death affair at Sydney’s Allianz Stadium, but the flashy fullback could just as easily be wearing the Broncos’ No.1 jumper.
Just two years ago, Drinkwater’s magical form helped propel the Cowboys to a fairytale preliminary final appearance and in their surge to the playoffs, he attracted interest from the Broncos.
At the time, Brisbane were struggling to find a consistent fullback. Jamayne Isaako, Tesi Niu, Te Maire Martin and Selwyn Cobbo all had stints in the No.1 jumper during a 2022 campaign in which the Broncos suffered a horror late-season crash to miss the finals, finishing ninth.
Then came the sliding doors moment. Broncos Academy young gun Walsh sought a shock release from the Warriors on compassionate grounds in a slice of luck that saw him sign a three-year deal with the Broncos in July, 2022.
Eight weeks later, initial Broncos target Drinkwater inked a four-year extension with North Queensland and is adamant it was the right decision as he looks to deliver a second premiership to the Cowboys.
“It was pretty flattering that a big club like the Broncos would be an option,” Drinkwater said.
“Yes, there was a bit of interest from them.
“At the time, they had a pretty new CEO and there were changes going on at the club, so the Broncos went on hold for a little bit.
“I guess they wouldn’t be too disappointed at how it’s turned out.
“They ended up signing Reece Walsh and I signed a new deal with the Cowboys which has turned out great.
“He (Walsh) can shoot the lights out, he’s a great player, so I don’t think the Broncos would be too disappointed with how it’s all played out.”
Drinkwater is equally content. In an era of great fullbacks, he has yet to play representative football but for the Cowboys to go all the way this season, they need the 27-year-old firing from the back.
Drinkwater waged a brilliant backfield battle with Newcastle champion Kalyn Ponga last week and it was his sublime pass for Jordan McLean’s 52nd-minute try that inspired the Cowboys’ 28-16 finals victory.
The NSW-born flyer started his career at Melbourne in 2018, but played just one NRL game in 12 months. He praised Bellamy for allowing him to walk out on his contract to join the Cowboys in 2019 after being stuck behind three of the code’s greatest backline stars.
“Billy Slater was there at the time, then when he retired (at the end 2018), the Storm had Jahrome Hughes and Ryan Papenhuyzen,” Drinkwater recalls.
“‘Paps’ was killing it off the bench so they moved him to fullback and Jahrome ended up going to halfback.
“I was coming back from injury and the reality was for me to play week in, week out in the NRL, I had to leave Melbourne and thankfully the Cowboys came calling.
“I’m thankful to Craig (Bellamy) and the club for giving me the release to come up here and chase that premiership dream at the Cowboys.”
Cowboys coach Todd Payten says the class of Drinkwater is one of the keys to North Queensland’s title hopes this season.
“Drinky’s elite fitness and aerobic capacity is really impressive,” he said.
“All good fullbacks have to be fit, so he’s always in the game.
“What helps him is his communication, he is very vocal in and around the facility every day.
“He has a bundle of energy, his mouth is non-stop around the club, and it’s the same on the field.
“His development has seen him make better decisions with the ball within the context of a game.
“Drinky is vital to what we do. He has been great for us.”
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