Kurt Capewell in bombshell Warriors link amid Reece Walsh drama

Broncos forward Kurt Capewell has been linked with a sudden exit from the NRL club to join the Warriors after visiting New Zealand on the weekend. Capewell has a deal with the Broncos until the end of the 2024 season.

While he was expected to travel to the US for the opening round of the NRL, Capewell has now been linked to a shock move to the Warriors where he would join coach Andrew Webster on a three-year deal, according to The Daily Telegraph. Capewell toured the New Zealand Warriors facilities, according to the publication, and want to sign him immediately.

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This would soften the blow of losing Josh Curran to the Bulldogs ahead of next season. The 30-year-old appears to be still close with Webster from their time at the Panthers together. The Broncos have just resigned youngsters Jordan Riki and Brendan Piakura for the upcoming seasons.

Adding on top of the want to hand Reece Walsh and Ezra Mam boosted contracts, Capewell could find himself on the outer in 2024. Capewell's signing would also soften the loss of Addin Fonua-Blake's expected departure at the end of 2024.

Fonua-Blake was arguably the Warriors' best forward in 2023 and his loss will be a big blow to the young forward pack. Capewell's arrival would add experience to the forwards. And the NRL reacted to the sudden reports, which could see the premiership winner depart.

Broncos weigh-up future deal for Reece Walsh

Walsh's deal for 2023 saw him pocket around $450,000, while Mam was reportedly on around $250,000. Both are looking at significant upgrades on their next contracts, meaning the Broncos will have to find the money from somewhere.

Brisbane already locked up Payne Haas on the richest deal in Broncos history and have also re-signed representative forward Patrick Carrigan, with Walsh and Mam considered alongside those players as a central part in the future of the club. However, fitting them all under the salary cap on long term deals remains a dilemma.

Back in September, The Courier Mail’s Peter Badel said Walsh's new deal will likely see him become the NRL's latest million-dollar player - a just reward for a season that's included State of Origin success with the Maroons and seen the 21-year-old touted as one of the game's best fullbacks. It's understood the deals for Walsh and Mam would tie up their futures at the club until at least the end of the 2027 season.

“Their retention drive is in overdrive. Of course they’ve retained Payne Haas recently, they’re about to extend Adam Reynolds and now they are making moves to retain their wonder boys Ezra Mam and Reece Walsh,” Badel said on NRL 360. "They’ve started talks the Broncos with their dynamic duo Walsh and Mam to extend them beyond 2024. At the moment Reece Walsh, 21 year-old, he’s off contract at the end of next year, as is Ezra Mam, but the Broncos insist the duo are going nowhere.

“They are looking to extend them on what I hear is a potential $5 million package deal, at least three years for each of those players. Reece Walsh would become a $1 million player potentially... and Ezra Mam could earn upwards of $700,000 a season. I’m told those deals will be done after the finals but I don’t think they will go on the open market.”

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