Billy Slater lashes out over Reece Walsh detail as Darren Lockyer highlights $5m Broncos problem
The NRL legends have both had their say after Walsh agreed to remain at the Brisbane Broncos on huge money.
Billy Slater has hit out over the level of scrutiny and criticism that Reece Walsh receives, while Darren Lockyer has highlighted the issue created by his new $5 million contract. Walsh has reportedly agreed to a new four-year deal with the Brisbane Broncos, which will net him a cool $5 million.
It means the Broncos have Walsh, Payne Haas, Patrick Carrigan and Ezra Mam all locked up on long-term deals. But Walsh and Haas will both be earning over $1 million per season from next year, while Carrigan and Mam aren't far off that mark.
It means there's very little money left for teammates, and one of Selwyn Cobbo or Kotoni Staggs appear likely to have to leave the club. It also means the Broncos won't be in the market for a big-name halfback to replace Adam Reynolds, who is set to hang up the boots in the next 12 months.
Sam Walker and Braydon Trindall are both set to hit the open market on November 1, and even though Walker hails from Queensland, the Broncos won't be able to make a play for him. Walker appears destined to remain at the Roosters, and the Broncos will likely have to develop a young halfback instead.
"Reece, done, Ezra (extended), and Adam's (Reynolds) got another year, so there becomes a bit of focus on who will be the 7 after Adam and who will be the 9 after Billy (Walters)," Lockyer said on the QLDer podcast on Wednesday. "And I think given the enormity of Reece's deal and Ezra and Payne, you know, it's not ... you're limited to how much money you've got out there for your 7 and 9 now.
"We'll just have to see who's out there and who we can develop. A young 7 coming through who's not going to demand the big money straight away is probably where it's heading but as we know, the No.7 is so important and we've got to keep one eye on who's earmarked to go there beyond Adam Reynolds and who's there (at hooker) to go beyond Billy Walters."
Lockyer also predicted the Broncos would be priced out of the market for Trindall considering how well he's been playing. "He's finished the year strong," Lockyer said. "I'd be surprised if the Sharks let him go. But again, I think the Broncs are pretty keen to develop from within, so we'll just see where that lands."
Billy Slater hits out over criticism of Reece Walsh
Meanwhile, Queensland coach Slater has predicted that Walsh's new deal will propel him to greatness, while also slapping down the young fullback's critics. “Reece is 22 years old and the next 125 games are going to be with the Broncos, so that will take him to a 200-game player," Slater said on his Channel 9 podcast.
“You think about where you get your game to from 75 games to 200 games, that’s a great chunk of your career and the Broncos are going to see the best of Reece Walsh over the next five years. It’s a great result from the Broncos, there’s not many guys like Reece Walsh running around in the game. For the next five years, he doesn’t have to think about contracts, he just has to think, ‘I can go after the next five years’.”
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Walsh is always a lightning rod for criticism and seems to cop it more than most. But Slater added: “He is not perfect and sometimes we expect our young stars to be perfect too early. But he is only 22 and you have to take yourself back to 22 and say, ‘How many rough edges did I have?’
“He will develop and grow as a person and player. We should be thankful that guys like Reece want to be a part of our game because they bring everything to our game. It (the four-year extension) is a good move by the Broncos and all parties will be happy with the result.”
