Reece Walsh in telling moment with Broncos boss amid NRL contract saga
The Broncos star's next contract will likely see him become the NRL's latest million-dollar man.
Reece Walsh has taken a cheeky swipe at Brisbane Broncos CEO Dave Donaghy over the amount of money he could earn on his next contract. The Broncos star joined NFL great Tom Brady on stage during the American's Brisbane visit as he travels the country on a speaking tour.
Brady was taken aback by both Walsh's looks and sporting ability, telling the fullback: "With your looks and skills, you’re looking at $25m to $30m a year, and that’s US". After Brady's remarks, according to The Sydney Morning Herald, Walsh turned to the Broncos CEO in the crowd and asked "Did you hear that Dave?"
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The 21-year-old has been at the centre of contract talks since the end of the 2023 season, with the Broncos hoping to extend his deal, which expires at the end of 2025. As it stands Walsh will reportedly earn just $400,000 in 2024 after cementing himself as one of the NRL's best after a breakout year that saw him lead the Maroons to a State of Origin series win and helped the Broncos reach the grand final.
The Broncos are reportedly desperate to hang onto Walsh but have a dilemma with both him and Ezra Mam - who reportedly is on around $250,000 - looking for significant upgrades on their next contracts. According to The Courier Mail, Mam will sign a contract until at least the end of 2025 before Brisbane jet off to Las Vegas for Round 1. The Broncos will then need to find space in their salary cap for Walsh, with the club already splashing on prop Payne Haas, who was signed to the richest deal in the club's history, as well as also re-signing representative forward Patrick Carrigan.
Reece Walsh to become latest million-dollar player
Last year, The Courier Mail’s Peter Badel reported that Walsh's new deal would likely see him become the NRL's latest million-dollar player. It's understood the deal for Walsh would be 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 with the Broncos with their dynamic duo Walsh and Mam to extend them beyond 2024. At the moment Reece Walsh, 21 years 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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