Michael Maguire's message to Reece Walsh as Broncos coach lays out clear expectations
Maguire has informed Walsh of the "hard work" that is ahead of him as the star fullback signed a new long-term deal.
Fresh off penning a bumper new deal, Reece Walsh has revealed new Brisbane coach Michael Maguire has laid out clear expectations for him and the Broncos playing group ahead of the 2025 NRL season. On Thursday Walsh arrived at Red Hill to formally sign a bumper four-year extension – ending months of uncertainty around his contract situation.
Walsh’s 2025 contract was valued at around $500,000, while his new upgrade is worth more than $4.4 million. And the final season of his new deal will be worth more than $1.2m, the largest contract in Brisbane's 36-year history.
However, with the bumper deal comes more responsibility and hard work, something the electric fullback says he is up for and he revealed Maguire has already laid down the law. “I want to be someone who works hard, someone who brings success, someone who helps bring premierships to this great club, but first of all I’ve got to be a good person off the field, a caring dad, a good role model and I’ve got to work hard on my footy," Walsh said on Thursday.
"I’ve had a few conversations with Madge (Maguire) and hard work is one thing he touches on a lot – I can’t wait to be around the boys again and get stuck into it together. As a player, you want to win and being a part of the Broncos that is expected, it’s a massive club with amazing members and fans, and amazing people working at the club as well as all our families, so you’re playing for more than just yourself. We didn’t have the best year last year and we are all looking forward to getting back in and work."
Reece Walsh returns early to Broncos pre-season training
The new deal makes Walsh the face of the NRL club and puts more expectations on him to lead the team to their first NRL title since 2006. And eager to set a good example, Walsh has already been hard at work at pre-season training, returning to Red Hill two weeks before the playing group were due to come back.
It shows the 22-year-old is keen to make a good impression on Maguire and atone for what was a disappointing season in 2024. Walsh's year was plagued by injuries, and he wasn't able to reproduce the stunning form that helped the Broncos go all the way to the grand final in 2023.
But by returning to pre-season training early, he's shown that Maguire's message about putting in the hard yards and changing the club's culture has resonated with the flashy fullback. “Reece has already been back a few weeks,” Maguire told the Courier Mail.
“Reece has come back early and I’ve also seen a few others like Payne Haas, Ben Te Kura and Kobe Hetherington. It’s great to see. This is the sign of professionalism and this is how we are going to do things at the Broncos if we want to reach the standards of Penrith and Melbourne."
with agencies
