NRL 2021: Broncos hatch plan to bring Warriors whizkid Reece Walsh back to Brisbane

It’s easy to forget that Reece Walsh is just 19, so when Brisbane say they hope to lure him back to the club in 2023, it’s certainly with his best years as a fullback in mind.

Reece Walsh joined the Warriors earlier this season after gaining a release from the Broncos. Picture: Albert Perez/Getty Images

Brisbane coach Kevin Walters has put out the welcome mat for Reece Walsh as the Broncos hatch plans to bring the Warriors whizkid home to Queensland.

News Corp can reveal members of Brisbane’s recruitment-and-retention committee have discussed a poaching bid for Walsh, with the Broncos empire ready to strike back in a spicy build-up to Sunday’s clash against the Warriors at Suncorp Stadium.

Labelled Brisbane’s version of Storm champion Billy Slater, Walsh dropped a bombshell on the Broncos in March when he quit the club and signed a $1.2 million deal with the Warriors before he had played a single minute of NRL.

Watch The 2021 NRL Telstra Premiership Live & On-Demand on Kayo. New to Kayo? Try 14-Days Free Now >

The 19-year-old has been a revelation for the Warriors this season with his speed and attacking flair and Walsh returns to Suncorp to face the Broncos for the first time since Brisbane rubber-stamped his early release.

Now the Broncos want Walsh back.

Reece Walsh was tipped for stardom at the Broncos before his shock move to the Warriors. Picture: Liam Kidston

Walters had earmarked the Queensland under-18s ace for Brisbane’s No.1 jumper and club recruiters are exploring ways to trump the Warriors with a deal to eventually have Walsh back home in Broncos colours.

“We never wanted to lose Reece,” Walters said ahead of Walsh’s maiden showdown with the Broncos at Suncorp.

“We are a Queensland-based club and I had high hopes for Reece to play for the Broncos.

“I wished Reece all the best at the Warriors. He has been playing some good footy for them, which I expected him to do, but he’s only young.

“I’m not sure what will happen down the track, but Reece is always welcome back here, certainly.”

The structure of Walsh’s Warriors contract has opened the door for the Broncos to strike earlier than anticipated.

The Warriors signed Walsh to a three-year contract until the end of 2024. The final year of the deal is a 12-month option in Walsh’s favour, meaning the Broncos can table a formal offer for the Queensland Origin aspirant from November 1 next year.

By then, the Broncos will have additional funds in the salary cap to make a big-money play for Walsh, who was due to make his Origin debut at fullback in Game Two in June, only to injure his hamstring at the captain’s run.

Reece Walsh was a shock call-up for the Queensland Origin team in June, only to miss Game Two due to a late injury. Picture: Josh Woning

Walsh has a strong relationship with Broncos recruitment chief Simon Scanlan, who helped develop the classy custodian in Brisbane’s Elite Player Development system.

The Broncos viewed Walsh as a 10-year fullback and still hope he will return to the club at age 21 to wear the Brisbane No.1 jumper.

Warriors hierarchy are aware of Brisbane’s poaching plans, but remain confident Walsh will stay loyal and repay their faith, even if the NRL rookie is required to move to New Zealand when the Kiwi club receives a Covid clearance to return home.

Warriors assistant Craig Hodges, formerly Brisbane’s under-20s coach between 2013-16, said he wouldn’t be surprised if the Broncos tried to lure Walsh back to Red Hill.

Reece Walsh has been a revelation at the Warriors this season. Picture: Albert Perez/Getty Images

“The Broncos would be mad not to have a crack at Reece and there will always be the family connection to come home to Brisbane,” he said.

“But if he feels valued with what we are doing, there might be no reason for Reece to leave.

“It might not be as simple as Brisbane wanting him back, so they’ll get him back.

“I guess a bit of that will come down to the type of club we are building at the Warriors and whether he feels he wants to be a part of that.

“If we travel on the path I’m expecting us to go on as a club in the coming years, it might be too exciting for Reece to leave.”

Originally published as NRL 2021: Broncos hatch plan to bring Warriors whizkid Reece Walsh back to Brisbane