- The 22-year-old is now on the richest deal in club history
- Fullback will now stay with the Broncos until 2029
Brisbane fullback Reece Walsh has made a head-scratching comment after signing a record-breaking contract that makes him a multi-millionaire and keeps him at the club until the end of 2029.
The 22-year-old was already on the Broncos’ books until 2025 but they have moved to keep the Queensland representative off the market and give new coach Michael Maguire the best news since officially taking charge last week.
Walsh signed the four-year, $5million deal with his daughter Leila alongside him on Thursday, then referenced scandal-hit teammate Ezra Mam as he explained why he put pen to paper on the richest contract in club history.
The fact Broncos big guns Walsh, Mam, Payne Haas and Pat Carrigan made a pact to snap Brisbane’s premiership drought played a big role as he decided not to test his worth on the open market.
‘I wanted to stay because of the group here,’ Walsh said.
‘Some of those boys that were 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.’
The remarks will raise eyebrows as Mam’s future at the club is up in the air after he allegedly failed a roadside drug test after crashing into an Uber and leaving the other driver and a mother and daughter injured.
Reece Walsh is pictured signing his four-year, $5million deal – the richest in Brisbane Broncos history – on Thursday
After putting pen to paper, Walsh spoke of the role his scandal-hit teammate Ezra Mam (pictured together) played in his decision to stay with the club
Mam is being investigated by Queensland Police and the NRL Integrity Unit, and Broncos CEO Dave Donaghy has not ruled out sacking him, depending on the results.
Walsh was a major factor in Brisbane’s run to the 2023 grand final and made his State of Origin debut that same year for Queensland in a 2-1 series win.
The 2024 season was disrupted with Walsh knocked out twice and missing multiple matches, before suffering a broken hand at the end of the year as the Broncos faded to finish 12th.
He played just 14 games and, like the majority of his teammates, was unable to get any continuity in his play.
Walsh has already been doing his own training at Broncos HQ in anticipation of a tough pre-season under Maguire which will begin with the first team run on Monday.
‘I’ve had a few conversations with Madge 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,’ Walsh said.
‘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 … so you’re playing for more than just yourself.
Walsh posted a photo of him celebrating the mega deal with his daughter Leila
‘We didn’t have the best year last year and we are all looking forward to getting back in and working really hard for each other and getting the Broncos back to where the club deserves to be.’
Walsh played two seasons with the Warriors but is a product of the Broncos academy system which has produced so many of the current crop.
He said signing his new deal was always his intention, given his history and long-held allegiances.
‘I’ve wanted to play for the Broncos since I was a little kid, so I’m just really excited to be here and looking forward to getting into pre-season,’ he said.
‘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.’
