Reece Walsh put to shame by Clint Gutherson amid new concerns over $1.1 million Broncos star

Former NRL player Cameron King has questioned the message Reece Walsh is conveying to his Broncos teammates by finishing at the back of the pack in pre-season fitness testing, pointing to the performance of the much older Clint Gutherson at the Dragons. Concerns were raised out of Broncos camp this week when it emerged that Walsh and Selwyn Cobbo finished near the back of the field with front-rower Martin Taupau during a fitness test.

It's only December and there's plenty of time until the 2025 season, but the sight of Walsh at the back of the back raised some eyebrows. Taking to social media, former Dragons, Cowboys and Parramatta hooker King said it was "disappointing" because Walsh is the Broncos' marquee man who recently signed a contract extension worth $1.1 million per season.

"Disappointing to hear R.Walsh is unfit and coming last in the fitness tests," King posted. "Marquee players should be setting the standard from day 1 of pre season." When a fan commented that Gutherson is the best at leading by example, King responded: "Guarantee he is winning every test."

On his first day at the Dragons after his off-season switch from Parramatta, the 30-year-old Gutherson won a team road race up to the top of Mount Keira in Wollongong. Gutherson was brought to the Dragons for his leadership, and his efforts at pre-season training have set the standard expected of his new teammates.

Gutherson is on much less money than Walsh, but is showing the 22-year-old how a marquee player should perform at training. According to King (and many others in the NRL world), it's not acceptable for a $1.1 million player to be lagging at the back of the pack during fitness tests.

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Payne Haas defends Reece Walsh amid fitness concerns

Speaking to media on Tuesday, Broncos prop Payne Haas confirmed that Walsh had been at the back of the back but declared the young fullback was as fit as he'd ever seen him. But does that mean he's as fit as he should be, and what does that say about the four years that Kevin Walters spent in charge at Brisbane?

"To be honest, Walshy is probably the fittest he's come back," Haas said. "And pre-season is tough, so all the boys are having a red-hot crack and they're going well."

New coach Michael Maguire has set about changing the attitude and culture at the Broncos after standards slipped under Walters this year. And according to Haas it's already working.

"We are a young group and just being men about being honest and up front to each other," the front-rower said. "That's what we are taking away this pre-season and all the boys are buying in and having a red-hot crack.

"I know what Madge (Maguire) is about, especially having him in Origin. I know what he brings and what he expects of us players which has made it easier to transition. I've gone through three coaches now (Anthony Seibold, Walters and Maguire) so I am used to it all.

"Obviously it was hard at the time (when Walters was sacked) but we can't really dwell on that now. We've got Madge now and I am enjoying my time under Madge. I've got lots of love for Kevvie and he knows that but you can't really hold onto the past. You've got to keep on moving and be present."