Reece Walsh contract: Why star Warriors NRL young gun quit Broncos

Reece Walsh’s decision to sign with the Warriors stunned the Broncos, but they should have seen it coming. Here’s why he defected to New Zealand.

BRISBANE, AUSTRALIA – NOVEMBER 26: Reece Walsh passes the ball during a Brisbane Broncos NRL training session at the Clive Berghofer Centre on November 26, 2020 in Brisbane, Australia. (Photo by Bradley Kanaris/Getty Images)

Queensland young gun Reece Walsh sensationally quit the Broncos and defected to the Warriors because he believed he was the victim of a broken promise to join Brisbane’s NRL squad this season.

Five months after Walsh severed ties with the Broncos, News Corp has unearthed some key factors in the whizkid’s bombshell decision to walk out on Brisbane and chase his NRL dreams with the Warriors.

Walsh returns to Suncorp Stadium on Sunday to face the Broncos for the first time since Brisbane were blindsided by his decision to ink a three-year, $1.2 million mega deal with the Warriors.

In a spicy build-up to the clash, Warriors CEO Cameron George has blasted the Broncos’ plan to one day lure Walsh back to Red Hill, accusing Brisbane of not showing enough faith in the teenager.

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On the surface, Walsh’s decision to join the Warriors seemed simple. There is a view Walsh was seduced by money and that the Warriors simply blew the Broncos out of the water with the richest deal in NRL history for a teenager yet to play first grade.

Former Bronco Reece Walsh has had a superb rookie season at the Warriors.

But the truth runs deeper. While the Warriors’ offer was naturally attractive, it was Brisbane’s inconsistent messaging to Walsh, administrative uncertainty and messy handling of his contractual situation that opened the door for a rival poaching bid.

His departure came prior to the arrival of Broncos CEO Dave Donaghy and new head-of-football Ben Ikin, who have since taken charge of Brisbane’s list-management to ensure another potential superstar like Walsh is not lost to the club.

Specifically, the crux of Walsh’s angst centred on his Broncos contract, and the timing of his promotion to Brisbane’s full-time NRL squad.

Entering this season, Walsh held a development contract worth around $60,000. Development contracts sit outside an NRL club’s 30-man full-time roster.

Walsh was a free agent for 2022, his Broncos development deal expiring this season.

It was Walsh’s understanding that he would be upgraded to a full-time contract this season and included in the Broncos’ top 30 after talks with members of Brisbane’s recruitment-and-retention committee.

That’s when things went pear-shaped.

The Broncos went into this season with 29 full-time contracts. There was one spot left. That vacancy seemed destined to be filled by Walsh, especially after he starred in a pre-season trial for the Broncos in a 22-all draw against Wynnum Manly in February.

There was a push for Walsh to start at fullback in round one of the premiership, but under NRL contracting laws, players on development deals cannot play NRL until round 11.

The Broncos were in a contract pickle.

Reece Walsh believed he was promised a full-time NRL contract by the Broncos.

Walsh felt he was promised a full-time deal. Suddenly, it wasn’t forthcoming. Another Broncos teenager, Brendan Piakura, also believed he had been given high-level assurances he would be promoted to Brisbane’s top 30.

Complicating the roster construction, the Broncos were in negotiations to sign Wests Tigers utility Billy Walters, the son of Brisbane coach Kevin, on a transfer deal.

The Broncos finally brokered a one-year deal with Walters for the 2022 season last month, but Brisbane bosses insist they never kept the 30th and final spot open for him this season — a vacancy Walsh could have filled.

Walsh was itching to play NRL. The 18-year-old felt he was ready, but his Broncos development deal was holding him back.

With Brisbane dithering on whether to hand him the 30th and final full-time contract, the door was ajar for a rival club to pounce.

The Warriors came knocking.

Walsh instantly felt the love he wasn’t getting at the Broncos. He was wined-and-dined by the Kiwi club, including an irresistible pitch from NRL heavy-hitter Phil Gould, the then Warriors consultant who has since joined the Bulldogs.

Reece Walsh says he dreamt of playing NRL for the Broncos as a kid.

The Warriors told Walsh to forget about a development deal. He would be in their NRL top 30 immediately. Then came the jackpot moment: the Warriors tabling a three-year deal to make Walsh a teenage millionaire.

Done deal. The Broncos heist was complete, much to Walters’ disappointment.

“When I came into the job, I was keen to give Queensland kids like Reece an opportunity in the NRL,” Walters said ahead of Walsh’s showdown with the Broncos on Sunday.

“There was a bit of a breakdown in communication, a few different things happened, and Reece decided to leave.

“At the Broncos, Reece was on a development contract, so he wasn’t available until after round 11.

“Around the time he decided to go, I was considering giving him an opportunity, but that‘s OK.

“Reece felt he had a better opportunity with the Warriors and they were going to play him immediately, which they did.”

Another key issue was Walters’ strategic plan for Walsh. The Broncos coach was blown away by Walsh’s natural talent, but was mindful of protecting the 18-year-old and wary of pitchforking him into the NRL at such a young age.

“I always had a huge wrap on Reece,” Walters said.

“But my belief is that a lot of younger players need to spend some time playing in the Intrust Super Cup.

“In that arena, they can learn their trade, do some good things, make some mistakes and learn all the little things that get exposed at the next level in the NRL.

“Unfortunately, it was tough for us to get kids like Reece an opportunity to play Queensland Cup because of Covid, but he‘s done well at the Warriors and I wish him well.”

Earlier this season, Walsh told News Corp he never expected to leave the Broncos.

“It was a dream of mine, as a kid I really wanted to put that Broncos jersey on,” he said.

“I remember when I was seven years old, I would run around with a Broncos jersey on wishing I could play for the Broncos.

“I didn’t know what the Broncos wanted to do with me.

“They said they saw me playing first grade but they weren’t sure when they were going to give me a chance.

“The opportunity to play first grade was the big thing for me and the Warriors said they would give me that chance.”

Broncos coach Kevin Walters was wary of exposing Walsh to the NRL too soon.

Warriors boss George hit back at suggestions the Broncos are plotting to bring Walsh back to Brisbane.

“We showed great Reece a great deal of faith when quite frankly, the Broncos didn’t,” he said.

“We’ve put a lot of work in with Reece, he’s on contract with us for a couple years.”

Warriors assistant Craig Hodges, formerly Brisbane‘s under-20s coach, lauded Walsh’s attitude since coming to the club in April.

“Reece didn’t see a real pathway for him at the Broncos,” he said.

“He felt he was getting mixed messages on his development at the Broncos and maybe that was also a factor in his decision to join us.

“Reece and his manager would have felt our club was genuine in discussions. He would not have felt like he was getting the run-around because we had clear plans for him here.

“He would have felt wanted and valued and he appreciated that. He hasn’t looked back.

“He is one of those kids who is hard not to like. He has some God-given talents that you can‘t coach. He has a real willingness to learn. If he does things wrong or he gets some feedback that he might not necessarily like, he still takes it on board and is keen to be better.

“Reece is such a coachable young guy. He has such an exciting career ahead … the only thing that stops him will be him.”

Originally published as Reece Walsh contract: Why star Warriors NRL young gun quit Broncos