Reece Walsh inks record $5 million Brisbane Broncos deal amid fullback's telling Ezra Mam comments

Broncos fullback Reece Walsh has signed the most lucrative deal in Broncos history, committing his future to the club until the end of 2029. Walsh reportedly agreed to stay at the Broncos way back in March but reportedly held off putting pen to paper in the hope his value would only continue to rise as free agency approached.

And with Walsh able to talk to rival NRL clubs on Friday, he arrived at Red Hill to formally sign a bumper four-year extension on Thursday – ending months of uncertainty over his contract situation. Walsh’s 2025 contract was valued at around $500,000, while his new upgrade is worth more than $4.4 million.

The final season of his new deal will be worth more than $1.2m, the largest contract in Brisbane's 36-year history. While Walsh could have undoubtedly been able to secure the richest deal in NRL history if he was to hit the open market, the Queensland star revealed he wanted to stay put, noting his relationship with good friends Ezra Mam, Payne Haas and Pat Carrigan was a major reason for him deciding to stay.

"This is an exciting time for the Broncos and I wanted to be a part of it," Walsh said. "It was a bit of a process, contracts take time, but I never wanted to leave... I wanted to stay because of the group here.

"We have a pretty young group. Some of those boys who were there in the tough times are now coming through to be senior players. As long as we keep working hard and keep building really good habits, if we stick together and have the same goal of winning a premiership, we can do it.

"You look at teams like Melbourne and Penrith, they have stuck by each other as a group and gone on to do really good things. I know the boys are hungry and I’m looking forward to working hard and having a good pre-season. I think we have the group here to win a premiership. We can do it as long as we buy in and work hard together and I’m prepared to do the work. We are in a prime spot to do something really special."

Reece Walsh deal comes as Broncos set to stick by Ezra Mam

Walsh's signing and comments surrounding his desire to continue to play alongside his close friends and key Broncos members come as reports emerged that the club are not considering tearing up Ezra Mam's contract. The fifth-eighth's NRL future has been uncertain since the Broncos star allegedly failed a roadside drug test earlier this month, after a ute he was driving collided head-on with an Uber.

The driver, a female passenger and her daughter were all injured in the crash, with the four-year-old girl suffering a broken hip. Mam was also allegedly unlicensed when he was involved in the crash with Brisbane, with the NRL integrity unit and Brisbane waiting for police's findings.

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The league and Broncos officials are awaiting the results of a secondary drug test conducted by police, and the 21-year-old has checked into a rehabilitation clinic to seek professional help. There have been calls for the NRL to de-register him and terminate his five-year, $4 million contract, but according to the Courier Mail that won't be happening.

The publication reports Mam won't be sacked by the NRL or Broncos, but could be facing up to a year-long suspension. "NRL bosses are unlikely to tear up Mam’s contract, with Broncos powerbrokers also set to push for the playmaker to be given a second chance," the report states. "NRL boss Andrew Abdo and ARLC boss Peter V’landys [are] prepared to give the Broncos pivot a chance for reform."